On April 24, 2025, Ponce Health Sciences University Public Health Program doctoral student, Mrs. Heidi Carrero Vallés, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation in epidemiology titled “Retention and Adherence to Buprenorphine Medication in Patients Diagnosed with Opioid Use at a Community-Based Clinic in Southern Puerto Rico.” The objectives of the research project were to describe the epidemiological profile of patients receiving services at the Clínica Alternativa Integrada in Ponce, Puerto Rico, estimates the survival time related to treatment with Buprenorphine among these patients; assess adherence to Buprenorphine treatment; and evaluates the risk factors associated with survival time.
The selected dissertation topic originated from the first Alliance (CoE) community forum, held on March 11, 2021, which focused on health priorities among individuals who are currently experiencing or have experienced homelessness. The guest speaker at the forum was Mr. Francisco Rodríguez, CEO of Coalición de Coaliciones, Inc., the organization to which the Southern Community-Based Clinic belongs.
Mrs. Carrero Vallés’ dissertation was mentored by Dr. Clara Segarra, Dr. Robert Rodríguez, Dr. Frank Fraticelli, and Dr. Mayra Roubert, all faculty members of the Public Health Program at Ponce Health Sciences University.
