San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Celebrates Successful 8th Interdisciplinary Research Symposium

On April 2nd, 2024, the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (SJBSM)  celebrated its with great enthusiasm and over 150 attendees.

Dr. Yocasta Brugal, SJBSM President, and the 8^th Organizing Committee thank the presenters,  evaluators, SJBSM Students’ Council, the Research Interest Group, and attendees for contributing to the Symposium’s success and for making it once again a memorable occasion for networking and collaboration.

We thank our distinguished plenary speakers for sharing their perspectives regarding Biomarkers to Advance Health Equity: Su Dharmawardhane, Ph.D., Wilfredo de Jesus Rojas, MD, MSc, and Rafael Guerrero Preston, Dr. Ph. ( See photo).

We had 46 poster presentations, 23 (50%)  from SJBSM students and faculty and the other 50% from local academic institutions and hospitals, including participants from 5 UPR campuses (Medical Sciences Campus, Rio Piedras, Cayey, Mayaguez, and Bayamon), Ponce Health Sciences University, Universidad Central del Caribe, Ana G. Mendez, Manati Medical Center, UPR Pediatric Hospital, Women and Children’s Hospital and other hospitals and affiliates.

We are pleased to share the abstracts and poster presentations with the highest scores after the evaluations, listed by category with the submission author in bold.

Basic Sciences

• Abstract. The Role of Calcium Signaling in Pericytes: Exploring an Underlying Cellular Mechanism in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Julyann López-Ayes ²; Nicholas Philip¹; Larissa Shimoda¹; Vinicio de Jesus-Perez ³. ¹Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center;  Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine  ²San Juan Bautista School of Medicine. ³ Stanford Medicine Palo Alto, CA, USA
• Poster. Angiotensin II Stimulates Inflammation, YKL-40, and ROS Production from Astrocytes. Mary Roman-Perez, Genesis Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Fabiola Rodriguez-Flores, Jessica Garcia and Yaritza Inostroza-Nieves; San Juan Bautista School of Medicine.

Clinical Research

• Abstract. Placental Pathology Findings After Intrauterine COVID-19 Infection. Gabriela Ortiz-García¹, Inés García-García², Juanita Negrón-Pagán², Leticia Gely-Rojas², Lourdes García-Fragoso².   ¹UPR Rio Piedras, ²UPR Medical Sciences Campus.
• Poster. Anatomical Variations of the Trajectory of the Recurrent Branch of the Median Nerve. Travieso Diffoot, M., Arroyo Avilés J., Pauneto V., Schreiber M., and Veras Tavarez, W. San Juan Bautista School of Medicine.

Clinical Case Reports

• Abstract.  A Rare Yet Life-Threatening Etiology of Facial Paralysis in an Infant. Grecia Arroyo, Lisandris Dominicci, Cristina Tavera, Leslie Soto. UPR-Medical Science Campus.
• Poster. A profuse rectal bleeding due to an unusual cause. Marcos J. Hernandez Hernandez; Miguel Laforet Matos; Nelson Valentin; Jessica Maisonet; Felix Betancourt Bojos. Manati Medical Center.

Behavioral -Qualitative Research

• Abstract. Prevalence of self-medication in students between 21-42 years of age from a university in the southern area of Puerto Rico. Leyshamary Castro Cruz; Lillybeth Godén Montalvo; Kiara L. Ortiz Muñoz; Angélica Torrado García; Angel Vega Rodriguez; Grace Ventura Reyes; Yaritza Díaz Algorre; Alexis Vera.  San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
• Poster. Awareness and acceptability of HIV prevention method (PrEP) among college students aged 21 to 34 in “Universidad Politécnica” in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Andrea Gonzalez Candelario, Deianeyra Febo Guzmán, Héctor L. Pizarro-Pérez, Jolynette Hernandez-Alvarez, Nicole Santiago Roman, Sebastian Rivera-Sosa, Alexis Vera, Yaritza Díaz-Algorri. San Juan Bautista School of Medicine.

We thank all the abstract authors for sharing their exciting research findings, motivating them to move to the next step for publication. Our Congratulations!

In the name of the faculty leaders of the Organizing Committee, we look forward with enthusiasm to the 9^thSJBSM Interdisciplinary Research Symposium !!