Ponce Health Sciences University

Last updated

Ponce Health Sciences University
Ponce Health Sciences University logo.png
Type Private
For-profit
Established1977;47 years ago (1977) [1]
President Dr. Gino Natalicchio [2]
CEODavid Lenihan
StudentsOver 1,000 (2019) [3]
Location,
17°59′38″N66°37′09″W / 17.9939°N 66.6192°W / 17.9939; -66.6192
Website www.psm.edu

The Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), formerly Ponce School of Medicine & Health Sciences, is a private, for-profit university in Ponce, Puerto Rico and St. Louis, Missouri. It awards graduate degrees in Medicine (MD), Clinical Psychology (PsyD and PhD), Biomedical Sciences (PhD), Medical Sciences (MS), and Public Health (MPH and DrPH). The university has 360 students in its medical school and, as of 11 February 2019, was authorized to increase the student body at the medical school to 600 which, when fully in place, will make it the largest private medical school in Puerto Rico and one of the largest under the American flag. [4]

Contents

History

Research Building at Ponce Health Sciences University. Research Bldg at Ponce School of Medicine in Barrio Playa in Ponce, PR (DSC00769).jpg
Research Building at Ponce Health Sciences University.

In January 1980 a group of lay and professional leaders in southern Puerto Rico established the Ponce Medical School Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization, for the purpose of providing continuity to the Medical Education Program (MD Program) originally developed by the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 1977. In July 1980, the Council of Higher Education of Puerto Rico (CHE-PR) authorized the Foundation to operate a medical school under the name Ponce School of Medicine. In 1981, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited the school to grant the Doctor of Medicine degree.

In 1983, the institution applied for funds under the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS) and the Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program. A Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (PhD) was initiated in 1988, and in 1992 the Council of Higher Education of Puerto Rico (CHE-PR) accredited the PhD Program and authorized PHSU to award a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Biomedical Sciences.

In January 1995, the academic institution moved to a new campus with additional facilities. A Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (PsyD Program) was begun in 1999 which was later expanded to offer a PhD in Psychology, Professional Certificate in Couples and Family Therapy, and Postgraduate Certificate in Neuroscience of Learning.

In August 2002 a Master's of Public Health (MPH) program was started with specialization in Epidemiology, Environmental Health, and General Public Health. A DrPH in Epidemiology is also offered. On 5 September 2014, the Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences was acquired by Arist Corporation, which itself is an investment of global media, services and education company Bertelsmann. [5] [6]

The university has a campus in St. Louis, Missouri. In March 2020 the school "announced an $80 million investment toward creating a new medical school" near their downtown location and on the former Pruitt-Igoe site. [7]

Research

The Ponce Research Institute (PRI) at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) performs research in the basic, behavioral, public health, and clinical sciences. Research areas include non-communicable diseases (cancer, women's health, gastrointestinal disorders), health disparities, infectious diseases (HIV, dengue), neurosciences and behavioral sciences, genetics, and community health outreach (obesity, smoking).

In 2002, an academic partnership was established with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, with involvement of the National Cancer Institute. [8] [9]

A grant awarded to the Oregon Health & Science University Neuro-Oncology Blood Brain Barrier Program has given many PHSU students the opportunity to participate in research and clinical fellowships. [10]

On 4 December 2014, Andreas Charalambous, executive dean of the University of Nicosia Medical School (UNMS), and David Lenihan, president and CEO of PHSU, signed an agreement to promote academic cooperation and collaboration in research. [11]

Licenses and accreditation

The Ponce Health Sciences University is accredited by the following entities:

Notable alumni and members

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Puerto Rico</span> Main public university system of Puerto Rico

The University of Puerto Rico, often shortened to UPR, is the main public university system in the U.S. Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is a government-owned corporation with 11 campuses and approximately 44,200 students and approximately 4,450 faculty members. UPR has the largest and most diverse academic offerings in the commonwealth, with 472 academic programs of which 32 lead to a doctorate.

Doctor of Medicine is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the M.D. denotes a professional degree. This generally arose because many in 18th-century medical professions trained in Scotland, which used the M.D. degree nomenclature. In England, however, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B.B.S.) was used and eventually in the 19th century became the standard in Scotland too. Thus, in the United Kingdom, Ireland and other countries, the M.D. is a research doctorate, honorary doctorate or applied clinical degree restricted to those who already hold a professional degree (Bachelor's/Master's/Doctoral) in medicine. In those countries, the equivalent professional degree to the North American, and some others' usage of M.D. is still typically titled Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus</span> Public land-grant research university in San Juan, Puerto Rico

The University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus is a public land-grant research university in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the largest campus in the University of Puerto Rico system in terms of student population and it was Puerto Rico's first public university campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Puerto Rico at Humacao</span> Public college in Humacao, Puerto Rico

The University of Puerto Rico, Humacao is a public college in Humacao, Puerto Rico. It is part of the University of Puerto Rico. Its campus is home to the UPRH Astronomical Observatory and the college graduates more majors in chemistry, physics, and mathematics than any other higher education institution on the island. UPRH has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) since 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus</span> Medical school in San Juan, Puerto Rico

The University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences CampusUniversidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ciencias Médicas (UPR-RCM) in Spanish— is a public health sciences-oriented university in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is part of the University of Puerto Rico System and is located on the grounds of the Puerto Rico Medical Center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interamerican University of Puerto Rico</span> Private Christian university founded in 1912 in San Germán, Puerto Rico

The Inter American University of Puerto Rico is a private Christian university with its main campus in San Germán, Puerto Rico. It also has campuses in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barranquitas, Bayamón, Fajardo, Guayama, Ponce, and San Juan. The university also has three professional schools: School of Optometry, School of Law, and the School of Aeronautics. The Inter offers academic programs in 11 teaching units. It was founded in San Germán in 1912. The San Germán campus is also the home to the Inter American School, a private co-educational college-preparatory school.

The American University of Puerto Rico (AUPR) was a private university in Puerto Rico with campuses in Bayamón and Manatí. The university was founded in 1963 as the American Business College, and offered undergraduate studies in arts, business administration, education, and sciences, and graduate studies in criminal justice.

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) is a public academic health science center in Houston, Texas, United States. It was created in 1972 by The University of Texas System Board of Regents. It is located in the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. It is composed of six schools: McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UTHealth School of Dentistry, Cizik School of Nursing, UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics and UTHealth School of Public Health.

UConn Health is a healthcare system and hospital, and branch of the University of Connecticut that oversees clinical care, advanced biomedical research, and academic education in medicine. The system is funded directly by the State of Connecticut and the University’s financial endowment. Its primary location, UConn John Dempsey Hospital, is a teaching hospital located in Farmington, Connecticut, in the US. In total, UConn Health comprises the hospital, the UConn School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, and Graduate School. Additional community satellite locations are located in Avon, Canton, East Hartford, Putnam, Simsbury, Southington, Storrs, Torrington, West Hartford, and Willimantic, including two urgent cares in both Storrs and Canton. Uconn Health also owns and operates many smaller clinics around the state that contain UConn Medical Group, UConn Health Partners, University Dentists and research facilities. Andrew Agwunobi stepped down as the CEO of UConn Health in February 2022 after serving since 2014 for a private-sector job. Bruce Liang is UConn Heath's interim CEO for 2022-2024 and remains dean of the UConn School of Medicine. Andrew Agwunobi returned to UConn Health as Executive Vice President of Health Affairs and CEO beginning May 31, 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine</span> Medical school of the University of Puerto Rico

The University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, School of Medicine is located in the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It's the only medical school in the University of Puerto Rico System. It is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Its students are predominantly Puerto Rican residents. However, anyone is allowed to apply to this university. It is also considered the top bilingual medical school in the world due to its requirement for each admitted student to fully master both English and Spanish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine</span> Medical school in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is a medical school of the University of Pittsburgh, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The School of Medicine, also known as Pitt Med, encompasses both a medical program, offering the doctor of medicine, and graduate programs, offering doctor of philosophy and master's degrees in several areas of biomedical science, clinical research, medical education, and medical informatics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science</span> Private nonprofit university focused on biomedical research and graduate-level education.

The Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (MCCMS), formerly known as Mayo Clinic College of Medicine (MCCM), is a private postgraduate-only research university based in Rochester, Minnesota, United States that trains physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals. The college is part of the Mayo Clinic academic medical center and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). MCCMS consists of five schools that offer M.D., Ph.D., and other degrees, as well as medical residencies, fellowships, and continuing medical education (CME).

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is an accrediting body for educational programs at schools of medicine in the United States and Canada. The LCME is sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor of Public Health</span>

A Doctor of Public Health is a doctoral degree awarded in the field of Public Health. DrPH is an advanced and terminal degree that prepares its recipients for a career in advancing public health practice, leadership, research, teaching, or administration. The first DrPH degree was awarded by Harvard Medical School in 1911.

A fellowship is the period of medical training, in the United States and Canada, that a physician, dentist, or veterinarian may undertake after completing a specialty training program (residency). During this time, the physician is known as a fellow. Fellows are capable of acting as an attending physician or a consultant physician in the specialist field in which they were trained, such as internal medicine or pediatrics. After completing a fellowship in the relevant sub-specialty, the physician is permitted to practice without direct supervision by other physicians in that sub-specialty, such as cardiology or oncology.

World University was an accredited university based in Puerto Rico, which was in operation from 1965 to 1989.

The University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine is the dental school of the University of Puerto Rico. It is located on the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is the only dental school in Puerto Rico. It is accredited by the American Dental Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville</span> Medical school of the University of Florida in Jacksonville

The University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville is the largest of the three University of Florida Health Science Center Jacksonville colleges — medicine, nursing and pharmacy. The college's 16 clinical science departments house more than 440 faculty members and 380 residents and fellows. The college offers 34 accredited graduate medical education programs and 10 non-standard programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Riverside School of Medicine</span> Medical school of UC Riverside

The University of California, Riverside (UCR), School of Medicine is the graduate medical school of the University of California, Riverside, acting as one of six University of California medical schools. It enrolled its first class in 2013, with the first class of 40 medical students receiving their degrees on June 9, 2017.

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed) is a private medical school in Kalamazoo, Michigan. WMed was established in 2012 and confers the Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree, as well as Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree and the Master of Science in Medical Engineering degree. WMed is a collaboration between Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo's two teaching hospitals, Ascension Borgess and Bronson Healthcare. The inaugural class of 54 students started in August 2014.

References

  1. "History ~ Ponce Health Sciences University".
  2. "About ~ Ponce Health Sciences University".
  3. Institución ponceña: Apuesta al futuro como meca universitaria en Medicina: El proyecto de expansión les permitirá ampliar los programas de Sicología y Salud Pública, además de agregar grados de maestría y doctorado en Enfermería. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. Year 36. Issue 1840. Page 3. 6 March 2019. Accessed 6 March 2019.
  4. "Puerto Rico's Ponce Health Sciences University to Build New Campus and Aims to Expand Enrollments: Ponce Health Sciences University has broken ground on the construction of a $80MM campus/medical research facility, which will be the largest of its kind in Puerto Rico." Ponce, Puerto Rico. PRUnderground. 11 February 2019. Accessed 21 September 2019.
  5. "History ~ Ponce Health Sciences University".
  6. "Bertelsmann — Arist Education System".
  7. "University announces plans for north St. Louis medical school".
  8. "Ponce Health Sciences University - Moffitt Cancer Center Partnership". Moffitt Cancer Center. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  9. "WELCOME to the PHSU-MCC Partnership". Moffitt Cancer Center. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  10. "Opportunities for OHSU Mentors". Neuro-Oncology Blood-Brain Barrier Program at Oregon Health & Sciences University. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
  11. "Medical School signs agreement with Ponce Health Sciences University of Puerto Rico". University of Nicosia Medical School. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  12. Directorio de Instituciones de Educación Superior. Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Departamento de Estado. Oficina de Registro y Licenciamiento de Instituciones de Educacion: Educacion Superior. Junta Instituciones post-secundarias. 6 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  13. Institution Directory: Puerto Rico Middles States Commission on Higher Education. 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  14. Accredited MD Programs in the United States. Liaison Committee on Medical Education. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  15. List of Accredited Schools and Programs: Public Health Programs: Ponce Health Sciences University - Public Health Program. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  16. APA-Accredited Programs. American Psychological Association. 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2021. See also: The detailed Program List as of Year 2020.
  17. Institution and Program Finder: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) - Public: List of Programs by Specialty: List of programs within a particular specialty for current academic year and those newly accredited programs with future effective dates (Year ending June 30th, 2022): Specialty - Psychiatry (400): Public Lists Programs by Specialty.pdf Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.