“The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size”
Albert Einstein
Professional Summary
Through my academic and professional training, I have highlighted the importance of mentoring. Mentors can help us to navigate the undergraduate and graduate educational journey by imparting wisdom and advice. My professional experiences have been vital to applying different mentoring strategies to scientists in training. I have had the opportunity to mentor young people in divergent stages of formation: Puerto Rican children, adolescents, and young adults, with the goal of increasing minority representation in STEM.
Mastering Anatomical Techniques
Principal Investigator, Program Director
(2018 - 2022)
Mastering Anatomical Techniques, was the first anatomy educational program implemented in Puerto Rico designed for medical students. This program offers an intensive clinical and research immersion experience for second and third-year medical students, allowing them to mentor and tutor first-year students during the Human Gross and Developmental Anatomy (HGDA) course. This will provide participating students various academic and professional development opportunities essential to pursuing a medical career.
Seeds of Success is a project which brings middle and/or high school girls closer to careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and empowers them to practice their leadership skills and become STEM ambassadors in their communities.
METAS is a comprehensive and experimental research project to test the efficacy of the coaching strategy in preparing Latino undergraduate students for a successful transition to graduate programs in biomedical sciences.
The aim of this initiative is to spotlight 1 million women in science to provide visible role models for future scientists.
Press
Videos
Meet the Researcher - A series of videos (in Spanish) where the work of service, teaching, and research of outstanding scientists is highlighted.
Interview with "Vistazo a la Ciencia - A Glance at the Science" talking about my experience as a mentee and mentor.
Interview about the goals and mission of the outreach anatomy program: Mastering Anatomical Techniques (MAT)
Webinar with the Puerto Rico Science Museum - EcoExploratorio discussing the respiratory system for a general audience.
Universidad Central del Caribe - School of Medicine video presentation for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) highlighted the MAT program in the Anatomy Department.
Written Press
Column in MEDLIFE news about the foundation of the first chapter in Puerto Rico.
Column of a local newspaper "Primera Hora" about the initiative lead by graduates and medical students for the southern region of Puerto Rico in January 2020 earthquake’s relief.
Yale Ciencia Academy equips biomedical and health sciences doctoral students from underrepresented backgrounds in the final 1-2 years of their programs with the knowledge, skills, and networks they need to find postdoctoral positions that will further their academic interests and career goals.
The goal of the Anatomy Scholars Program (ASP) is to support and increase retention of Underrepresented Minorities (URM) in STEM in academia in the US and Canada.
Articles
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Graduate School Burnout Is Real – How Do We Handle It?. Column for the science communication blog Científico Latino.
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The Transition Between Neuroscience to Anatomy: Advice for Upcoming Professors. Column for the science communication blog Queen Mary Anatomy.
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How to be successful in grad school? Advice from a woman in STEAM. Column for the science communication blog Queen Mary Anatomy.
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Surviving the transition from high school to college. Column for the science communication blog Queen Mary Anatomy.
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Scientifically proven tips for more effective studying. Column for the science communication blog Queen Mary Anatomy.