Congratulations to Dr. Olga Rodríguez de Arzola, Dean of the School of Medicine, Dr. Waleska Pietri, and Ms. Wallesca Rodríguez Millán, faculty sponsors of HCC at Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine, who are recipients of the Health Career Collaborative Program Initiation Grant sponsored by the Aetna Foundation with the support of Operation Giving Back, American College of Surgeons.

HCC Puerto Rico is a partnership between the Ponce Health Sciences University, School of Medicine and Jardines de Ponce High School under the guidance of principal, Ms. Virgen De Jesús; and teacher, Prof. Julio Commander.

We are very grateful for the support of Dr. Rafael Rodriguez-Mercado, Secretary of Health, Puerto Rico and Dr. Jodie Roure, Associate Professor John Jay College of Criminal Justice, without whose support, this endeavor would not be possible. 

The following Ponce medical students volunteered their time to mentor the high school students in Spring 2019: Anthony W. Robateau, Carlos A. González Cobos, Marielys Collazo, Jean F. López Ruiz, Alfredo D. Colón Marrero, Angélica M. Nieves Rivera, Héctor A. Nieves Figueroa, Kevin R. De Jesús Morales, and Raúl Arroyo. In Fall 2019, the following medical students volunteered as mentors; Daniela Albors, Axel Arroyo, Tala Akkawi, Marielys Collazo, Alfredo Colón, Carlos M. Díaz, Roxamarie Flores Dones, Ramón Misla, Kevin I. Morales, Angélica M. Nieves, Priscilla Rosa, and Génesis Vega.