More specialists mean better access to care.
SAN JUAN — As Puerto Rico continues to face a shortage of medical specialists, the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus (RCM-UPR) and the Foundation for Puerto Rico’s Health Future have launched a partnership aimed at expanding access to specialized healthcare by investing in physician training.
Under the agreement, the Foundation will fund the residency stipend of Dr. Adriana Vázquez Medina, a neurosurgery resident at the UPR School of Medicine, through the completion of her training in 2032. The Foundation’s investment of $319,586 will allow the Medical Sciences Campus to redirect resources toward creating additional residency positions, helping train more specialists in Puerto Rico.
The initiative follows the 2025 reopening of the Neurosurgery Residency Program, which regained accreditation after meeting the standards of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
University officials said the partnership addresses one of the island’s most pressing healthcare challenges by increasing the number of physicians who complete their specialty training locally, improving the likelihood they will remain in Puerto Rico to practice.
“Our mission goes beyond funding a single residency,” said Edna Marín, executive director of the Foundation for Puerto Rico’s Health Future. “Every residency position we preserve or create increases the chances that another specialist will stay in Puerto Rico, strengthening our healthcare system and improving access for patients.”
According to the UPR School of Medicine, Puerto Rico ranks among the top U.S. jurisdictions in retaining physicians who complete their residency training on the island, making graduate medical education a critical strategy for addressing long-term workforce shortages.
Officials emphasized that expanding residency opportunities ultimately benefits patients by increasing the availability of specialists in fields where access has become increasingly limited.
University President Zayira Jordán Conde said the collaboration demonstrates how partnerships between academia and nonprofit organizations can help build a stronger healthcare system while ensuring Puerto Rico retains highly trained medical professionals.
Leaders from both organizations expressed hope that the initiative will serve as a model for future collaborations, encouraging additional nonprofit and private-sector partners to invest in graduate medical education and strengthen patient care across Puerto Rico.
