---
University of Puerto Rico (UPR) President Luis Ferrao Delgado described it as a great achievement that the university’s Medical Sciences Campus (RCM by its initials in Spanish) once again has a neurosurgery residency, which will begin on July 1.
“This achievement that fills us with pride and satisfaction began in the Central Administration of the UPR with a meeting on June 14, 2023, when I called together academics from the RCM, the Central Administration, and physician specialists in the field of neurosurgery to begin this dream. Present there were Mr. Carlos Ortiz, Dr. Humberto Guiot, Dr. Emil Pastrana, Dr. Samuel Estronza, and Dr. Oreste Quesada, vice president of academic affairs,” Ferrao Delgado said. “Today, with much effort and dedication, we already have the initial accreditation of a program that is unique in its class in Puerto Rico. Through this new cycle, we seek to continue working tirelessly to ensure that the program continues to receive continuous accreditation in the next two years.”
The UPR president said the accreditation is a historic step forward, reflecting a joint effort by a committed team that has worked hard to return such an important program to the institution. At the same time, it is an institutional triumph that not only strengthens the training of future neurosurgeons, but also significantly impacts the health system, contributing highly trained professionals who will be key to facing the challenges of the future.
Orestes Quesad added: “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the entire committee in charge of the reaccreditation of the Neurosurgery Program, as well as to the Neurosurgery faculty, who with their unconditional support and commitment have made this great achievement possible.”
Ferrao Delgado highlighted the collaborative work and unwavering commitment of all those involved and thanked the initial group that, from the Central Administration, led the efforts to achieve the accreditation. Those professionals, he said, spent days and nights dedicated to meeting the rigorous requirements to make the program possible.
“The new program not only represents a valuable opportunity for our academic community, but will also open 26 additional positions for the discipline, adding to the 400 already existing,” he said.
Participating hospitals include the Hospital Universitario de Adultos of Centro Médico, the Caguas and Cayey hospitals of the Mennonite Health System, and the Manatí Medical Center.
