Ponce School of Medicine

Ponce School of Medicine is a post-graduate medical school located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is fully accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), thus classified as a United States Medical School.

History
In January of 1980 a group of lay and professional leaders in southern Puerto Rico established the Ponce School of Medicine Foundation, 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 the Ponce School of Medicine. In 1981, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited the school to grant the MD degree. The new administration, governed by a Board of Trustees, successfully handled the change and challenge and the new free-standing School of Medicine graduated its first class of 23 students.

In 1983, recognizing the need to establish a research program, the School applied for funds under the Minority Biomedical Research Support Program (MBRS) and the Research Center in Minority Institutions (RCMI) Program. The award of both grants permitted the faculty to undertake expanded research activities.

A Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences (PhD Program) was also initiated in 1988, and in 1992 the Council of Higher Education of Puerto Rico (CHE-PR) accredited the PhD Program and authorized PSM to award a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Biomedical Sciences to those students who completed program.

A new campus for Ponce School of Medicine was inaugurated in January 1995. The new facilities include a research building, a library, classrooms, a teaching laboratory, and the Gross Anatomy building.

During academic year 1999-2000 PSM implemented the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program (PsyD Program). The first graduating class will be awarded a doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree in Clinical Psychology as authorized by CHE-PR.

Recently (August 2002) PSM matriculated 30 students on a CHE-PR authorized Master Program in Public Health (MPH). The program is to be completed in two consecutive academic years organized on six trimesters.

Accreditation
Ponce School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). It is also accredited by the Council on Higher Education of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (CHE-PR). In June 1999, PSM was awarded candidacy status by Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Higher Education (CHE-MSA).

Affiliate Institutions
Ponce School of Medicine is affiliated with several hospitals and health care facilities. The Institution also owns an Outpatient Clinic located in its main campus and administers mental health facilities in Mayaguez, Aguadilla and Ponce. The affiliation network provides over 2,000 beds and several ambulatory facilities available for clinical teaching and training. The affiliated institutions include the following, among others:


 * Andrés Grillasca Oncologic Hospital – Ponce
 * Bella Vista Hospital – Yauco
 * Cristo Redentor Hospital - Guayama
 * Damas Hospital – Ponce
 * Dr. Pila Family Center - Ponce
 * Dr. Pila Hospital – Ponce
 * Emeterio Betances University Hospital - Mayaguez
 * First Hospital Panamericano – Ponce
 * La Concepción Hospital – San Germán
 * Ponce Playa Diagnostic and Treatment Center – Ponce
 * San Antonio Hospital – Mayagüez
 * San Cristobal Hospital – Ponce
 * Saint Luke’s Episcopal Hospital - Ponce
 * Tripler Army Medical Center - Hawaii
 * University of Arizona College of Medicine - Arizona
 * Veteran Affairs Medical Center – San Juan

The following Practicum Sites are also available for the PsyD Program:


 * Counseling Center- Colegio Universitario del Este – Carolina
 * PSM Centros de Salud Conductual – Aguadilla, Mayaguez
 * Federal Correctional Facility – Guaynabo
 * Head Start Program – Ponce, Coamo, Juana Díaz
 * La Guadalupe Hospice - Ponce
 * Nueva Esperanza Center – Ponce
 * Sister Isolina Ferre Centers – Ponce
 * Sports Medicine Clinic – Salinas
 * PSM Out Patient Clinics - Ponce
 * Interamerican University of Puerto Rico – San German Campus