The Hospital Damas in Ponce announced the creation of two new specialization programs in Endocrinology and Geriatrics, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The programs aim to provide more opportunities for local medical talent and address the need for subspecialists in Puerto Rico. Currently, there are only six positions available for Endocrinology subspecialization in the country. The new programs will increase the training capacity and reduce the gap in specialized endocrinological care in the southwest region.
The Geriatrics program responds to Puerto Rico's demographic reality, with the island being the fourth most aged jurisdiction in the world and the first in the Caribbean. The programs will be led by Dr. Alegyari Figueroa and Dr. Doris Iturrino, and will start on July 1, 2027, with applications accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) platform starting July 1, 2026.
According to Dr. Pedro Benítez, the programs are a strategic opportunity to strengthen the training of doctors in Puerto Rico and ensure they receive the necessary academic and clinical supervision to become competent subspecialists. The Hospital Damas aims to invest in the retention of talent in Puerto Rico and improve public health through these new programs.