Location: Carolina, Puerto Rico
Year founded: 1993
Number of residents: 10 per class, three-year program

Secret weapons (medical)

A major perk is exposure to tropical medicine (dengue fever, leptospirosis, etc.) and disaster medicine. After our work during and after Hurricane Maria in 2017, we can proudly say that we endured, recovered, and have continued to learn from that experience. As a result, many valuable skills for tomorrow’s emergency physician, regardless of where they may practice in the future, are second nature to our graduates. Our program provides a very hands-on experience. All procedures are performed by residents under direct supervision of board-certified emergency physicians. We have fellowship-trained faculty in administration, hospice and palliative medicine, EMS, pediatric emergency medicine, and ultrasound. We also have faculty with master’s degrees in clinical research, and most have completed the ACEP Teaching Fellowship. Our alumni have been accepted into fellowship programs in ultrasound, undersea and hyperbaric medicine, wilderness, international medicine, critical care medicine, simulation, pediatric emergency medicine, toxicology, education, and sports medicine, among others.

Secret weapons (nonmedical)

Difficult shift? Need a free day to relax or want to go study in a different setting? Our island provides incredible sites, all within driving distance: beautiful beaches; El Yunque National Forest; timeless sites such as El Morro Fort, a nearly 500-year-old historic relic that once defended against foreign invaders and today is a unique museum situated above the cliffs of San Juan Harbor. We also have easy access to outdoor activities including kayaking in one of our three bioluminescent bays. And don’t forget excellent weather all year long. On top of all this, we have excellent cuisine, superb coffee, and the world-renowned Bacardi Rum.

—Maria Ramos-Fernandez, MD, MSc,
FACEP, program director 

Trivia

Who recently freaked out riding Puerto Rico’s Monster Zipline? Jimmy Fallon.