Dr. Wilfredo De Jesús Rojas was inspired to become a Pediatric Pulmonologist and a physician-scientist in order to advocate for his patients while simultaneously researching rare lung disorders in Puerto Rican children, specifically Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). Dr. De Jesús received his Doctorate in medicine from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus in 2008. In 2018, he completed a Pediatric Pulmonary Subspecialty Fellowship at the University of Texas, McGovern Medical School, Health Science Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. De Jesús is an assistant professor at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU). He is also the medical director of the Pediatric Rare Lung Diseases and Asthma Institute in Puerto Rico and the PCD director at the Puerto Rico PCD Center, which was accredited by the PCD Foundation in 2021. He earned a Postdoctoral Master's in Clinical and Translational Research from the University of Puerto Rico's School of Health Professions in 2022. Currently, he is the principal investigator of CILIA4PR, a basic sciences research laboratory focused on respiratory ciliary movement and ciliopathies. His research interests include rare pediatric lung diseases, PCD, technology-dependent children, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome, among others.  

Dr. Simón Carlo is a Medical Geneticist, a dedicated professor, and the IRB Chair in Puerto Rico. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1986 and his Medical Degree from the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra in Puerto Rico in 1992. Dr. Carlo completed a pediatrics residency at the Mayagüez Medical Center in 1998, and went on to complete a Clinical Molecular Genetics Fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center in 2001. He has been an assistant professor at Ponce Health Sciences University since 2001 and became an IRB Chair in 2004.  

Dr. Matta earned his D.Sc. (1987) and Ph.D. (1989) from UCLA, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship at UC Santa Barbara. Since joining PHSU in 1992, he has served as Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology and maintained over 32 years of continuous research funding from agencies such as NIH, DoD, and NASA. His work focuses on DNA repair genes, cancer susceptibility, and epigenetic mechanisms in prostate, breast, and skin cancer. Dr. Matta played a pivotal role in establishing PHSU’s U56 and U54 PACHE cancer research partnerships with Moffitt Cancer Center and the NCI. He has mentored numerous trainees, published ~80 peer-reviewed articles, and leads a DoD-funded study addressing prostate cancer disparities in Puerto Rican men. A member of AACR and the Society of Toxicology, Dr. Matta also contributes to pharmacology education and serves on editorial boards and national curriculum committees. 

Dr. Flores-Caldera is a Professor of the Departments of Basic Sciences and Obstetrics & Gynecology at PHSU since 1994, and Chair of Division of Women's Health. Her research efforts are focused on understanding the molecular and immunological mechanisms of endometriosis, its epidemiology, biopsychosocial impact, underlying molecular and immune mechanisms, and genetic and epigenetic factors, with the long-term objective of identifying diagnostic biomarkers and potential new therapeutic targets for this still incurable disease. In addition to Women’s Health research efforts, Dr. Flores has served as co-leader of the Puerto Rico Biobank (PRBB), a tissue procurement core that collects biospecimens from Puerto Rican cancer patients and controls to support health disparities research. 

Dr. Rafael Bredy is the Damas Hospital's Associate Director of Clinical Affairs and Graduate Medical Education Program Coordinator. Since 2007, he has been a PHSU Faculty member participating in the School of Medicine and the Public Health Program. Main interests are related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency/humility. 

Dr. Laura Santiago Caobi, one of the journal's co-founders, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University (2019), obtained her Doctorate in Medicine at Ponce Health Sciences University (2024), and is currently a resident in Pediatrics at the University of Miami. Her active involvement as the President of the Student and Class Council reflects her dedication to the institution. Throughout her time at PHSU, Laura was engaged in research focused on pediatric respiratory infections in the south of Puerto Rico, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, and Multifetal pregnancies. Her instrumental role in the establishment of the scientific journal underscores her commitment to advancing research opportunities and scholarly pursuits within the PHSU community. 

Dr. Karla Santiago Soltero, cofounder of the PHSU Scientific Journal, earned her medical degree from PHSU in 2025 and holds a Bachelor's degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus (2019). Deeply committed to academic advancement and scientific equity, she has integrated research throughout her medical training, contributing to projects in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, radiology, and dermatology. She also completed a clinical research fellowship in dermatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Driven by her passion for community impact and academic empowerment, Dr. Santiago-Soltero has contributed immensely to the creation of this platform that uplifts and amplifies the voices of students, faculty, and researchers across Puerto Rico.