In the decade of the 70’s , Ponce wished and planned to have a school of Medicine; Even Mayor Andrés Grillasca did everything in his power to make the UPR Medical School based in Ponce.

In 1975, with the economic stimulus of the federal capitation program, the School of Medicine of the UPR increased its enrollment to 150 students per year and established an Educational Consortium in the District Hospital of Ponce. But Ponce did not stop dreaming of his own School of Medicine and when Dr. Francisco Carreras was President of the Catholic University and Dr. Sala was a member of the Board of Directors of that University, it began with the dreamed School of Medicine. Dr. Sala was the driving force for the creation of the School of Medicine of the Catholic University in 1976. Is there when Dr. Domingo Cerra was named by the Board of Directors of the Catholic University as Organizer Dean of the Ponce School of Medicine. Doctor Cerra oversaw preparing the budget according to the needs to start medical school. The board responded positively to the recommendations. With the support of Bishop Fremiot Torres Oliver, the School was organized, and a renowned endocrinologist, Dr. Alfred Bongiovanni, was recruited as Dean of the School of Medicine.

Learn More about PHSU.