2 leading foundations grant over a half-million dollars in medical scholarships

By THE STAR STAFF

Two of the island’s leading philanthropic health organizations have joined forces to bolster Puerto Rico’s medical workforce, awarding more than half a million dollars in supplemental scholarships to students and residents pursuing high‑demand specialties.

With a combined investment of $536,500, the Fundación Triple‑S and the Fundación para el Futuro de la Salud granted 37 scholarships to medical residents and students in the health professions preparing for specialties where Puerto Rico faces critical gaps, from neurology and orthopedics to geriatrics, endocrinology, oncology, nursing and pharmacy technology.

Beyond the financial support, both organizations emphasized the long‑term goal: ensuring that more highly trained specialists choose to build their careers in Puerto Rico.

One of those success stories is Dr. Marcantonio V. Pinci, whose career path illustrates the impact of the program. He received support from Fundación Triple‑S during his orthopedic surgery residency and later from the Fundación para el Futuro de la Salud to complete a fellowship in Adult Hip and Knee Reconstruction at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, affiliated with Harvard Medical School. Now returning to Puerto Rico to practice, his homecoming represents what the foundations describe as the true purpose of the scholarship fund: transforming educational investment into expanded access to specialized care for thousands of patients on the island.

“Dr. Pinci represents the result we aspire to achieve with this fund,” said Lydia Figueroa, executive director of Fundación Triple‑S. “More than supporting an academic stage, we are contributing to the formation of specialists who want to return to Puerto Rico prepared to meet the needs of our patients. Seeing that journey come full circle confirms that this investment strengthens the medical profession and generates an impact that will benefit Puerto Rico for decades.”

This year, Fundación Triple‑S awarded 17 scholarships, while the Fundación para el Futuro de la Salud granted 20, targeting fields identified as essential for expanding access to specialized medical services across the island.

“Puerto Rico needs more than excellent professionals; it needs the conditions for them to choose to build their future here,” said Edna Y. Marín, executive director of the Fundación para el Futuro de la Salud. “Each scholarship is a strategic investment to strengthen our health system, reduce the shortage of specialists and ensure timely access to care.”

Scholarship selection committees composed of representatives from medical schools, professional associations, government entities and the private sector evaluated applicants. The Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico administered the Triple‑S scholarship fund, drawing on nearly four decades of experience managing philanthropic initiatives that expand educational opportunities.

Both foundations reaffirmed their commitment to initiatives that promote the training, retention and development of medical talent, arguing that investing in future health professionals is one of the most effective strategies to build a stronger, more accessible and resilient health system for Puerto Rico.