About the Chapter

2023 Chapter Laureate Awardee: Dr. Myriam Allende-Vigo 

The ACP Chapter Laureate Award honors those Fellows and Masters of the College with exemplary conduct and commitment to excellence in medical care, education, and service to their community, their Chapter, and the American College of Physicians. This year, we recognize these qualities, commitment, and leadership in our past Governor of the ACP PR Chapter, Dr. Myriam Allende Vigo.

Dr. Allende Vigo graduated from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine in 1974, Magna Cum Laude, and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University District Hospital in 1977 and her Fellowship in Endocrinology at the University District Hospital UPR School of Medicine from 1977-1979. She continued as faculty in the Endocrinology section at the University of PR. Early in her career, she showed commitment to education in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, serving as Clinical Instructor in Medicine and becoming professor of Medicine at the University of PR in 2003 and Chief of the Endocrinology and Metabolism section at the University of PR from 2003 to 2015. Dr. Allende Vigo completed a master's in business administration (MBA) at the University of PR in 2003, occupying leadership positions at the UPR School of Medicine such, as the President of the Medical Faculty of the UPR School of Medicine from 1998 to 2002.

Her career has been characterized by strong leadership and commitment to excellence in education and to strengthening the relationship of the PR Society of Endocrinology and the American College of Physicians with National and International Organizations. She was President of the PR Society of Endocrinology from 2001-2003 and leader of the International Committee of the American Society of Clinical Endocrinologists from 2003 to 2007 as vice chair and chair of the Committee. She has been a Member of the AACE Board from 2007-2010 and President of the PR Chapter of the American Society of Clinical Endocrinologists from 2008 to 2014. She is Board certified in Internal Medicine and in Endocrinology and Metabolism. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator with a key role in the education of allied healthcare professionals in Diabetes. She has been director of the annual comprehensive course for Diabetes for Health care professionals from 2009 to the present, contributing to the ADA certification of Diabetes educators on the island. She founded the Eastern Center for Diabetes Education, where she provides services in Endocrinology and collaborates with allied health professionals in the management of Diabetes mellitus as a center of excellence for Diabetes Care.

She has been involved in Research, particularly Diabetes mellitus, and has extensive publications in peer-reviewed journals on different topics in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine. She has been a speaker at National and International meetings. She has traveled extensively to scientific meetings representing our PR Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes and to learn about advances in endocrinology all over the world. She received many honors and recognitions as the Outstanding Clinician in AACE in 2006 and the Ethics Award from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists in 2016. She has been active in Primary Care physicians' education in Diabetes as chair of the AACE Diabetes Day for Primary Care Physicians and Diabetes University online as an instrument for the education of Primary Care physicians in Diabetes mellitus advancements.

Dr. Allende Vigo recently published a book on the History of Endocrinology in PR in collaboration with the PR Society of Endocrinology members.

She continues to lead, learn, and be present as an educator and a role model for our young physicians and leaders.

Today the ACP Laureate Award honors her leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence in medical care, education to medical students, physicians, and allied health professionals, and her service to her community, to the PR Chapter of the ACP, and to the American College of Physicians. Her strong commitment to Medicine, education, and administration, her multiple professional endeavors and achievements, have been celebrated and recognized by her colleagues. Her role as a mother and mentor is celebrated by her three children and four grandchildren. She is an example that with dedication, commitment, courage, and a clear direction, everything is possible. The sky is the limit.

2023 Chapter Awardees

Resident of the Year: The nominees for Resident of the Year were: Christian Camacho Ramírez, MD, Mayaguez Medical Center, Darcy Diago Blanco, MD, San Lucas Episcopal Hospital, Valerie Maldonado Torres, MD, San Juan Municipal Hospital, Leonardo Ramírez Botana, MD, La Concepción Hospital, Oscar Rodríguez Ayala, MD, Dr. Ramón Ruiz Arnau University Hospital. The winner was Dr. Patricia Rivera from the Caribbean VA Healthcare System

Mentor of the Year: The nominees for Mentor of the Year were: Xiomara Cruz, MD, Mayagüez Medical Center, Miguel Colón, MD, San Juan Municipal Hospital, Carlos Cortes, MD FACP, VA Caribbean Healthcare System, María del Mar Torres, MD, La Concepción Hospital, Stephen Bury, MD, San Lucas Episcopal Hospital. The winner was Dr. Eddie Rodriguez from Ramon Ruiz Arnau University Hospital.