Research Education Core
The Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) and Moffitt Cancer Center (MCC) Partnership has built an educational program that supports participants across the career continuum preparing them for basic or clinical oncology-related careers. The main goal of the PHSU-MCC Partnership Research Education Core is to increase the recruitment, advancement, and quality of cancer research scientists and oncologist from our community.
The Research Education Core jointly engages participants across career levels and institutes to create a lasting peer mentoring network. Trainees gain cancer research experience through exposure to Partnership projects and Cores. The REC builds and strengthens trainee career pathways at critical career transition points, resulting in a more robust pool of oncologists and research scientists.

Pictured (left to right): Guillermo Armaiz-Peña, Caroline Appleyard, Alvaro Monteiro, Pedro Santiago, Doug Cress, Yairí Rivera-Torgerson, Maria Elena Aviles, Shannon Christy, Ken Wright
Moffitt | Role | Ponce | Role |
Kenneth L. Wright, PhD | Co-Leader | Caroline Appleyard, PhD | Co-Leader |
Shannon Christy, PhD | Co-Investigator | Guillermo Armaiz-Peña, PhD | Co-Investigator |
W. Douglas Cress, PhD | Co-Investigator | Gilberto Ruiz-Deya, MD | Co-Investigator |
Alvaro Monteiro, PhD | Co-Investigator | Pedro Santiago, PhD | Co-Investigator |
Julián Sánchez, MD | Co-Investigator | Maria Elena Aviles | Program Coordinator |
Yairí Rivera-Torgerson, BS | Program Coordinator |