Rafael Rodríguez Mercado
| Rafael Rodríguez Mercado | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico | |
|
Assumed office January 2, 2017 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1961 Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Political party | New Progressive Party |
| Other political affiliations | Republican Party (United States) |
| Alma mater |
University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine State University of New York at Buffalo Colegio San Conrado |
| Occupation | Neurosurgeon |
| Profession | Physician |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
 |
| Service/branch |
 |
| Rank |
 |
Dr. Rafael Rodríguez Mercado is a Neurological Surgeon appointed as the 22nd Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico by Puerto Rico governor Ricardo Rosselló.
Education
Dr. Rodríguez Mercado obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, Doctor of Medicine and a Residency in Neurological Surgery from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine. Later he obtained a fellowship subspecialty in Endovascular Neurosurgery from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Since 1997, he was the pioneer in Endovascular Neurosurgery in the island and the entire Caribbean Basin. At the present moment is Professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine and director of the Endovascular Surgery Program of this institution. He also leads the same program at ASEM Stroke Medical Center and, since 2001, is the director of the Fellows Training Program in Neuroendovascular Surgery. There, he has trained leaders of many countries in this specialty. In his extensive professional career stands out the realization of about 5,000 endovascular corrections in people with intracranial congenital vascular malformations, being this one of the largest world series with one of the lowest postoperative mortalities in the world. Dr. Rodríguez Mercado is a member of 15 prestigious international medical societies and has participated in multiple scientific research projects. He has made more than 140 oral presentations in Puerto Rico and in more than 20 countries such as South Africa, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Spain, Portugal, France, South Korea, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Portugal, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. He has been a lecturer outside of Puerto Rico on 80 occasions. Is author and co-author of 35 scientific articles in prestigious journals, such as Neurosurgery, Stroke, American Journal of Neuroradiology, and has written chapters of three health books.
His life has been surrounded by excellence and achievements. His Endovascular Surgery program is recognized worldwide. In addition, for his qualities and vast administrative experience was chosen in 2009 as Interm Chancellor and on 2010, unanimously, as Chancellor of the Medical Sciences Campus of The University of Puerto Rico position that ends on 2013. He continues his clinical and academic work until January 2017 when he was appointed by Governor Ricardo Rossello Nevares as Secretary of Health of PR. On September 2017 he was appointed as an Associated Professor of Sugery at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences at Bethesda, Maryland as part of his academic and military career.
Military career
Began his military career in 1988. Served in the United States Army Reserve, Medical Corps as Command Surgeon in the 1st Mission Support Command at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. He served in Puerto Rico National Guard as Assistant Surgeon and Field Surgeon. He was also a staff neurosurgeon at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Brooke Army Medical Center. At the present time is an Associated Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at Bethesda, Maryland on a IMA position.
Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico
On January 12, 2017 was appointed as 22nd Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico by governor Ricardo Rosselló. Since his appointment he had work in the improvement of the health system in Puerto Rico and the prevention of diseases.
References
http://linkedin.com/in/rafael-rodriguez-mercado-md-faans-facs-1145301a
https://www.pubfacts.com/author/Rafael+Rodriguez-Mercado