University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts

The Pediatrics Medical Student Association has been actively creating meaningful experiences both in the community & on campus!

Recently, members visited the St. Christopher Children’s Home in St. Kitts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, & nurturing environment for children in need of residential care. The visit gave students an opportunity to connect with the local community & support an organization committed to the holistic development & well-being of children.

The association also hosted a Paint & Relax event on campus, where students took a well-deserved break from their studies to unwind, connect with classmates, & express their creativity.

Recently, members visited the St. Christopher Children’s Home in St. Kitts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing a safe, secure, & nurturing environment for children in need of residential care. The visit gave students an opportunity to connect with the local community & support an organization committed to the holistic development & well-being of children.

UMHS fourth-year medical student Jonathan Alverio Rivera, currently completing elective rotations at Detroit Medical Center Hospital in Michigan, recently presented a compelling case report at the American College of Physicians (ACP) Michigan Chapter Resident & Medical Student Day 2026 in Troy, Michigan.

His presentation focused on Hemoglobin Syracuse, a high-affinity hemoglobin variant that can be easily missed in patients with persistent erythrocytosis.

Jonathan explains, “this variant shifts the O2‑dissociation curve to the left, reducing tissue oxygen delivery. The body responds by increasing hemoglobin and hematocrit, the same compensatory mechanism that we see in chronic smokers and COPD, where erythrocytosis is a physiologic attempt to maintain oxygen delivery.

Two clinical pearls from the case:

1. If you suspect hemoglobinopathy, order an ABG to get the P50 which is the diagnostic test. Low P50 confirm high affinity hemoglobin.

2. Avoid phlebotomy because this is their compensatory mechanism.”

We are proud to see our students contributing to meaningful clinical discussions & advancing their knowledge through research & conference presentations!

Building a career in medicine demands discipline & resilience at every turn, & Dr. Alba Vidal-Ronchas has embraced this challenge by pursuing a combined Internal Medicine & Emergency Medicine training program.

Originally from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, 2025 graduate Dr. Vidal-Ronchas now trains across 3 clinical campuses in the U.S. as she completes a 5-year residency at Jefferson Health Northeast & gains a wide range of hands-on experiences.

What drew her into Emergency Medicine & continues to shape her journey are the moments where medicine meets human connection:

🩺 The ability to provide immediate care & support when patients need it most.

🩺 To stabilize & support during these critical moments.

🩺 Her ability to communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. It has been a meaningful part of her work, helping bridge gaps, build trust, & ensure patients feel understood.

Read her full story and learn more about her journey.

🔗 https://www.umhs-sk.org/blog/dr.-alba-vidal-ronchas-25-on-im-em-residency-at-jefferson-health-ne

Register for our upcoming webinar, “Is UMHS Right for You?”, with President Warren Ross & VP of Admissions, Sean Powers.

Joined by UMHS staff, students, & alumni, you will get a comprehensive overview of our MD program including:

• A personalized medical education experience with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio
• A $100M state-of-the-art campus in St. Kitts
• A comprehensive loan program to support your journey
• A proven path to residency, backed by a 93% overall residency match rate & a 94% first-time Step 2 CK pass rate
• Access to 26+ affiliated teaching hospitals for clinical training

❓Live Q&A
📝 Application fee waived for attendees

We look forward to welcoming you to the UMHS community!

🔗 link in bio

For Dr. Tomika Moody ’26, becoming a physician was never a forgotten goal, but a dream she carried with her for over 25 years.

After stepping away from medical school, she took on many roles: wife, mother, teacher, & lifelong learner. She homeschooled her children, pursued graduate school, & stayed as close to science as she could, always knowing she would find her way back.

At the age of 52, that persistence led her to a major milestone: matching into Family Medicine at Prisma Health Greenville!

Dr. Moody’s journey is a powerful reminder that there is no single path to becoming a physician.

Read her full story & learn how UMHS helped her return to medicine & reach Match Day 2026.

🔗 www.umhs-sk.org/blog/dr.-tomika-moody-26-on-matching-into-family-med-residency-in-sc

2026 Match 🎉

Our 2026 Match class is making moves across the U.S., Puerto Rico, & Canada, & we’re proud to share more of where their hard work is taking them.

Tap through to meet more of our 2026 matches & see where they’re headed next.

Visit our Match website 🔗 www.umhs-sk.org/match-day

What does it take to match into one of the most competitive specialties?

For one UMHS alumnus, the journey began with discipline & consistency throughout medical school, building a foundation through strong academics, board performance, research, & intentional networking.

Today, Dr. Felix Rivera T***a is helping build one of Puerto Rico’s newest orthopedic programs. He is currently completing a general surgery rotation, approaching each day with the same discipline he built during training: early mornings, pre-rounding on patients, reviewing charts, & preparing for case discussions before heading to the OR.

“It truly takes a village in the OR. But what really stood out was seeing patients in clinic. You meet them when they’re in pain or unable to participate in sports, & then you see them after surgery — pain-free or back on the field. That transformation is incredibly rewarding.”

Read his full interview 🔗 www.umhs-sk.org/blog/dr.-felix-rivera-25-on-orthopedic-surgery-residency-in-puerto-rico

Thinking about medical school? Join us for an interactive, one-hour session with resident physicians & current clinical students at McLaren Oakland Hospital.

Get real insight into:

• Preparing for & taking the MCAT
• Researching & selecting medical schools
• Interview preparation & best practices
• Successfully navigating your first semester of medical school
• Preparing for & writing the USMLE
• Clinical rotations
• Applying for & interviewing for residency programs

📩 RSVP is required.

Registration 🔗 in bio.

Once confirmed, you’ll receive full details on parking & where to go.

Connect, learn, & take the next step toward your future in medicine!