Mentoring and Mentees
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn.”– Benjamin Franklin
A good scientist does not become a mentor by default; a good teacher does not become a mentor by default. Becoming a good mentor involves developing a series of skillsets that go beyond simply telling and teaching someone.
Current Mentees - Graduate Students
Dr. Bianca N. Valdés-Fernández
Dr. Valdés-Fernández is a faculty at the University of Sacred Heart in Puerto Rico. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Department of Microbiology of the School of Medicine of the University of Puerto Rico. She earned a Ph.D. in Biology through an intercampus program between the Department of Biology of the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, and the Associate Deanship of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico - Medical Sciences Campus. During her Ph.D. thesis, she studied the anti-inflammatory capacity of the Fasciola hepatica Glutathione S-TransferaseShe earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Biology in 2014 at the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon Campus. During her undergraduate education, she worked in the Immunology and Parasitology Laboratory of Dr. Ana M. Espino, investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of Fasciola hepatica’s proteins. For the first four years of her graduate journey, she worked under the supervision of Dr. José Lasalde with the purification and crystallization of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Also, she was the Co-Director of the Puerto Rico Science Policy Action Network (PR-SPAN), where she promoted science-based public policies. Bianca enjoys watching Netflix, going to the beach, and exercising outside academia.
Click here to view Bianca’s C.V.
Lorraine N. Vélez-Torres
Lorraine earned a Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology and Medical Zoology at the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. She earned her master’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology in 2015, identifying the risk factors affecting residents' quality of life in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. In 2014, she received a double major in Industrial Microbiology and Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. During her undergraduate education, she worked in the Symbiosis Laboratory of Dr. Cafaro, investigating the antifungal capacity of Actinobacteria associated with the exoskeleton of the termite Nasutitermes costalis. She’s currently working on her PhD thesis at the Mycology Laboratory of Dr. Bolaños, studying the effect of Hurricane María on the indoor concentration of fungi and the health outcomes of household residents.
Currently, she’s Vice-President of the Graduate Women in Science Chapter of Puerto Rico and is the Co-Founder and Director of Mentoring of the science communication, mentoring, and outreach organization “Vistazo A La Ciencia”. Outside academia, Lorraine enjoys dancing salsa, visiting new restaurants, and kayaking.
Because Dr. Rivera-Mariani is Lorraine’s thesis committee member, she was invited to and completed a one-week training with the RIPLRT to learn the different human-based immunological approaches we implement in environmental health studies. Also, she trained on experimental planning and design, project management and execution, as well as data management and analysis we implement when deploying human-based immunological approaches to study the respiratory health risks resulting from human exposure to air pollution. Lorraine will be implementing these skill sets in her Ph.D. thesis studies.
Click here to view Lorraine’s C.V.
Xaymara Hernández-González
Xaymara is from a small town (Humacao) located on the east coast of Puerto Rico. She completed a Bachelor's degree in Microbiology at the University of Puerto Rico in Humacao. During her undergraduate years, she had the opportunity to participate in research investigations trying to isolate potential antimicrobial-producing bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. She was part of the Student Microbiology Chapter and the American Student Medical Association.
Recently (April 2023), Xaymara successfully defended her M.S. thesis at the University Of Puerto Rico Medical and Science Campus under the primary mentorship of Dr. Benjamin Bolanos. Her thesis investigations focused on identifying the role of aeroallergens, such as pollen and fungal spores, in the susceptibility to acquired Covid-19.
During the past three years, she had the opportunity to collaborate in the project "Taking a breath after Hurricane Maria," taking air samples from water-damaged houses and identifying fungus captured from the air samples. Also, she is working on analyzing data from air samples captured from houses located in the community of Piñones in Loiza, Puerto Rico. Currently, she is part of the directive of the Microbiology Chapter at the UPR-RCM and is the representative of the master students on the graduate committee. Besides academia, Xaymara enjoys exercising, doing road trips, and reading. She pursues continued graduate studies.
Click here to view Xaymara’s C.V.
Dr. Sukeina Nasser (Suki)
Dr. Sukeina Nasar (Suki) is a highly skilled pharmacist with expertise in medication therapy management (MTM) and a strong interest in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR). Through her dedication to patient-centered care and a commitment to professional growth, Sukeina is driven to make a meaningful impact in the pharmaceutical industry. She holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Larkin University College of Pharmacy and is licensed as a pharmacist in Florida and Michigan. She carries an additional license as a consultant pharmacist in Florida. Suki engages in ongoing education and remains actively involved in her field, obtaining various certifications in diabetes management, prior authorization, medication therapy management, and managed care pharmacy.
Currently working as a Clinical Pharmacist at Optum, Suki has demonstrated abilities in leading MTM consults with patients, caregivers, nurses, and physicians. Through comprehensive analysis of patient medication profiles, she identifies opportunities for improved adherence, optimized drug utilization, and cost-effective recommendations. Her ability to communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking patients and healthcare providers enables her to engage with diverse populations.
In addition to her professional achievements, Suki is committed to community outreach and involvement. She serves as a member of BasBlue’s Community Committee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and non-binary individuals in Detroit through programming, scholarship, and mentorship opportunities. During her tenure as President and Founding Member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) student chapter at Larkin University, she established a platform for students to gain knowledge, experience, and connections in the managed care industry, and she remains an active member of AMCP today.
With her diverse skill set, passion for healthcare, and desire to transition into the HEOR space, Sukeina is poised to contribute significantly to advancing patient care, health outcomes, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Click here for her resume.