UMHS fourth-year medical student Ivan Cruz De Hostos is completing his clinical rotations in Michigan while preparing for the USMLE Step 2 exam. He recently achieved an important milestone by presenting a clinical case poster at the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
The poster highlighted a rare case of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), giving Mr. Cruz De Hostos the opportunity to share his work with physicians, residents and fellow medical students from across the country. According to medical research, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakenly destroys platelets, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding. Mr. Cruz De Hostos's experience marked his first national research presentation and reinforced the value of clinical research during medical school.
The UMHS Endeavour spoke with Mr. Cruz De Hostos about the unusual case, what he learned from presenting at SGIM, and how UMHS prepared him for the opportunity.
Ivan Cruz De Hostos on the UMHS campus in St. Kitts. Photo courtesy of Ivan Cruz De Hostos.
Discovering a rare clinical case
UMHS Endeavour: What inspired you to submit this case for presentation?
Ivan Cruz De Hostos: During one of my internal medicine rotations, we encountered a patient with a very unusual presentation. It turned out to be immune thrombocytopenic purpura, or ITP, which isn't something you diagnose very often. One of the residents explained that it was a rare condition and suggested it would make a strong case report for the SGIM conference. They encouraged me to write it up, and that became one of the first clinical case reports I had ever worked on.
What made this case so interesting?
The interesting thing about ITP is that it's really a diagnosis of exclusion. It's not a condition where the clinical symptoms immediately point you to the diagnosis. You have to perform many different tests to rule out other possible causes. In our case, the patient experienced a massive drop in platelet count after being hospitalized for an unrelated condition. Once all of the testing came back negative or inconclusive, we determined it was ITP. Because it's such a rare diagnosis, it made for a very educational case.
What was it like writing your first clinical case report?
It was a great learning experience. I had been working with the same internal medicine team for a while, so I already knew many of the residents. They walked me through the entire process of writing a clinical case report, explaining what information to focus on and how to organize it. Their guidance helped shape what eventually became an accepted clinical vignette for the SGIM conference.
Ivan Cruz De Hostos at the SGIM Annual Meeting earlier this year. Photo courtesy of Ivan Cruz De Hostos.
Presenting medical research at a national conference
How did it feel to present your research at a national conference?
It was definitely nerve-wracking at first because it was the first time I'd ever presented at a conference. But it quickly became a great learning experience. I not only presented my own clinical vignette, but I also learned from other presenters and received valuable feedback from residents and physicians. I enjoyed discussing the diagnosis, explaining the treatment approach, and answering questions from attendees. Everyone was very supportive, and it was an amazing experience overall.
What did you learn from attending the conference?
One of the biggest lessons was seeing just how many different research projects medical students, residents and physicians are working on. Presenting a case involving a condition that's rarely diagnosed gave me a new appreciation for careful clinical reasoning. It reminded me how important it is to continue learning because uncommon conditions like ITP can easily be mistaken for something else if you don't consider every possibility.
Ivan Cruz De Hostos shows off his badge at the SGIM Annual Meeting. Photo courteys of Ivan Cruz De Hostos.
How UMHS prepared me for success
How did UMHS help prepare you for this opportunity?
UMHS gave me a strong academic foundation before I began my clinical rotations. Everything my professors taught me helped build the knowledge and confidence I needed to work with medical teams, evaluate patients, and present a challenging clinical topic like this one. The education I received at UMHS has given me the tools to succeed during my clinical training.
Advice for future student researchers
What advice would you give to other UMHS students who are interested in research?
Be aware of your surroundings during your clinical rotations and stay engaged. If you come across an interesting case, ask questions and get involved. When you're an active member of the medical team and show that you really want to learn, opportunities naturally come your way. That's how experiences like writing a case report and presenting at a conference begin.
Exhibition at the SGIM Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Photo courtesy of Ivan Cruz De Hostos.
Looking ahead
What's next for you?
I'm currently preparing for my Step 2 exam while completing my fourth-year clinical rotations. I'm still deciding on my specialty, although internal medicine is definitely one of my top choices. My biggest piece of advice for other students is to enjoy the journey, work hard, and learn as much as possible. Everything you learn in medical school will help you become a better physician.
Contact Ivan Cruz De Hostos at icruz@umhs-sk.net
(Top photo). UMHS student Ivan Cruz De Hostos. Photo courtesy of Ivan Cruz De Hostos.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at UMHS and editor of the UMHS Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about UMHS students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and UMHS research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
