As UMHS looks back on 2025, the year stands out for the achievements of its alumni and the continued momentum of our students and academic and clinical community. From recent graduates beginning residency to established physicians advancing in specialized training, UMHS alumni made meaningful contributions to patient care, medical education, and professional leadership. This Year in Review highlights select alumni accomplishments from 2025, as well as current student achievements, student volunteer and outreach work, and institutional milestones.
Class of 2025 Alumni Highlights
UMHS continued to see some of our of medical school's best and brightest graduates match in competitive, prestigious U.S. residencies from Florida to California and Puerto Rico and beyond.
Dr. Arielys Casiano Ramos '25. Photo courtesy of Dr. Casiano Ramos.
Dr. Arielys Casiano Ramos ’25 began her internal medicine residency at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Center in San Juan. She entered medical school at just 18 years old and later served as a UMHS media ambassador. Her training included diverse clinical environments across multiple regions. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there,” Dr. Casiano Ramos said. “UMHS offers a lot of diversity and opportunities to grow.”
Dr. Alexandra Bloss '25 during her clinical rotations. Photo courtesy of Dr. Bloss.
Dr. Alexandra Bloss ’25 began a preliminary general surgery residency at Jewish Hospital–Mercy Health in Cincinnati, Ohio. She credits UMHS faculty support with helping her prepare for the demands of surgical training and the residency application process. “I am so excited to be starting residency and beyond blessed to be doing it in surgery,” Dr. Bloss said.
Dr. Michelle Outten '25 outside Lincoln Center in New York City before the UMHS Commencement Ceremony last June. Photo: Andre Bolourian.
Dr. Michelle Outten ’25 started her family medicine residency with Florida State University Lee Health in Fort Myers, Florida. A nontraditional student, she balanced family responsibilities with the demands of medical school while focusing on comprehensive patient care. “Being a primary care provider, you don’t get to stop learning,” Dr. Outten said.
Dr. Josean Reyes Flores '25. Photo courtesy of Dr. Reyes Flores.
Dr. Josean Reyes Flores ’25 matched into internal medicine at the University of Puerto Rico Medical Center in San Juan. Inspired by his grandfather, also an internist, he values continuity of care and long-term patient relationships. “The program director emphasized a lot that the people he wanted in the program had to be good people,” Dr. Reyes Flores said.
UMHS students give back through service and outreach
UMHS student Roberto Negrón Laguna made us proud in 2025 of his ongoing community outreach work. Top photo: Mr. Negrón Laguna with UMHS students, all of whom completed their pediatric clinical rotation at Bayamón Medical Center. Students coordinated the donation of over 200 toys for pediatric patients. Center photo: Mr. Negrón Laguna with the medical team from Manati Medical Center at a community health clinic at Estudiaz Inc., a school supporting children with diverse learning needs & a particular focus on the deaf community. The clinic raised funds for the school’s mission, while a generous toy donation from Walgreens brought smiles to the children & families who attended. Bottom photo: Mr. Negrón Laguna with volunteers at a wellness clinic he helped organize at Estudiaz Inc. in San Juan, PR. Photos: UMHS Instagram.
Community service and volunteer outreach
UMHS students demonstrated a strong commitment to community service in 2025, including hospital outreach and student-led volunteer initiatives in Puerto Rico and the continental United States. Highlights included Manatí Medical Center donation efforts and Bayamón Medical Center community outreach led by Roberto Negrón Laguna, Estudiaz Inc. community health clinics supported by UMHS student volunteers, and participation by Claudette Tomas Lluberes, Jezel Morales, and Xandimar Villafane in the Miami-Dade County Medical Association health fair in Hialeah, Florida.
UMHS student Roberto Negrón Laguna during his 3rd donation to the hospital chapels at Manatí Medical Center in Puerto Rico, alongside Diana Torres, who has served the chapel for more than 20 years. Bottom photo: Roberto gathered clothing, blankets, & essential items to support patients & families facing difficult circumstances. Photos: UMHS Instagram
Research presentations and academic engagement
UMHS students also achieved notable academic engagement in 2025, presenting their work at national and international medical conferences. Highlights included research presentations by Michael Cruhigger Marrero at the Annual Michigan ACP-SHM Scientific Meeting in Traverse City, Michigan; and Karyna Soto Rosa at the Mediterranean Emergency Medicine Congress in Budapest, Hungary.
Top photo: UMHS clinical students Claudette Tomas Lluberes, Jezel Morales, & Xandimar Villafañe,joined the Miami Dade County Medical Association team at a Health Fair in Hialeah, Florida, hosted by Univision. Bottom left photo: UMHS student Karyna Soto Rosa at a presentation for the Mediterranean Emergency Congress in Budapest, Hungary. Bottom right photo: Michael Cruhigger Marrero at the Annual Michigan ACP-SHM Scientific Meeting in Traverse City, Michigan. Photos: UMHS Instagram.
Established alumni achievements
UMHS students, staff and faculty alike continued to be inspired by our growing alumni—some of North America's most gifted young doctors. Following is a look at 2025 career achievements of several alumni from earlier graduating classes.
Dr. Laecio Rocha '21. Photo courtesy of Dr. Rocha.
Dr. Laecio Rocha ’21 is completing a surgical obstetrics fellowship at Providence Everett Regional Medical Center in Washington State after a full-spectrum family medicine–obstetrics residency. He brings a global perspective to women’s health and medical education. “UMHS prepares students well for U.S. clinical rotations and residencies,” Dr. Rocha said.
Dr. Sami Majdalany '17. Photo courtesy of Dr. Majdalany.
Dr. Sami Majdalany ’17 is continuing his urology training at the University of California, Davis. He has spoken about the persistence required to pursue a highly competitive specialty. “If you really want something, you have to persevere,” Dr. Majdalany said.
Dr. Lola Ogbonlowo '14. Photo courtesy of Dr. Ogbonlowo.
Dr. Lola Ogbonlowo ’14 is the founder of Lighthouse Family Medicine & Wellness in Virginia, where she provides full-spectrum primary care with an emphasis on underserved populations. She has spoken about building trust and accessibility in healthcare delivery. “I wanted to create a practice where patients feel seen, heard, and supported,” Dr. Ogbonlowo said.
Dr. Mwamba Malekani '19. Photo courtesy of Dr. Malekani.
Dr. Mwamba Malekani ’19 is completing a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital following residency training in Detroit. Her clinical interests include neuromodulation and eating disorder treatment. “Working with children allows me to impact patients early and shape long-term outcomes,” Dr. Malekani said.
From the President: Accreditation & student success
In a 2025 community update, UMHS President Warren Ross highlighted several institutional milestones, including full re-accreditation by the St. Kitts Accreditation Board and the Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine. He also noted strong USMLE performance, with pass rates of 87 percent on Step 1 and 91 percent on Step 2, along with continued success in residency placement and alumni licensure across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Dr. Donna Walker, UMHS Director of Learning Services. Photo courtesy of Dr. Walker.
Student achievements in 2025
UMHS students achieved notable success in 2025, including a historic Match Day with graduates placing into core specialties such as internal medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery at programs nationwide. Additional highlights included expanded student success initiatives led by UMHS Director of Learning Services Dr. Donna Walker and global health service through the Med4You program, where students provided compassionate care to patients in Guatemala.
Looking ahead
UMHS looks forward to Match Day 2026 this coming March when we expect many graduating students to match in prestigious residencies. In addition, the UMHS Alumni Association plans to launch a UMHS Alumni Mentoring Program in early 2026, offering graduates the opportunity to advise current students interested in specific medical specialties.
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.
