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Dr. Perez-Colon holding her Culture Coin

ľƵ Health recognizes Dr. Elimarys Perez-Colon with culture coin for leading medical mission in Colombia

Elimarys Perez-Colon, MD, associate professor of Internal Medicine with the ľƵ Health Morsani College of Medicine, was recently named a ľƵ Health Culture Champion in recognition of her extraordinary commitment to global health, mentorship and service.

Dr. Perez-Colon with her colleagues.

Dr. Perez-Colon with her team.

In April, Dr. Perez-Colon led a medical mission trip to Medellin, Colombia, as part of the International Health Service Collaborative (IHSC), a ľƵ Health student organization dedicated to promoting sustainable health in communities around the world.

Under Dr. Perez-Colon’s leadership, a multidisciplinary team of 21 students and six faculty members from all four ľƵ Health colleges partnered with colleagues from Universidad CES to deliver vital health services to local communities in need.

“We provided community-specific education and care, including internal medicine, pediatrics and OB-GYN services tailored to what’s accessible in Colombia,” said Dr. Perez-Colon. “Pharmacists, public health students, medical students and nursing students from ľƵ Health all worked together alongside colleagues from Universidad CES to serve patients.”

Thanks to this collaborative mission, over 280 patients received clinical consultations in specialties such as internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, dermatology and optometry. In addition, more than 450 individuals benefited from pharmacy services, glucose testing, health education workshops and other community outreach initiatives.

Beyond the care provided, the mission also furnished ľƵ Health students with an immersive global health experience, where they engaged with patients and faculty from a different culture while promoting sustainable health care.

“This work is both a vital service to underserved communities and an invaluable learning experience for our students,” Dr. Perez-Colon said. “Working in resource-limited settings helps learners sharpen their clinical skills and deepens their understanding of how social conditions can impact health. These lessons will be carried with them throughout their careers.”

Dr. Perez-Colon with Dr. Lockwood

Dr. Perez-Colon with Dr. Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and executive vice president of ľƵ Health.

For her exceptional contributions to global health and student development, Dr. Perez-Colon was recognized with a Culture Coin by Charles J. Lockwood, MD, MHCM, dean of the Morsani College of Medicine and executive vice president of ľƵ Health.

“We are incredibly proud of Dr. Perez-Colon’s leadership,” Dr. Lockwood said. “Her commitment to global outreach and interprofessional collaboration represents the very best of ľƵ Health’s mission to improve lives locally and globally.”

Mark G. Moseley, MD, MHA, president of ľƵ Tampa General Physicians and professor and chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the ľƵ Health Morsani College of Medicine, echoed the same sentiment.

“Her leadership in bringing together students and faculty across multiple health disciplines, both here at ľƵ and internationally, is exactly the kind of innovative, compassionate care we strive to model,” Dr. Moseley said.

Dr. Perez-Colon posing with Culture Coin.

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About Health News

ľƵ Health News highlights the great work of the faculty, staff and students across the four health colleges – Morsani College of Medicine, College of Public Health, College of Nursing and Taneja College of Pharmacy – and the multispecialty physicians group. ľƵ Health, an integral part of the University of South Florida, integrates research, education and health care to reach our shared value - making life better.