Private for-profit health sciences university in Puerto Rico with MD, dental, psychology, and nursing programs.
PHSU offers graduate and undergraduate degrees across five schools: Medicine (MD), Dental Medicine (DMD), Behavioral & Brain Sciences (PsyD, PhD Clinical Psychology, PhD Biomedical Sciences, MSSP School Psychology), Nursing (BSN), and Public Health (MPH, DrPH). The institution also awards Medical Sciences (MSMS) degrees and various professional and postgraduate certifications. Programs emphasize research in non-communicable diseases, health disparities, infectious diseases, neurosciences, and community health.
The Ponce Research Institute conducts research in basic, behavioral, public health, and clinical sciences. PHSU maintains academic partnerships with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute (since 2002) and the University of Nicosia Medical School. Research areas include cancer, women's health, gastrointestinal disorders, HIV, dengue, genetics, and obesity prevention.
The main campus relocated to a new facility in Ponce in January 1995. PHSU operates additional campuses in St. Louis, Missouri (with an announced $80 million investment in 2020 for a new medical school), a University Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and an International Location in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. The university partners with five hospitals in Puerto Rico for clinical training.
PHSU accepts applications through both legacy and new application systems. The institution reports strong residency match rates: 98% of medical students matched into residencies across 18 specialties. The university serves a diverse student body and maintains accreditation standards across all graduate medical education programs.