| |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Dr. Zorrilla established
the first longitudinal clinic for Women Living with HIV
in Puerto Rico. It evolved as a consequence of a
universal prenatal HIV screening program established in
1987, at a time when no treatments were available for
HIV. Dr. Zorrilla and her colleagues believed there were
benefits in knowing the HIV serostatus of women,
particularly during pregnancy. As the director of one of
the first 10 pilot sites of a landmark study aimed at
preventing perinatal HIV transmission, Dr. Zorrilla
played an instrumental and historic role in changing the
public health policy in Puerto Rico. An accomplishment
for which Dr. Zorrilla feels especially proud is the
zero transmission rate of HIV among the more than 350
infants born to HIV-infected pregnant women, who
received anti-retroviral treatment at her clinic.
Dr. Zorrilla scientific journey began by earning an
undergraduate degree from the University of Puerto Rico.
Afterwards, Zorrilla received a M.D. from the University
of Puerto Rico (UPR) School of Medicine and completed
her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the
University Hospital. Certified by the American Board of
Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Academy of
HIV Medicine, she is a full professor in the OB-GYN
Department.
Currently, Dr. Zorrilla is the principal investigator of
the UPR Clinical Trials Unit, a merger of the three
previously independent clinical trials units including
the Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, the Adult
Clinical Trials Unit and the HIV Vaccine Trials Unit.
This new unit will centralize and enhance the
opportunities for participation into HIV-related
clinical trials for diverse groups in the island
including adults, adolescents, women and children.
Dr. Zorrilla is a consultant for diverse national and
international organizations, including the National
Institutes of Health, the Maternal and Child Health
Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the Institute for Health Care Improvement and others.
She is currently a member of the Office of Women’s
Health Advisory Committee and the CDC/HRSA AIDS and STD
Advisory Committee.
Dr. Zorrilla is the first OB-GYN trained woman in Puerto
Rico to be selected as an oral examiner for the American
Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, which is a testament
of her academic and clinical achievements. She is
designated as a “Local Legend” by the American Women’s
Medical Association and the National Library of Medicine
as part of a project called “Changing the Face of
Medicine”, co-sponsored by both institutions. She
received the award “Mujer a todo Corazón” (Full-Hearted
Woman) from the Puerto Rico Women’s Cardiology
Association in recognition of her work related to HIV in
women. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
