Puerto Rico Urological Association

Encouraging the study, improving the practice, and elevating the standards of the field of Urology in Puerto Rico

- since 1949 -

About Us

Our History

The Puerto Rico Urological Association (PRUA) was founded September 2, 1949 by seven urologists: Dr. Luis A. Sanjurjo, Dr. Alberto Mejía Casals, Dr. Estéban García Cabrera, Dr. José Ferrer, Dr. Pablo Curbelo, Dr. Julio Colón, and Dr. Manuel Alsina Capó. Dr. Estéban García Cabrera was elected to be the first President and Dr. Luis A. Sanjurjo the first Secretary.

Dr. Charles Higgins, Chief of Urology at the Cleveland Clinic, member of the American Board of Urology, former president of the American Urological Association (AUA), and former president of The American College of Surgeons was instrumental in the founding of the PRUA. In July 1949, Dr. Charles Higgins visited Puerto Rico to direct a postgraduate course held by the Puerto Rico Medical Association. During his visit, he met with his former resident Dr. Alberto Mejía Casals and Dr. Luis A. Sanjurjo, both practicing urologists in Puerto Rico. They discussed the importance and benefits of establishing a urological association in Puerto Rico. Having presided over the most important urological and the most important surgical associations in the Americas, Dr. Higgins offered his support and guidance.

Nine months later, the newly founded PRUA held its first annual meeting with the participation of Dr. Thomas Moore, President Elect of the AUA, Dr. Harold McDonald, President of the South Eastern Section of the AUA, and Dr. Russell B. Carson, Secretary of the South Eastern Section of the AUA. Dr. Charles Higgins was also present, and was elected first honorary member of the PRUA.

Mission and Vision

The Puerto Rico Urological Association is a non-profit organization whose goal is to encourage the study, improve the practice, and elevate the standards of the field of adult and pediatric urology in Puerto Rico. The PRUA has over 125 members including more than 100 urologists. The PRUA has been directly involved in numerous educational programs designed for health professionals as well as patients and their caregivers. These programs have focused on prevention, early detection, and management of urological diseases including: cancer, sexual dysfunction, urolithiasis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, infections, and congenital anomalies. The PRUA has and will continue to promote access to the best available treatments for the urology patient and access to the highest quality urology education for the healthcare professional.

Board of Directors

PRUA OFFICERS 2025

Alvin López Pujals, MD

President

Ceciliana De Andino, MD

Treasurer

Miguel Sosa Portillo, MD

Secretary

Freddy Méndez Torres, MD

President Elect

Ramphis Morales, MD

Educational Program Director

PRUA EXECUTIVE Committe Members 2025

Alvin López Pujals, MD

President

Ceciliana De Andino, MD

Treasurer

Miguel Sosa Portillo, MD

Secretary

Freddy Méndez Torres

President Elect

Lourdes Guerrios Rivera

President 2024

Luis Ambert Valderrama

Past President 2023

Marcos Pérez Brayfield

Past President 2022

Past Presidents

1949 † ESTEBAN GARCIA CABRERA, MD

1950 † ALBERTO MEJIAS CASALS, MD

1951 † PABLO G. CURBELO, MD

1952 † LUIS A. SANJURJO, MD

1953 † LUIS A. SANJURJO, MD

1954 † JULIO E. COLON, MD

1955 † JULIO E. COLON, MD

1956 † NESTOR MENDEZ, MD

1957 † MANUEL F. ALSINA CAPO, MD

1958 † ESTEBAN GARCIA CABRERA, MD

1959 † LUIS M. ISALES, MD

1960 † BENIGNO RODRIGUEZ LUCCA, MD

1961 † ROBERTO F. FORTUÑO CARMONA, MD

1962 JOSE J. FIGUEROA COLON, MD

1963 † BERNARDINO GONZALEZ FLORES, MD

1964 † LUIS A. SANJURJO, MD

1965 † RAMON ALMODOVAR ACEVEDO, MD

1966 † GILBERTO RODRIGUEZ, MD

1967 JESUS COLOM AVILES, MD

1968 † MANUEL HOYO RUCABADO, MD

1969 † PABLO G. CURBELO, MD

1970 † BERNARDINO GONZALEZ FLORES, MD

1971 † ROBERTO F. FORTUÑO CARMONA, MD

1972 † ANGEL F. AYALA, MD

1973 † CARLYLE BENAVENT, MD

1974 TOMAS ACEVEDO GUEVARA, MD

1975 † ANDRES ACOSTA OTERO, MD

1976 JUAN A. RODRIGUEZ QUILES, MD

1977 † LUIS A. RODRIGUEZ NEGRON, MD

1978 † RAFAEL MERCADO SILE, MD

1979 † CARLOS ACOSTA JIMENEZ, MD

1980 † FERNANDO RECIO, MD

1981 † ANTONIO DEL TORO, MD

1982 † FERNANDO RECIO, MD

1983 FRANCISCO CAPO, MD

1984 † JOSE LUIS FERRER CALDERON, MD

1985 † ANTONIO PURAS BAEZ, MD

1986 RAFAEL RUIZ QUIJANO, MD

1987 FRANCISCO CAPO, MD

1988 † ALBERTO RAMIREZ COSTA, MD

1989 † BENIGNO RODRIGUEZ CAMPOS, MD

1990 ROBERTO J. CANTO MARTI, MD

1991 WILMAR C. RODRIGUEZ, MD

1992 † ALBERT VAZQUEZ LUGO, MD

1993 † PABLO DEFENDINI SUSONI, MD

1994 JOSE A. MAYMI RIVERA, MD

1995 JOSE R. GUZMAN VIRELLA, MD

1996 EDWIN MAESO GONZALEZ, MD

1997 PABLO CARDONA DOBLE, MD

1998 † HECTOR CORDERO JIMENEZ, MD

1999 † ANTONIO PURAS BAEZ, MD

2000 WILLIAM ROMAN AQUERON, MD

2001 TIMOTEO TORRES SANTIAGO, MD

2002 JOSE NUÑEZ CORRADA, MD

2003 JORGE CRESPO CARRILLO, MD

2004 FELIX MENDOZA ROSA, MD

2005 RAUL ARROYO ROSARIO, MD

2006 GABRIEL MIRANDA RAMIREZ, MD

2007 RAMON SEPULVEDA ABREU, MD

2008 GILBERTO RUIZ DEYA, MD

2009 LUIS F. VIERA CABAN, MD

2010 JUAN J. MEDINA TIRADO, MD

2011 MARCIAL WALKER BALLESTER, MD

2012 † JOSE ALLENDE VAZQUEZ, MD

2013 ALBERTO RAMIREZ LOPEZ, MD

2014 ROBERTO VÁZQUEZ RAMOS, MD

2015 RICHARD BÁEZ TELLADO, MD

2016 RICARDO SÁNCHEZ ORTIZ, MD

2017 WILLIAM ROMAN TORREGUITART, MD

2018 WILLIAM ROMAN TORREGUITART, MD

2019 EDUARDO CANTO REPETTI, MD

2020 JOSÉ FOURNIER REBOLLO, MD

2021 HÉCTOR L. LÓPEZ HUERTAS, MD

2022 MARCOS PÉREZ BRAYFIELD, MD

2023 LUIS AMBERT VALDERRAMA, MD

2024 LOURDES GUERRIOS RIVERA, MD