Students at the UAG School of Medicine raised awareness about rare diseases

Students and professors from the International Medicine Program (PIM) at the UAG School of Medicine participated in the "Rare Disease Day, 1st Symposium," an event aimed at raising awareness about rare diseases and their impact on the lives of those who suffer from them, economies, governments, healthcare systems, and society.

As part of this activity, participants created infographics that were meticulously reviewed by the UAG "Research Department" team. The event featured the participation of several doctors who are part of the newly established Research Department, under the direction of Dr. Lucía Alvarez, Dr. Ana Gabriela Colima, Dr. Alejandro Dávalos, Dr. Jorge Miguel, Dr. Andrés Aranda, and Dr. Yisel Mi. They organized the first phase and delivered brief presentations. In the second phase, students had the opportunity to present their analyses of the selected disease to the faculty and their peers. 

The Research Department is a program created as part of the curricular expansion initiative, under the direction and planning of Dean Kashif Ahmad, and led by Dr. Lucía Elizabeth Alvarez Palazuelos, in continuous collaboration with Dr. Patricia Romero, Dr. Andrea Ruiz, and Dr. Sandra Guzmán.

This event was made possible thanks to the logistical support of Dr. Ana Gabriela Colima in collaboration with the entire faculty of the international program, who are also part of this new and cutting-edge Research Department, as well as the enthusiasm and preparation of our students willing to share their learning.

Many without treatment

The event's objective was to raise awareness among the student and faculty community about the existence of rare diseases. In this way, they contributed to recognizing the unique challenges faced by individuals and families affected by rare diseases. It also aimed to pay tribute to the dedication of researchers and healthcare professionals working tirelessly to understand, diagnose, and treat these complex conditions.Rare diseases are those that occur with a frequency of 65 per 100,000 inhabitants, or 1 per 2,000 inhabitants, affecting 8% of the world's population.

How many rare diseases exist?

Currently, 7,400 rare diseases are registered, with most of them going undiagnosed or being misdiagnosed, leading to an emotional and financial burden for patients. More than 90% of these diseases still lack any FDA-approved treatment, and the few that exist are often expensive, making access difficult for many patients. Therefore, this becomes a significant public health issue.The presentations covered topics such as "Diseases: Vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies," "Cardiac Amyloidosis," "Goodpasture Syndrome," and "MELAS Syndrome."The students presented 30 different infographics, each referring to a rare disease, its frequency, pathophysiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment.