MEDICINA DEL CÁNCER
Dr. Veroushka Ballester graduated from medical school at the University of Puerto Rico where she did most of her training, including a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in gastroenterology. As a gastroenterology fellow, she completed a Masters in Clinical and Translational research at the University of Puerto Rico, where she was also a recipient of a NIH Hispanic Clinical and Translational Research Education and Career Developmental Award. She later completed an advanced fellowship in gastrointestinal cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,MN. She joined the faculty of Digestive and Liver Diseases at Columbia University Medical Center in 2015. She still has an appointment at Columbia University for academic and research collaborations. She joined the faculty of the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2020. Her long-term career goal is to advance precision medicine efforts for genetically predisposed individuals and at risk-family members. Ultimately, her goal is to offer a Gastrointestinal Cancer and Genetics Care program who integrates advances in precision medicine, offers high quality multidisciplinary care, and offers equitable genetic care to patients.
Dr. Ballester’s clinical interest lies in the field of gastrointestinal cancer, particularly on the genetics associated with hereditary colon cancer syndromes, colorectal cancer prevention, and identification and management of patients at high-risk for colorectal cancer. Her research has focused on methylated DNA markers for screening and diagnostic applications.
Recent Publications:
- Ballester V, Cruz-Correa. Approach to Familial Predisposition to Colorectal Cancer.
Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2022 Sept;51(3):593-607. - Ballester V, Taylor W, Slettedahl S, Boardman Lisa, Kisiel John, Cruz-Correa M, Ahlquist
D. Novel Methylated DNA Markers Accurately Discriminate Lynch Syndrome Associated Colorectal Neoplasia. Epigenomics.2020 Dec;12(24):2173-2187. - Ballester V. A Step Closer to personalized approach for Lynch Syndrome.
Lancet Oncol.2021Jul;22 (7): 899-901.