Faculty Location
Education
Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, B.S. Biochemistry
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, Ph.D. Biochemistry
Research Interests
Medical Education
Empathy in Medicine
HIV
Achievements
U.S. Department of Education, Hispanic-Serving Institutions STEM and Articulation Program, Award #P031C210100
U.S. Department of Education, Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP), Award #P120A190043
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institute of Health, Award #R21AT008540
Faculty Advisor
Medicine in Motion
Brazilian JiuJitsu
Lifestyle Medicine
Breadcrumb
- MD Program
- Meet Our Faculty & Staff
- Peter Barbosa, PhD
Peter Barbosa, PhD
Dr. Peter Barbosa was raised in Añasco, Puerto Rico, and started his undergraduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez campus. Dr. Barbosa finished his B.S. in biochemistry from Texas A&M University and completed a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. His first postdoctoral fellowship was in HIV research at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. Following his relocation to San Francisco, he worked as a scientist and immunology professor specializing in HIV and AIDS.
While working at the Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, the University of California Medical School (UCSF), and the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM), his research was published widely. During his 17-year tenure at CCPM (later renamed CSPM), Dr. Barbosa served as a professor of many courses, including biochemistry, immunology, microbiology, and research methods.
In August 2011, he started as a Professor of Pre-Clinical Sciences and Director of Biochemistry at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine (NYCPM) located in Harlem, New York City. During his 8-year tenure at NYCPM, he continued his research activities and received an NIH grant in collaboration with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to study the impact of mindfulness meditation on chronic inflammation in older HIV-positive patients. In May 2019, he started an administrative role as Chairman of the Natural Sciences Department at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado) in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During his tenure at Sagrado, Dr. Barbosa led the establishment of the Center for Academic Research and the combined funding of over $8 million in federal grants. He also led the founding of the new School of Health and Sciences.
As a scientist, his primary interests involve: 1) chronic inflammation in HIV infection, 2) podiatric complications of HIV infection (focusing on plantar verrucae), and 3) ways to improve empathy & patient/provider communication among healthcare students. His commitment includes involving students in research endeavors, and his research teams are well-published. Among his scientific publications, students in his teams have served as co-authors on more than 20 occasions. His peer-reviewed publications have been cited over 1,000 times in the scientific literature. Teaching in a manner that intellectually stimulates his students is his passion as a professor. He is personable, approachable, and always available for his student’s needs.
Dr. Barbosa currently serves as a Professor of Immunology at the American University of the Caribbean in Sint Maarten.
Publications
- Changing Answers in Multiple-Choice Exam Questions: Patterns of Top-tier versus Bottom-tier Students in Podiatric Medical School. Grant Yonemoto, Milad Motalebi Kashani, Erica Benoit, Jeffrey J. Weiss, and, Peter Barbosa. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 10: 1-7, June 2023.
- Empathy in Podiatric Medical Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Comprehensive Care. Peter Barbosa, Michael J. Huchital, and, Jeffrey J. Weiss. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 110(5): 1-12, November 2020.
- Plantar Verrucae in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection: 25 Years of Research of a Viral Coinfection. Jean Paul Dardet, Nicholas Patrick Blasingame, Daniel Okpare, Luke Leffler, and, Peter Barbosa. Clinics in Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, 37(2): 317-325, April 2020.
- Comparative Analysis of User Perception and Step Length Using Toe Separating, Contoured Sandals versus Thong Style Flip-Flops. Jay Emlen, Loretta Logan, Michael Huchital, Amanda Siegel, Matthew Weintraub, John T. Doucette, and, Peter Barbosa. Clinical Research on Foot & Ankle, 4(4): 215, December 2016.
- Strong Correlations between Empathy, Emotional Intelligence and Personality Traits among Podiatric Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Study. Kurtis Bertram, John Randazzo, Nathaniel Alabi, Jack Levenson, John T. Doucette, and, Peter Barbosa. Education for Health, 29(3): pp. 186-194, September/December 2016.
- Reduction in Size and Number of Plantar Verrucae in HIV-infected Individuals after the Implementation of HAART. Endri Afesllari, Timothy J. Miller, Michael J. Huchital, Christy M. King, James S. Johnston, and, Peter Barbosa. Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, 105(5): pp. 401-406, September/October 2015.
Training
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France, HIV Research
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, HIV Research