Bertha C. Escobar-Poni

Bertha C. Escobar-Poni, MD is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy at Loma Linda University's School of Medicine. She holds an MD from Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado (1989). Her research focuses on anatomical education, cardiac developmental biology, radiation safety in surgical procedures, and public health epidemiology. She has coordinated major grants including NIH-funded studies on health disparities and congenital heart disease mechanisms. Teaching responsibilities include advanced anatomy courses and pathology instruction. Recent research explores AI-driven medical imaging and radiation exposure mitigation in urological surgeries.

Notable contributions include pioneering work on gross anatomy's role in medical professionalism (2006), cadaver studies on radiation exposure during nephrolithotomy (2018), and longitudinal studies on cerebral infarction outcomes in Venezuela. Her work bridges basic science (gap junction research) with clinical applications in stroke therapy and surgical safety.

Her 13 publications span radiology innovations, cardiac genetics, and public health surveys. Ongoing research includes AI applications in CT imaging for patients with metal implants (2025). She has led interdisciplinary teams in NIH-funded projects addressing healthcare disparities and cardiovascular pathophysiology.