Ángel R. Ocasio Gracia

Ángel was born and raised in the mountains of Puerto Rico and educated in the public school system. He is currently pursuing a dual degree in medicine and law at the University of Puerto Rico. His academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of criminal law, drug policy reform, and education for peace. He is also interested in end-of-life care, palliative care, neurodegenerative diseases, forensic psychiatry and geriatrics.

He is the co-founder and coordinator of the Coalition for the Transformation of the Correctional System of Puerto Rico, a multi-organizational alliance that advocates for a correctional model grounded in restorative justice and public health, supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of people deprived of liberty. Ángel also collaborates on a cartographic research initiative documenting femicides in Puerto Rico to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis of gender-based violence on the island.

Throughout his academic career, Ángel has developed strong leadership and civic engagement skills. During his time in student government at the University of Puerto Rico, he worked closely with faculty and peers from diverse disciplines, experiences that shaped his interdisciplinary approach to advocacy. This was later important as a medical student, where he was able to collaborate with other students and together they achieved the cancellation of $1.7 million in medical debt for low-income families in Puerto Rico, impacting more than 1,145 individuals. This was the result of a collaboration between the student organization Proyecto Arbona and Undue Medical Debt, an organization in the United States.

Outside of his academic and advocacy work, Ángel enjoys art, nature, and swimming.

Education

  • B. S. in Biomedical Sciences | 2022 | University of Puerto Rico, Ponce Campus, Ponce, PR

  • M. D. | 2023-Present | University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR

  • J. D. | 2023-Present | University of Puerto Rico School of Law, San Juan, PR

Affilitations and Credentials (select)

  • 2025-Present | Research Assistant, Center for Social Research, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras, San Juan, PR

  • 2024-Present | Coordinator and co-founder, Coalition for the Transformation of the Correctional System of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR

  • 2023-Present | Founder and President, El Círculo de la Mariposa, San Juan, PR

  • 2024 | Academic Senator, Council of Students of the School of Medicine, San Juan, PR

  • 2023-2024 | Student Representative before the Disciplinary Board, San Juan, PR

  • 2020-Present | Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP)

  • 2024 | Fundamentals of Clinical and Translational Science, Mayo Clinic

  • 2023 | Certified Citizen Legislator, Office of Citizen Participation, Capitol of Puerto Rico, PR

  • 2023 | Certification in Citizen Skills, National Training Program for Leaders, Agenda Ciudadana Foundation, PR

Media References and Appearances

Awards and Honors

  • 2022 | Highest GPA in Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, PR

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