Name: Rennie Michelle Medina Martinez

Affiliation: Universidad Catolica de Honduras, Campus San Pedro y San Pablo

Linkedin: Rennie M. Medina, MD

Twitter: Rmichelle96

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a general physician and early career researcher from Honduras, currently coordinating research initiatives at Universidad Catolica de Honduras in San Pedro Sula.

What are your research interests?

My research interest centers on community-based research that translates directly into clinical practice and public health action. Mostly on cardiovascular risk detection, therapeutic inertia, epidemiology.

What are you working on right now?

Currently involved in community based observational studies evaluating blood pressure patterns, self-monitoring practices, behavioural risk factors in young adult populations.

What do you hope to achieve in the field of hypertension over the next 5 years?

I truly hope to contribute the installation of the first cardiometabolic unit in my faculty at Universidad Catolica de Honduras serving as a single center research facility for observational studies.

What challenges have you faced in your career to date?.

Mostly resource-limited settings, where access to funding and data infrastructure is often restricted. However, this has not stopped our studies.

Which of your publications are you proudest of and why?

 I’m particularly proud of my work on vertical childbirth practices based on the knowledge of traditional midwives in rural Honduras. This study documents practices that are often invisible in academic literature yet deeply rooted in community health. It reflects my broader research philosophy, understanding health beyond lab parameters and recognizing how cultural, behavioural, and contextual factors shape outcomes. Same approach guides my research in hypertension, where understanding real life behaviours and context is essential for effective cardiovascular prevention.

What is your favourite manuscript from a lab other than your own?

I would definitely state that the “Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults”.

What are your passions outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and exploring ancient history. This helps me keep feet grounded, maintain balance and perspective. I thrive in these moments as it means I reconnect with myself.