Research & Scholarly Work

Sofía Santillán Herrera is a recently graduated physician (MD, UNAM) currently completing her social service at the National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, where she serves as a research assistant on active cardiology protocols. She is the 2025 AHA Paul Dudley White International Scholar, an ESC Professional Member, and has presented original research at 13 international congresses.

Research Projects

Ongoing Featured

Evaluation of Therapeutic Adherence with Fixed-Dose Combination Therapy (Amlodipine/Losartan/Rosuvastatin) vs. Single-Drug Pharmacotherapy in Systemic Arterial Hypertension and Dyslipidemia

Research Assistant — National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City

2025 – Present

Clinical research protocol comparing fixed-dose combination pharmacotherapy against conventional single-drug regimens in a Mexican population with co-existing systemic arterial hypertension and dyslipidemia. Evaluating adherence patterns, metabolic outcomes, and patient-reported measures.

Focus / Methods: Clinical protocol, pharmacotherapy adherence, cardiovascular risk factors

Ongoing Featured

Effect of Vericiguat on Ventricular Mechanics Assessed by Advanced Echocardiography in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction (VOICE HF)

Research Assistant — National Institute of Cardiology Ignacio Chávez, Mexico City

2025 – Present

Clinical protocol evaluating the impact of vericiguat (soluble guanylate cyclase stimulator) on left ventricular mechanics using advanced echocardiographic parameters in patients with HFrEF. Outcomes include strain imaging and functional indices.

Focus / Methods: Advanced echocardiography, strain imaging, HFrEF, vericiguat

Completed

Effect of Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation on Psychosocial Functioning Using the SCOPA-PS Scale: A Cross-Sectional Study

Research Assistant — Mission Brain – UNAM, Mexico City

2022 – 2022

Cross-sectional study assessing psychosocial outcomes in patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (subthalamic nucleus) using the validated SCOPA-PS scale.

Focus / Methods: Deep brain stimulation, neuropsychology, SCOPA-PS, cross-sectional design

Completed

Infratentorial and Supratentorial Tumors and Their Relationship with Sleep Disturbances

Research Assistant — Mission Brain – UNAM, Mexico City

2022 – 2022

Research project investigating the association between anatomical tumor location (infra- vs. supratentorial) and the prevalence and severity of sleep disturbances in neuro-oncology patients.

Focus / Methods: Neuro-oncology, sleep medicine, tumor location, observational study

Completed

Association of Visceral Fat, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Serum Adiponectin Levels in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at a Tertiary Care Center

Research Assistant — Endocrinology Department, National Medical Center "Siglo XXI", Mexico City

2023 – 2023

Observational study examining the interplay between visceral adiposity, NAFLD, and adiponectin levels in a tertiary-care T2DM cohort, with implications for cardiometabolic risk stratification.

Focus / Methods: Metabolic syndrome, NAFLD, adipokines, T2DM, observational design

Congress Presentations

Oral Featured

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Pulmonary Hypertension: A Survival Analysis in a Hispanic Population

European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC 2025)

Madrid, Spain

August 2025

Survival analysis in a Hispanic cohort of HFpEF patients with comorbid pulmonary hypertension. Abstract published in European Heart Journal, 46(Suppl 1), ehaf784.1503.

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Oral Featured

Impact of Revascularization Strategy on Advanced Left Ventricular Mechanics in STEMI: Primary PCI versus Pharmaco-Invasive Approach

European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC 2025)

Madrid, Spain

August 2025

Comparative analysis of left ventricular mechanics by advanced echocardiography in STEMI patients treated with primary PCI vs. pharmaco-invasive strategy. Abstract published in European Heart Journal, 46(Suppl 1), ehaf784.1823.

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Poster

Impact of GLP-1 Agonists on Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Obese Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Cardiometabolic and Functional Outcomes

European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC 2025)

Madrid, Spain

August 2025

Meta-analysis evaluating GLP-1 receptor agonists in obese HFpEF patients. Abstract published in European Heart Journal, 46(Suppl 1), ehaf784.1048.

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Poster

Endovascular Management of Stanford B Aortic Dissection in a Young Patient with a Thoracoabdominal Aneurysm: A Viable Strategy?

American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025

New Orleans, LA, USA

November 2025

Poster

Left Atrial Appendage Aneurysm with Thrombosis and Complex Cardiac Surgery

Mexican Society of Cardiology Congress 2025

Guadalajara, Mexico

October 2025

Oral Featured

Cardiac Architecture and Vulnerability: Subvalvular Pulmonary Endocarditis in a Patient with Situs Inversus, Dextrocardia and Complex Congenital Heart Disease

Mexican Society of Cardiology Congress 2025

Guadalajara, Mexico

October 2025

Oral

Extensive Type A Aortic Dissection Treated with Total Arch Replacement and Elephant Trunk: Early Course and Planned Second-Stage Endovascular Repair

Critical Cardiovascular Care (C3) Congress 2025

Mexico

October 2025

Poster

Papillary Muscle Rupture after Inferior Myocardial Infarction with Acute Mitral Regurgitation and Shock: CABG plus Mitral Valve Replacement — Critical Timeline and Outcome

Critical Cardiovascular Care (C3) Congress 2025

Mexico

October 2025

Poster

Correlation of Echocardiographic Parameters of Paradoxical Septal Motion in Patients with Right Ventricular Dysfunction and Pulmonary Hypertension

Annual Meeting of the Mexican Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SOMEIC 2025)

Mexico City, Mexico

September 2025

Poster

Post-Infarction Ventricular Septal Defect with Mixed Shock: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges

Annual Meeting of the Mexican Society of Echocardiography and Cardiovascular Imaging (SOMEIC 2025)

Mexico City, Mexico

September 2025

Poster

Prognostic Evaluation Based on the Etiology of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension

32nd Inter-American Cardiology Congress (SIAC 2025)

Cartagena, Colombia

June 2025

Poster

Severe Stenosis Due to Thrombosis in an Aortic Bioprosthesis: Clinical Course and Surgical Resolution

32nd Inter-American Cardiology Congress (SIAC 2025)

Cartagena, Colombia

June 2025

Oral

NSTEMI with Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Yamaguchi Variant

Centre for Cardiovascular Imaging and Interventional Technology Meeting (CITIC 2025)

Santa Fe, State of Mexico, Mexico

June 2025