Caroline B. Appleyard, PhD is a Professor in the Department of Basic Sciences (Physiology Division) and Internal Medicine at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) - Ponce Research Institute. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland before completing her doctoral studies at the University of Southampton, England. She then gained extensive experience in the field of gastrointestinal inflammation, through her post-doctoral studies at the University of Calgary, Canada and at the University of South Dakota. Her current studies center on the interactions between inflammatory mediators, microflora, and behavior, in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of inflammatory conditions of the intestine. She has developed several animal models to study these conditions and help elucidate the neuro-immune mechanisms involved with a view to developing complementary therapies. Dr. Appleyard strongly believes that mentoring and exposure to training, and learning from others experiences will help to ensure that women and minorities stay in science. At PHSU she is heavily involved in scientific training in her capacity as Program Director of the NIGMS RISE graduate training program, and co-leader for the Research Education Core of the U54 PSM-Moffitt Cancer Center partnership, and this extends to her involvement in mentoring programs at the national level. Most recently she was recognized at the national level becoming the Inaugural recipient of the A. Clifford Barger Underrepresented Minority Mentorship Award from the American Physiological Society. She regularly reviews for academic journals and funding agencies and has coordinated several scientific workshops and meetings. She is an active member of several professional societies including the American Physiological Society (currently Chair of the Career Opportunities in Physiology Committee; Past-President of the Puerto Rico Physiological Society), the American Gastroenterology Association, the American Association for Cancer Research and the Association for Women In Science.