Danny Puente Proaño, MHSc.
CURRICULUM COORDINATOR
Ideation Clinic
RESEARCHER
SLIC (Latin-American Interdisciplinary Society of Cannabinology)
Dr. Danny Puente Proaño is an MD from the Universidad Central del Ecuador, he has several years of clinical experience in the Ecuadorian health system linking his work to tertiary care Hospitals. In addition to his professional practice, he has carried out ethnobotanical and phytopharmacological research, based on millenary ancestral knowledge, thus rediscovering the therapeutic potential of multiple medicinal plants endemic to the Andean highlands and the Ecuadorian jungle with a special focus on the Cannabis plant and multiple active principles present in diverse entheogenic plants.
Deepening the study, knowledge, and understanding in the modulation of the endocannabinoid system, carrying out multiple certifications in Endocannabinology and advanced studies of the therapeutic use of cannabis and cannabinoids where he conducted a pilot study for the clinical management and control of related neuropsychiatric symptoms with neurodegenerative and neurocognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease with using phytocannabinoids, integrating through a holistic approach a multidisciplinary team for this system manipulation, highlighting the potential that may exist there to treat different pathologies.
He is a member of several national and international scientific committees and is an active member of the Latin-American Interdisciplinary Society of Cannabinology, SLIC for its acronym in Spanish. Throughout his performance, he has made contributions in training, prevention, treatment, and harm reduction, including innovative theoretical and methodological developments with an emphasis on ethical issues in the clinical context. Currently is an MHSc candidate in the Translational Research Program at the University of Toronto and pursuing a diploma in Endocannabinology offered by the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).
Danny has joined us as the Curriculum Coordinator for the Ideation Key Program, with a focus on the ECHO stream.
In his free time, Danny loves to share time with his family, especially playing with his daughter and putting his story-writing and telling skills into practice. On the other hand, he loves to practice adventure sports such as mountain climbing and biking as well as play soccer and practice martial arts to keep balance in his mind and body.
"Clinical innovation in diagnosis and treatment is a promise for the optimization of health interventions, but it must go hand in hand with safety and accessibility for patients, in addition to being integrated into a public health policy that respects fundamental rights."
Dr. RAQUEL PEYRAUBE
What does your role at the Ideation Clinic™ entail?
My role at Ideation Clinic is to contribute to the formation of a top-level curriculum program integrating a multidisciplinary team that highlights innovative ideas that propose a new discussion in diverse fields linked to the healthcare sector. With concern, empathy and sensitivity to impact public health we can improve the quality of life of the population.
What drew you to the Ideation Clinic™?
The quick answer is coinciding with people motivated to transform is what inspires me to be here and give the best of myself to achieve our collective goal. But the real answer is for the love. That love for humanity, for patients, and for understanding their suffering. Loving supposes bravery, courage, ability to give up your comfort for the good of the other. I come from a place in the middle of the Andes where the spirit of the Andean worldview is still alive, where my ancestors shaped a community lifestyle to live fully, called "Sumak Kawsay" that has motivated us to look at the difficulties as opportunities to improve and therefore innovate to achieve the common good.
Who is your favourite Ideator?
I consider Dr. Raquel Peyraube and Dr. Paola Cubillos to be more than colleagues ; they are innovative genius. They are valuable professionals, who have been more than mentors for me and a source of inspiration for many professionals in the field of Endocannabinology in Latin America and the world. They also rigorously raised many conversations about the therapeutic use of cannabis and have expanded this valuable discussion in other areas beyond the medical and academic field, managing to generate political, social, and cultural changes around drugs with broad scientific and ethical support. That is why this great trajectory deserves to be shared and disclosed.
What is your Superpower?
I think my only super ability is to be curious and perseverant. I love to try to understand the causes in order to work on the effects. I have liked being disruptive in many areas beyond the personal to professional and academic. I carry the rebellion in my genetics. In order to transform something, everything must first be transformed within our mind and soul.
Two Truths and a Lie:
Adrenaline lover.
Widely patient, with little time I may see the positive side of everything.
I have never stopped marvelling at nature and its wonders.
Who or what inspires creativity in you?
For a couple of years, my inspiring muse has been my daughter, who motivates me day after day with her singular life appreciation and has reinvented and revolutionized my whole world. Contributing with her energy and creativity that desires to learn everything, reminding me from her young age how potentially valuable everything can be if we use it in the best and simple way.
