Monica Penon Portmann, MD

Dr. Mónica Penón Portmann is a medical and biochemical geneticist specializing in rare inherited metabolic disorders, including lysosomal, metal-deposition, and vitamin-dependent conditions. She provides comprehensive, compassionate care to children and families affected by complex genetic diseases.

Her research focuses on clinical trials in inborn errors of metabolism and the use of large genomic datasets to better understand rare disease biology. She is committed to advancing equity and inclusion in genetic medicine.

Dr. Penón earned her medical degree with honors from the University of Costa Rica. She completed residency training in pediatrics and medical genetics and genomics, as well as a fellowship in medical biochemical genetics at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Education
Fellowship, 07/2023 - Medical Biochemical Genetics, University of Washington
Residency, 07/2022 - Medical Genetics and Genomics, University of California San Francisco
Postdoctoral Scholar, 07/2020 - Medical Genetics, Shieh Lab, University of California San Francisco
Residency, 04/2018 - Pediatrics, University of Costa Rica
MD, 02/2014 - Doctor in Medicine, Honors degree, University of Costa Rica
Honors and Awards
  • Charles Epstein Award Semifinalist, American Society of Human Genetics, 2020
  • Mead Johnson Morphogenesis Award, Western Society for Pediatric Research, 2020
  1. Shieh JT, Penon-Portmann M, Wong KHY, Levy-Sakin M, Verghese M, Slavotinek A, Gallagher RC, Mendelsohn BA, Tenney J, Beleford D, Perry H, Chow SK, Sharo AG, Brenner SE, Qi Z, Yu J, Klein OD, Martin D, Kwok PY, Boffelli D. Application of full-genome analysis to diagnose rare monogenic disorders. NPJ genomic medicine 2021. PMID: 34556655


  2. Penon-Portmann M, Lotz-Esquivel S, Chavez Carrera A, Jiménez-Hernández M, Alvarado-Romero D, Segura-Cordero S, Rimolo-Donadio F, Hevia-Urrutia F, Mora-Guevara A, Saborío-Rocafort M, Jiménez-Arguedas G, Badilla-Porras R. Wilson disease in Costa Rica: Pediatric phenotype and genotype characterization. Volume 52 of Issue 1. JIMD reports 2020. PMID: 32154060