It is with sadness that I write to inform you of the death of Ramon L. Ruiz, DDS, MD, 9th President of the AACMFS and a founding member, as well as a founding member contributor to the AACMFS Foundation. Dr. Ruiz’s career is nothing short of remarkable.
Cuban born; he lived in Spain with his family for a brief period before emigrating to the U.S. Miami was his home where he was educated before pursuing a baccalaureate degree at Florida State University, Dental School at the University of Alabama, Medical School and OMFS residency at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, fellowship training in Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery at the Posnick Center for Craniofacial Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center. Dr. Ruiz spent time at several craniofacial units in England before he joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery where he honed his skills in cleft and craniofacial surgery. He was named Chairman of the Division of Pediatric Craniomaxillofacial Surgery at the University of Central Florida and at the Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital in Orlando in 2008. He served as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Arnold Palmer Children’s Medical Center, and he developed the first fellowship in pediatric craniomaxillofacial surgery for oral and maxillofacial surgeons in 2009. Since then, he has trained 14 “next generation” craniomaxillofacial surgeons.
Dr. Ruiz was very affable, humorous, and dedicated to his patients and trainees, as well as his interest in pediatric craniomaxillofacial surgery. During his tenure on the Board of the AACMFS, he raised interest and pursued establishing a relationship with the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery which came to fruition this past year. He also developed and promoted a central application process for oral and maxillofacial surgery residents wishing to purse fellowship training.
We will all remember his easy smile and the warmth in his greetings. The kindness in his encouragement and wisdom of the advice he offered so freely.
He will be remembered as a gentle giant in his field, superb surgeon and educator who embodied all of the traits of excellence. A dedicated husband and father, he leaves behind his wife of more than 30 years, Laura, and 3 daughters, Julia, Maia, and Josephine, as well as his mother, Aurora, and a brother, Javier.
To memorialize Dr. Ruiz and his contributions to our profession, the Board of AACMFS unanimously agreed to name the traveling scholars award after Dr. Ruiz. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Dr. Ramon L. Ruiz Traveling Scholars Award at the AACMFS Foundation.
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Sean Edwards, MD, DDS
President, AACMFS