معرفی
Dr. Mack Ruffin IV, Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, has served as department chair since 2016, transforming it into a world-class organization. His leadership expanded clinical teams, established a tenure track, and boosted research funding to over $10 million. He will step down as chair in December 2024 but remain active in research, teaching, and mentorship.
- MD (Medical College of Virginia, 1984)
- MPH in Epidemiology (University of Minnesota, 1989)
- Family Practice Residency (Wake Forest, 1987)
Dr. Ruffin’s research focuses on cancer prevention and early detection, particularly for cervical and colorectal cancers. His work includes rural community trials, HPV self-sampling strategies, and biomarker validation. He emphasizes health promotion for underserved populations.
Recent articles highlight trends in HPV self-sampling for cervical cancer screening in Appalachia, non-invasive colorectal cancer screening methods, and behavioral studies on patient-clinician communication. His work aligns with public health and oncology disciplines, addressing rural health disparities and vaccine uptake.
- 2017: Curtis Hames Research Award for lifetime contributions to family medicine research
- 2014: League of Research Excellence at University of Michigan
Dr. Ruffin has mentored faculty to promotions, established Penn State’s first T32 Research Fellowship Training Program, and secured sustained NIH funding for over 30 years. His clinical work aims to improve colorectal cancer screening through microbiome and biomarker research.
