Faculty Profile
Mack T. Ruffin, IV
- Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology
- Professor Emeritus of Family Medicine
Mack T. Ruffin IV, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. Max and Buena Lichter Research Professor of Family
Medicine and professor of family medicine in the Medical School, and professor of
epidemiology in the School of Public Health, retired from active faculty status on
August 31, 2016.
Dr. Ruffin received his B.S.E. (1980) degree from Duke University, his M.D. (1984) degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and his M.P.H. (1989) degree from the University of Minnesota. His postgraduate training included a family medicine residency (1984-87) at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine in WinstonSalem, North Carolina and a family practice fellowship (1987-89) at the University of Minnesota. He joined the University of Michigan faculty as an assistant professor in 1990, and was promoted to associate professor in 1996, and professor in 2005. He held additional appointments in the School of Public Health and was named the Dr. Max and Buena Lichter Research Professor of Family Medicine in 2011.
An exemplary physician, researcher, and teacher, Dr. Ruffin studied cancer prevention via primary and secondary strategies, chemoprevention, and cancer screening. His prominent contributions advanced our understanding of new methods to prevent and detect cervical and colorectal cancers as well as how to integrate these new approaches into community-based primary care practices. Dr. Ruffin published over 200 imminent research articles, book chapters, and commentaries. He was involved as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on grants totaling over $100 million in his 27 years to support research. More recently, his research has considered the costs, effectiveness, and efficiency of early cancer detection programs. A gifted teacher and devoted mentor, Dr. Ruffin was actively involved in the training and development of a generation of medical students, residents, doctoral students and junior faculty members, many of whom now lead research units across the country. He played a significant role in the Department of Family Medicine's development to its position of national academic leadership through his research and his service as associate chair for research for twelve years.
The Regents now salute this distinguished faculty member, academic leader, and scholar for his dedicated service by naming Mack T. Ruffin IV, professor emeritus of family medicine and professor emeritus of epidemiology.
Dr. Ruffin received his B.S.E. (1980) degree from Duke University, his M.D. (1984) degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and his M.P.H. (1989) degree from the University of Minnesota. His postgraduate training included a family medicine residency (1984-87) at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine in WinstonSalem, North Carolina and a family practice fellowship (1987-89) at the University of Minnesota. He joined the University of Michigan faculty as an assistant professor in 1990, and was promoted to associate professor in 1996, and professor in 2005. He held additional appointments in the School of Public Health and was named the Dr. Max and Buena Lichter Research Professor of Family Medicine in 2011.
An exemplary physician, researcher, and teacher, Dr. Ruffin studied cancer prevention via primary and secondary strategies, chemoprevention, and cancer screening. His prominent contributions advanced our understanding of new methods to prevent and detect cervical and colorectal cancers as well as how to integrate these new approaches into community-based primary care practices. Dr. Ruffin published over 200 imminent research articles, book chapters, and commentaries. He was involved as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on grants totaling over $100 million in his 27 years to support research. More recently, his research has considered the costs, effectiveness, and efficiency of early cancer detection programs. A gifted teacher and devoted mentor, Dr. Ruffin was actively involved in the training and development of a generation of medical students, residents, doctoral students and junior faculty members, many of whom now lead research units across the country. He played a significant role in the Department of Family Medicine's development to its position of national academic leadership through his research and his service as associate chair for research for twelve years.
The Regents now salute this distinguished faculty member, academic leader, and scholar for his dedicated service by naming Mack T. Ruffin IV, professor emeritus of family medicine and professor emeritus of epidemiology.