U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD, grew up in the community of Coachella, California, where both of his parents were farmworkers.

Dr. Ruiz achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a physician through public education. After graduating magna cum laude from the University of California, Los Angeles, he went on to Harvard University, where he earned his MD as well as an MPH from the John F. Kennedy School of Government and a second MPH from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health, becoming the first Latino to earn three graduate degrees from Harvard University. He completed his residency in emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and a fellowship in international emergency medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Ruiz returned home after completing his medical training and began working as an emergency physician at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California. He started a premedical mentorship program for young aspiring doctors, which has grown to include more than 100 local students. The program became part of the University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine, where Dr. Ruiz served as a senior associate dean.

In 2010, Dr. Ruiz flew to Haiti immediately following the earthquake and served as the medical director for the J/P Haitian Relief Organization. The U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division awarded him the Commander’s Award for Public Service for his work.

In 2012, Dr. Ruiz beat some very long odds and defeated a 14-year incumbent to win the California District 36 U.S. House seat.

Dr. Ruiz is married and lives with his wife, Monica, and their twin girls, Skye and Sage, in Palm Desert, California.

ACEP Now caught up with Dr. Ruiz to talk about his work in the U.S. House and about his thoughts on the experience so far.

LAC: What is the biggest difference between running for the U.S. House as an incumbent rather than as an “outside” challenger?

RR: The first big difference is that people actually answer my calls now! The most important difference really is that I now have a record of advocacy for my constituents. My record in Congress shows that I really kept my word when I promised that I would come back to the Coachella Valley and work every day on behalf of my constituents and the American people. The reason I ran for Congress in the first place was to make a difference in the lives of people that I represent and serve. Every day in Washington, I never forget about how we approach problems in the ED, focusing on using objective data to diagnose the problem and then applying the right treatment to fix a problem. As a member of Congress, I try to bring that approach every day to understanding and fixing the problems that face our country. To me, that’s the biggest difference between an EM doc like me and some career politicians who just want to get elected again.

LAC: What are the key legislative issues that you are focusing on this session?

RR: My primary work this session has been on veterans’ health care access through the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. I believe we can transform the culture of the VA medical center system so that we put the veterans’ health and their health care outcomes at the center of the VA system. I also have continued the fight to protect Medicare, as we have to ensure that the Medicare system remains viable for our next generation of senior citizens. Lastly, I have been working to ensure that women have access to reproductive care and that physicians who provide that care are protected from any law that would interfere with the physician-patient relationship.

One of the very real programs that makes me very proud is the creation of a “Veterans University” in my district. This project is a collaboration of public and private companies and agencies that work together to make sure that veterans and their families have access to all the benefits that they have earned. —U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, MD

LAC: What do you see as potential solutions to the hyper-partisanship that exists within Congress?

RR: First, there has to be a change in how Congress behaves. We have to push for a culture of civility and statesmanship and reduce the level of childish “gotcha” rhetoric. My approach in working to do “the right thing” is to look for the common ground as I work with other members of the House on both sides of the aisle. I may disagree with someone on 80 percent of the issues that come before us in Congress, but I choose to focus on the 20 percent that I do agree with someone on and work with them on those issues. A great example of this is my work with Rep. Joe Heck on legislation that would help educational institutions that serve Hispanic populations foster and increase the number of students choosing the premed track. This program would not only help individual students but would strengthen the diversity of our health care workforce. The added bonus is that each of the graduates from these programs becomes a role model and mentor for future students to look up to and emulate.

LAC: What are you most and least proud of in your political career?

RR: I would have to say that I am most proud of my work in serving on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and my service to our veterans and their families. One of the very real programs that makes me very proud is the creation of a “Veterans University” in my district. This project is a collaboration of public and private companies and agencies that work together to make sure that veterans and their families have access to all the benefits that they have earned. This program is a first of its kind and didn’t require any federal funds to make happen. It’s a great example of just taking care of each other right at home. I truly believe that, as a leader, you don’t have to wait for Congress to act or for Congress to get its act together. As far as my least proud moment, I would have to say that it was being associated with an organization (Congress) that shut itself down when we had an obligation to continue to do the work of the people of this country.

LAC: How can emergency physicians find out more about your campaign and the issues you are working on in Congress?

RR: To reach out to my campaign, or call 760-360-2495. To follow my work in Congress and learn more about the issues, check out my Facebook page, or go to my official website.