Generous Donation to DMU Creates Legacy With New Scholarship

Lecture hall renamed in honor of donor

DES MOINES, IA (12/23/2008)(readMedia)-- Paul Ruza, D.O., of Farmington Hills, MI, recently committed $400,000 toward the creation of a new scholarship at Des Moines University (DMU).

Dr. Ruza is a 1956 graduate of DMU, then called Des Moines Still College of Osteopathy & Surgery. The school in Des Moines, IA, is the 15th largest medical school in the country. His donation will launch the endowed Ruza Scholarship to assist osteopathic medical students.

"Thanks to DMU, I made a living and supported my family while doing what I enjoyed," Dr. Ruza said in an earlier interview. "I was in practice until this year and I graduated in 1956. I think it's necessary you pay back what others who came before you gave to make your education possible; you're making a difference."

A 21-year member of DMU's Board of Trustees, Dr. Ruza was originally an emergency room physician at the former Northwest General Hospital in the Detroit area. He later became a general practitioner associated with Garden City (MI) Osteopathic Hospital. In the late 1970s and early 80s, he was involved in treating alcoholism at Garden City Hospital. Dr. Ruza was a medical consultant to Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan from 1989-1995. From 1995 until 2000 he was affiliated with Detroit Mercy Hospital. He is now retired.

Des Moines University honored Dr. Ruza's generous contribution by renaming a lecture hall after him on December 5.

CUTLINE: DMU Board of Trustees member Patricia Yungclas, of Webster City, IA, shows the plaque dedicated to Dr. Ruza on December 5.

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Des Moines University (DMU) is the only private medical school in Iowa, offering graduate-level, professional degree programs in osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, anatomy, health care administration and public health. Founded in 1898, the institution offers superior academics in a collaborative environment. DMU students' pass rate on national examinations and board certifications is consistently higher than the national average and the rates at similar institutions.