Dr. Juan Ruiz-Pelaez is a pediatrician and clinical epidemiologist. He teaches clinical epidemiology, and mentors and coaches curricular research carried out by medical students.
Before joining FIU he was a professor of pediatrics and clinical epidemiology at Javeriana University in Bogota, Colombia, where he was chair of the Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit and the Department of Pediatrics.
His main research interest is in Kangaroo Mother Care (appropriate care for preterm infants). In 1994 he co-founded the Fundación Canguro in Bogotá, an NGO devoted to research, teaching, training, and direct medical care related to Kangaroo Mother Care for premature infants. He has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals, 12 books, and 13 book chapters.
Areas of Expertise
- Kangaroo Mother Care
- Clinical Epidemiology
- Evidence-based practices
- Clinical research
- Clinical economics
Research Interests
- Appropriate care of preterm/LBW infant and Kangaroo Mother Care:
- Implementation
- Quality assurance
- Secondary Data Analysis (risk, prognosis, risk stratification and predictive models, cost/utility)
- Clinical and epidemiological research mentoring for clinicians/ MD students
See research publications and more on FIU Discovery.
Current Courses Taught
- MDR 7910 Research Scholarship Course
- BMS 6991 Clinical Epidemiology and Quantitative Research Evidence-Based Practice Program for Residents of Internal Medicine
- BMS 6990 Professional Development I
- MDC 7830 Psychiatry Clerkship (Critical appraisal component)
- MDC 7200 Internal Medicine Clerkship (Critical appraisal component)
- BMS 7810 Core Concepts in Medicine (Evidence-based Practice component)
Honors & Awards
- Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 2015 Biannual Award in Research, in the Modality of Lifetime Achievements in Health Sciences Research Award
- Carlos Slim Health Award 2012 for Exceptional Institution granted to Fundación Canguro*. Mexico City, México January 2012
- Premio San Valentino un Anno D’amore (San Valentin, a year of Love Award). Awarded by His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Fundación Canguro* for the scientific evaluation of the Kangaroo Mother Care method, and for knowledge transfer to other developing countries. Vatican City, Vatican. March 26th, 1999
Committees & Professional Organizations
- Fundacion Canguro, founding member, steering committee
- International Kangaroo network (IKN) founding member, steering committee
- World Federation of Scientists. member, PMP on LBW/preterm infants
- Sociedad Colombiana de Pediatria
Education
- Clinical Economics training, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 1996
- Master of Medical Science, Clinical Epidemiology, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia, 1990
- Residency, Pediatrics, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana/ Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogota, Colombia, 1984
- M.D., Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia, 1980