Jeffrey Ruiz, a more than 30-year veteran of the healthcare field, has joined the 24×7 Magazine editorial board, effective immediately. Currently, Ruiz serves as technology manager for Aramark Healthcare Technologies, as well as an adjunct professor in the biomedical engineering program at Muskegon Community College in Western Michigan.

Ruiz’s start in healthcare began directly after high school—where he was tasked with transporting infant pneumogram recordings, as well as home medical equipment such as hospital beds. “This provided me with invaluable experience in interacting with patients, families, and nurses,” Ruiz tells 24×7 Magazine. “Not enough can be said about the amazing people I had a privilege to help and serve.”

He says that as he moved into the healthcare technology management space, the lessons he learned as a novice in the field still applied. Specifically, “if we focused on the care and safety of the patient, everything else would fall into place,” he says.

“The only difference was that the equipment and services provided had a few extra zeros attached to their acquisition costs,” Ruiz quips.

Education is also a top priority for Ruiz, as evidenced by his numerous scholastic achievements. In addition to holding an electronics degree from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Mich., Ruiz boasts a biomedical technology degree from Livonia, Mich.-based Schoolcraft College, as well as a bachelor’s degree from National Graduate School.

No doubt Ruiz’s commitment to education will serve him well on the 24×7 Magazine editorial board, says 24×7 Magazine chief editor Keri Forsythe-Stephens. “Jeff Ruiz is one of the biggest names in healthcare technology management, and his focus on advancing the HTM field will make him a welcome addition to our team of experts,” Forsythe-Stephens says.

Ruiz says he is equally excited to join the editorial board. “I am happy to contribute to 24×7 Magazine—but more importantly, to help serve an industry that has been so good to me,” Ruiz says.