Gil Ruiz, Legislative Director for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Gil Ruiz, a distinguished alumnus of Baylor's Medical Humanities Program, is making waves in the realm of government and policy.  Gil's journey from Baylor's Medical Humanities Program to Capitol Hill is a testament to the program's transformative impact. 

Starting with dreams of becoming a doctor, Gil's path took a transformative turn as he explored the diverse horizons of Medical Humanities. "Medical Humanities showed me the power of impacting healthcare on a macro level," Gil shares.  Today, he's the Legislative Director for Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, driving change that touches thousands.

"Medical Humanities taught me to communicate complex ideas with empathy. In government, this skill is paramount to drive policies that genuinely impact lives."

- Gil Ruiz

Gil shares, "Medical Humanities taught me to communicate complex ideas with empathy. In government, this skill is paramount to drive policies that genuinely impact lives."  Combining his fervor for healthcare and his Medical Humanities acumen, Gil has championed policies that reflect both the medical and human sides of issues. 

Gil was instrumental in the creation of Senator Gillibrand's Health Force, Resilience Force, and Jobs to Fight COVID-19 Act, a $3 billion dollar program fostering a national community health workforce program.  Community health workers bridge the gap between public health and medicine, addressing social determinants of health. "This initiative reflects my medical humanities thesis – it's about holistic health," says Gil.

The journey of Gil Ruiz is just one chapter in the Baylor Medical Humanities Program's impactful story.  Through diverse paths and perspectives, our graduates are leaving indelible marks on healthcare systems, policy, and beyond.