Dr. Roberto Ruiz-Cordero Named to ASCP’s 40 Under Forty

Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, M.D., is one of 40 high-achieving pathologists, pathology residents, and medical laboratory professionals under the age of 40 who have been named to the prestigious 2022 ASCP 40 Under Forty list.

Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, M.D.
Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, M.D.

A program of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, 40 Under Forty shines a spotlight on those who have made significant contributions to the profession and stand out as leaders who will help shape the future of pathology and laboratory medicine on behalf of patients.

Dr. Ruiz-Cordero recently joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine as associate professor and will serve as the associate medical director of the Cytopathology Laboratory.

“Dr. Ruiz-Cordero is pushing the envelope in many areas of pathology,” said Merce Jorda, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., chair of the department. “He has worked to optimize minimally invasive tissue procurement and best utilize current options in molecular genetics testing to aid in definitive cytopathology-based diagnoses.”

After graduating from the University of La Salle School of Medicine in Mexico, Dr. Ruiz-Cordero completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of Miami. He completed fellowships in cytopathology, molecular genetics pathology, and hematopathology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Dr. Ruiz-Cordero joins the University family after serving as assistant professor of clinical pathology at the University of California in San Francisco. While there, he was active in the core pathology services, including cytopathology, molecular genetics pathology, and hematopathology, and was a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Notably, he was also named a Watson Faculty Scholar and Global Cancer Fellow for his work to develop and improve molecular genetic testing workflow and stewardship with special emphasis on addressing health care disparities.

As a medical student, Dr. Ruiz-Cordero helped to form a humanitarian nonprofit focused on delivering care to remote towns in Mexico. While improved primary care and prenatal care were key goals, he believed that quality access to anatomic and clinical pathology was the cornerstone to diagnosis.

“If there is subpar pathologic analysis, we can only expect to deliver subpar clinical care. With this in mind, I deliberately chose to become a cytopathologist and molecular pathologist,” Dr. Ruiz-Cordero said. With an active project in Mexico, aimed at shortening the prognostic testing gap in pediatric cancer patients, he wants to work with the Global Oncology and International Program Initiative at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center to expand his work.

Dr. Ruiz-Cordero added that he is “extremely honored to have been considered as one of the 40 Under Forty honorees by ASCP.”

“We are very excited to welcome Dr. Ruiz-Cordero back to our departmental family,” Dr. Jorda said. “As an exceptional trainee, we are not surprised by this special recognition and his continued drive to help the underserved. He will have a significant impact not only on patient care here in Miami, but also in teaching and mentoring our trainees.”


Tags: American Society for Clinical Pathology, ASCP 40 Under Forty, cytopathology laboratory, Department of Pathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dr. Roberto Ruiz-Cordero, Miller School of Medicine