Alexis Lorenzo Ruiz, PhD, was awarded a Presidential Citation for showing the importance of collaboration across nations, health care professions and the diverse discipline of psychology.
Professor Ruiz has established himself as a leader not only of Cuban psychology but of Latin American psychology as well. Ruiz began his pioneering work along with his wife, on integrating psychological and medical care in the treatment of thousands of children with cancer — in both Cuba and later in the Ukraine — caused by the Chernobyl nuclear accident. He subsequently expanded this groundbreaking work through the development of integrated psychological care in response to other forms of disaster as well as in health care in general.
His leadership of the Cuban Society of Psychology reflects his tireless efforts to establish Cuban psychology as a world leader in the field. His recent work organizing the 7th Intercontinental Convention on Psychology (Hominis 2016) helped unify Latin American psychology and amplify its voice. In addition, his work with the Caribbean Alliance of National Psychological Associations has ensured that the Caribbean voice is similarly strong and represented. These are but two examples of his exemplary leadership.
For these and Ruiz's many unnamed accomplishments, I, Antonio Enrique Puente, a fellow Cuban and now president of APA, am proud to present this great honor to my colleague and friend, Alexis Lorenzo Ruiz.