Ruben Ayala

Dr. Ruben Ayala, M.D., MSC, is a public health physician from Panama with more than 25 years of experience in advocacy and humanitarian assistance. During his career with Operation Smile, he has planned, executed and overseen surgical programs in more than 40 countries.

Ruben also oversaw the establishment of Operation Smile foundations in low- and middle-income countries that offer year-round health services to patients and families affect by cleft conditions. Throughout the years, Ruben has fostered collaboration between governments, nongovernmental organizations, industries, communities, universities and other members of civil society.

More recently, Ruben has focused on the review of surgical outcomes and the evolution of standards of surgical care for patients with cleft lip and cleft palate. He served as part of the official delegation of the government of Vietnam to the World Health Assembly in 2015 and 2017, helping align the country’s support for global surgery and anesthesia.