ASHBURN, VA, February 17, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present Dr. Jose Ramiro Cruz Lopez with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Cruz Lopez celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Harboring decades of experience in the fields of virology and immunology, Dr. Cruz Lopez is currently retired, having most recently excelled as Senior Advisor for Health Technologies for Quality of Care between 2009 and 2011, in addition to being the Regional Advisor for Laboratory and Blood Services since 1994 for the Pan American Health Organization. Prior to these appointments, Dr. Cruz Lopez began his career as the Head of the Program on Infection, Nutrition and Immunology at the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, in Guatemala, from 1981 to 1994.
Before embarking upon his professional ventures, Dr. Cruz Lopez pursued an education at the University of San Carlos, earning a degree in microbiology in 1973. He continued his academic efforts with a Master of Science in tropical public health from the T.H. Chan School of Public Health at Harvard University in 1976. Following these accomplishments, Dr. Cruz Lopez concluded his studies at Harvard's T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 1980, graduating with a Doctor of Science in virology and immunology.
Beyond his primary responsibilities, Dr. Cruz Lopez has thrived in numerous endeavors within his professional circles. The former president of the Organizing Committee of the IV National Congress of Microbiology in Guatemala in 1991, he has additionally contributed to the Scientific Working Group on Diarrheal Diseases for the Pan American Health Organization from 1982 to 1984, the Committee on Nutrition and Immunology for the International Union of Nutritional Sciences from 1991 to 1995, and the Scientific Advisory Board for the Alliance for Prudent Use of Antibiotics from 1982 to 2006. Moreover, Dr. Cruz Lopez has held a position with the Guatemalan National Science, Technology and Innovation Network since 2017.
Dr. Cruz Lopez has found success with his written works as well, authoring more than 20 chapters for books and over 15 technical documents. He has additionally penned 72 articles for many peer-reviewed publications. Recruited as a member of the editorial board for Africa Sanguine since 2018, Dr. Cruz Lopez was additionally active as the guest editor for the Pan American Journal of Public Health in 2003 and the Journal of Clinical Virology in 2005.
Dr. Cruz Lopez remains associated with various organizations in relation to his areas of expertise. He has maintained involvement with the Ibero-American Cooperative Group for Transfusion Medicine in a number of capacities, including as a member of the Board of Directors from 2000 to 2011, a member of the ethics committee from 2013 to 2015, a coordinator for the International Affairs Committee from 2015 to 2017 and an Honorary Member since 2013. He was also affiliated with the Pan American Society for Clinical Virology, the global standards committee for the American Association of Blood Banks and the Guatemalan Society for Microbiology, for which he was elected as president from 1985 to 1986. An honorary member of the El Salvador Pediatric Society, Dr. Cruz Lopez has been a member of the American Society for Microbiology since 1978, a corresponding member for the Cuban Society of Hematology since 2009 and a member of the education committee for the African Society for Blood Transfusions since 2017.
In light of his exceptional undertakings, Dr. Cruz Lopez has accrued several accolades throughout his impressive career. Highlighted in "Disease Hunters" ("Cazadores de Enfermedades", in Spanish) in 2018, he was recognized as a Distinguished Visitor in Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1986 and an Outstanding Reviewer by the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2014 and 2016. He was presented with the Rubén Mayorga Award at the III National Congress of Microbiology in 1986 and the Mario Villanueva Award at the Guatemalan Congress of Natural Sciences in 1993. Featured in Manchester Who's Who from 2004 to 2005, Dr. Cruz Lopez was also selected for inclusion in the 12th edition of Who's Who in Science and Engineering and multiple editions of Who's Who in America.
In addition to completing the first global reports on paralytic poliomyelitis outbreaks caused by the Sabin vaccine-derived polio virus, thymosin alpha1 detected in human milk and the demonstration that secretory IgA in human milk protects against intestinal infection and disease caused by E. coli, Dr. Cruz Lopez has been lauded for his development and implementation of blood transfusion safety programs throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. A star athlete and academic in his youth, he was drawn to his respective professional field after acting as laboratory helper to his college immunology professor at the Institute of Nutrition of Central America and Panama, during which time he learned much about nutrition, microbiology, tissue and virus cultures, and fetal infection rates. Dr. Cruz Lopez later witnessed how his field could better the lives of those in his home country of Guatemala, especially the impoverished and ailing.
Among the many highlights of his career, Dr. Cruz Lopez is incredibly proud of the research and treatments he conducted on polio, as well as his immunology studies concerning breast milk. He also fondly recalls receiving a U.S. Flag that was flown over the U.S. Capitol in 1997, which he considers to have been among his highest personal honors. Looking toward the future, Dr. Cruz Lopez hopes to cement his legacy as a respectful, courteous, kind and honest figure in his field who always prioritized the needs of the people.
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