I became a physician because I wanted to combine my interest in the sciences with my desire to help people maintain or regain good health. I could have achieved both of those objectives by entering other professions such as nursing or laboratory research. However, at the time I received my education, the role of nurses was much more restricted and I felt that my leadership skills would be more appropriately used in Medicine. Similarly, laboratory research would not have met my needs for the patient care contact and interaction that I have valued in my surgical practice.

Sylvia Ramos, M.D., was a clinical professor of surgery at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Throughout her career, she focused on breast cancer and the use of ultrasound for diagnostic procedures and the role of peer support on quality of life and outcomes for cancer survivors.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the South Bronx of New York City, Sylvia Ramos graduated from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) in 1974 and stayed on to do her residency training in general surgery. She remained there as associate professor of surgery until 1990, also heading the Office of Special Educational Programs, developing and successfully implementing a plan to increase the number of underrepresented minority students.

In the Department of Surgery at Montefiore Medical Center, Dr. Ramos was responsible for patient care, medical student and surgery resident education, and directing a surgical nutrition program. From 1988 to 1990 she participated in the Advanced Management Program for Clinicians at the Wagner School of Public Service of New York University, where she earned a Master in Health Services Management.

In 1990, Dr. Ramos moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and opened a private practice in general surgery.

Her research has resulted in numerous published articles in medical journals. She has reviewed books for the Journal of the American Medical Association and has served as editorial advisor and writer for the Western Journal of Medicine.

During 1999, Dr. Ramos trained in health policy and planning at the Leadership Fellowship for mid-career Hispanic physicians, co-sponsored by the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA), the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As a fellow, she also helped develop policy issues for the NHMA.

Her professional memberships include the New York Surgical Society, American College of Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, American Society of Breast Surgeons, National Hispanic Medical Association, and New Mexico Hispanic Medical Associations, New Mexico Society for Clinical Oncology, and the National Association of Minority Medical Educators.

Dr. Ramos has been a board member and past president of People Living Through Cancer, a community-based, nonprofit organization that provides peer support services to cancer survivors, their families and friends. In addition to these activities, Dr. Ramos is often invited to speak about breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer research and other breast health and cancer related issues in the general and Hispanic communities. She offers these talks in both English and Spanish.