Christopher Ruser, MD
he/him/his
Associate Professor of Medicine (General Medicine); Chief of Primary Care, Primary Care; Co-Chair, National PACT Directive Revision Committee; Co-Chair, National PACT Optimization Sub-Council; Founder and Director, West Haven VA's Multi-disciplinary Weight Management Program; Associate Chief of Medicine , VACT Healthcare System
Biography
Research & Publications
News
Appointments
Biography
Dr. Ruser received his MD from Cornell University Medical School and then completed internal medicine residency at Yale. He served as a front-line clinician educator based at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System's West Haven campus where he developed an academic interest in clinical obesity management and leadership. From 2010 to 2020, Dr. Ruser served as the Chief of Primary Care for VACT where he sought to evolve the primary care system towards the medical home model with a focus on robust access to care, team-based care, and excellence in quality outcomes. Dr. Ruser now serves as the Associate Chief of Medicine for VACT.
Education & Training
- ResidentYale University (2001)
- InternYale University (2000)
- MDCornell University Medical College (1998)
- BACornell University (1994)
Activities
- Using Virtual Cardiac Care to Bridge Geographic Healthcare DisparitiesProvidence, RI, United States 2024VA New England FY 24 Cardiology Hackathon Keynote
- Virtual Cardiology to Address Geographic Disparities in Cardiac CareNorthampton, MA, United States 2023VA New England Executive Leadership Council
- Keynote Shared Services ProgramsNewington, CT, United States 2023VA New England West Market Strategic Planning Conference
- Overview of Qualty of Care Outcomes and MeasurementWest Haven, CT, United States 2023VA Specialty Care Nursing Summit
- COVID Vaccine Equity in VHAWashington, DC, United States 2023American Thoracic Society National Meeting
- Colorectal Cancer Screening Improvement via FITAurora, CO, United States 2023SGIM National Meeting May 2023
- Weight and Eating QOL Scale for use Across VHABaltimore, MD, United States 2023HSRD/Queri National Meeting
- Virtual Respiratory Clinics and Rapid Test to Treat Models in VHAFrom West Haven VA to Federal Test to Treat Workgroup based in Washington DC 2022Steering Committee for Pandemic Innovation - Federal Test to Treat Program
- Recapturing VA CareOrange, CT, United States 2022VA New England Network Director Briefing - Strategic Planning Summit
- Post-Pandemic Colorectal Cancer ScreeningWest Haven to VA New England Healthcare System 2022VA New England Primary Care Grand Rounds
- Primary Care EfficiencyFrom West Haven VA to National VHA Audience 2020VHA National Clinical Resource Hubs Symposium
- COVID Pandemic Response and the Human TollWest Haven, CT, United States 2020Schwartz Rounds - VA New England
- Optimizing EHR Based Consultation through a Consultation Evaluation Committee and ToolVACT to Conference in Baltimore and National Attendees 2020SGIM Virtual Annual Meeting
- Systemic Racism and our Healthcare SystemFrom West Haven office to National VHA Audience, sponsored by Puget Sound VA/Oregon Health Sciences/Univ of Washington 2020Post-Deployment Care Integration National Town Hall VHA
- Health Disparities and RaceFrom West Haven Office to National VA Audience all over the country 2020VHA National Social Work Conference
- Primary Care Planning and CoordinationWest Haven CT office to National VA teams 2020VHA Office of Reporting, Analytics, Performance, Improvement and Deployment (RAPID)
Honors & Recognition
| Award | Awarding Organization | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Coin from Secretary of the VA (Wilke) | Veteran's Health Administration | 2021 |
| Asghar Rastegar Teaching Award | 2005 | |
| Stephen Shell Memorial House-staff Award | 2001 | |
| Joan Severino Parisi Prize in Internal Medicine | 1998 |
Professional Service
| Organization | Role | Date |
|---|---|---|
| VACT Healthcare System | Co-Chair/Member (varies by year) of VACT's Suicide Prevention and Quality Committee | 2024 - Present |
| VA New England West Market Strategic Planning Committee | Chair of West Market Strategic Planning Committee for New England Regional VA System | 2023 - 2024 |
| VACT Strategic Planning Committee | Acting Co-Chair | 2023 - 2024 |
| VACT Healthcare System | VACT Chief of Hospital Medicine Search Committee | 2023 |
| VACT Healthcare System | Member of VACT Healthcare System's Search Committee for Chief of Quality | 2023 - Present |
| VACT Healthcare System | Member of VACT Healthcare System's Search Committee for Chief of Radiology | 2023 - Present |
| VACT Healthcare System | Member VACT Healthcare System's Search Committee for Chief Wellness Officer | 2023 - Present |
| VA CPG on Pain, Low Back Pain | Reviewer | 2017 |
| VA National PBM Obesity Meds | Reviewer | 2016 - 2017 |
| VISN1 Population Health Committee | Member | 2015 - 2019 |
| VHA SOTA Obesity Conference FY 16 | Washington, DC | 2015 |
| VISN1 Primary Care Delivery Committee | Co-Chair | 2015 - Present |
| VACT Pain Committee | Co-Chair | 2013 - 2017 |
| Internal Medicine Chief Resident Selection Committee | Member | 2013 - Present |
| VA Connecticut Chief of Psychology Search Committee | Member | 2011 |
| Medical Center Peer Review Committee | Member | 2010 - Present |
| Medical Center Executive Committee | Member | 2010 - Present |
| Ambulatory Education Steering Committee | Member | 2010 - Present |
| National VA Obesity Guidelines | Reviewer | 2009 - Present |
| Obesity Society | Member | 2008 - 2016 |
| Intern Selection Committee | Member | 2008 - Present |
| SGIM | Member | 2007 - 2017 |
| Guilford Human Services Council | Guilford, CT | 2006 - Present |
| Journal of General Internal Medicine | Reviewer | 2006 - Present |
| American College of Physicians | Member | 2005 - 2007 |
| VA New England Regional Steering Committee- MOVE! Program | Member | 2005 - Present |
| Corlandt Forum | Editor | 2004 - 2008 |
| Intern Orientation | Director | 2003 - 2007 |