Brent E. Ruoff, MD

Brent E. Ruoff, MD, chief of emergency medicine, is honored for his nationally recognized expertise in emergency medicine and his dedication to improving the quality of patient care.

Ruoff leads the Division of Emergency Medicine at the medical school, a group that oversees the care of one of the largest and busiest emergency departments in the country and that houses a leading post-graduate training program. During his time here he has won three Emergency Medicine Residency Golden Apple awards for outstanding teaching. Ruoff is widely recognized for his expertise in emergency imaging and contributes to authoritative textbooks and evidence-based teaching on a national level. He remains extremely active as an emergency medicine clinician-educator, conducting lecture series, grand rounds presentations and sitting on numerous committees. He is also responsible for developing and administering the emergency medicine faculty development program.

In addition to his clinical and teaching expertise, Ruoff is recognized as a regional leader in emergency preparedness. He has led successful projects in clinical process improvement with an emphasis in time critical diagnoses for trauma, heart attack and stroke care. A true patient advocate, he is dedicated to improving the quality of care hospital-wide.

Ruoff received his bachelor’s degree with highest honors from Graceland College in 1977 and his medical degree from St. Louis University in 1981. In 1984 he completed his residency at Saint Louis University Medical Center and became chief medical resident at St. Louis County Hospital. He joined the Washington University faculty in 1994 and assisted with establishment of the Division of Emergency Medicine, becoming chief of emergency medicine in 2004.