06/01/2026
For more than 20 years, Albert Ruenes, MD, has been transforming urologic care in West Africa. His work began after meeting Senegalese urologist Serigne Gueye, MD, at Doylestown Hospital in 2002. This connection led him to Dakar to teach, perform procedures, and help build a sustainable training model for local surgeons.
Ruenes later founded ASSISTS, a nonprofit that strengthens surgical education and expands access to care, including cancer care, across Senegal. The collaboration has grown to include the renovation of a community clinic serving thousands and a formal Memorandum of Understanding between Doylestown Hospital and two Senegalese health centers to support ongoing training and shared learning.
This long‑standing commitment to global health and capacity‑building has earned Ruenes the Scott Levy, MD, Physician Trailblazer Award, an annual recognition honoring a Penn Medicine Doylestown Health physician whose leadership and innovation elevate care for the community and beyond.
“Dr. Ruenes has assured his passion for medicine and health is shared by a broad constituency, both locally and notably in his work in Western Africa. He truly exemplifies the spirit and intent of the Trailblazer award. I am proud to have him as the second recipient of this award,” said Levy.
"This labor of love would not exist if not for my mentor, David F. Paulson, MD, the ongoing support of my family, the backing of my practice partners here in Doylestown, the operating room staff at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health, and the generosity of our community members who have helped finance this initiative,” said Ruenes.
Ruenes, a member of Doylestown Health for more than 30 years, continues to advance patient care locally while empowering clinicians globally through education, mentorship, and sustainable surgical training.
