Our Care Team

Dr. Ruben Boyajian, who has been serving the Effingham area as a surgeon for the past three decades, is grateful for the history of support he has received from the many patients he has treated and is excited to meet with these patients, and new patients, in the future. His dedication to his patients and his expertise sets Dr. Ruben Boyajian apart in his field.

Medical Degree

• University of Montevideo, Uruguay, 1970

Internship

• Yale University Affiliated Hospital of St. Raphael, 1971

Residency

• McGill University, Montreal General Hospital (Psychiatry)
• St. Raphael, Yale University-affiliated hospital in New Haven, Connecticut 1972-1976 (general surgery)

Licensure

• Illinois

Certifications

• Fellow, American College of Surgeons, American Board of Surgery
• Breast Ultrasound
• Mastery of Breast Surgery Pilot Program, active participation

Training

• Internship and Residency at Hospital of St. Raphael, affiliated with the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut
• McGill University, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Canada
• Premedical and Medical in his native Uruguay, South America
• Breast Care Training and Mammography Interpretation under the direction of Dr. Laszlo Tabar, professor of Radiology, Falun Central Hospital, Sweden

Military Service

• United States Air Force, 1976-1982
• Three years of Active Duty with Honorable Discharge at Rank of Major in 1979
• Chief of Surgery, Chanute Air Force Base Regional Hospital
• USAF Regional Hospital in Rantoul, IL
• Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service

Memberships

• American College of Surgeons
• American Society of Breast Surgeons
• American Society of Contemporary Surgeons
• Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
• Society of Surgical Oncology
• American Society of Surgical Oncology (ASCO)
• American Society of Clinical Oncologists
• American Society of Military Surgeons
• American Society of General Surgeons
• Society of Air Force Clinical Surgeons
• Effingham County Medical Society
• American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
• Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons
• American Physicians Art Association
• InterAmerican College of Physicians and Surgeons
• Association of Military Surgeons
• Catholic Medical Association

Teaching Experience

• Instructor, Yale University School of Medicine
• Preceptor, Liberty University College of Osteopathic
  • Medicine, 2016 to 2019
• Clinical Mentoring, area health care students, nurses, and physicians

Appointments

• St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, Effingham, Illinois
• Effingham Ambulatory Surgical Center, Effingham, Illinois
• Director, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital Women’s Wellness Center and Cancer Services

Prior Appointments

• President, Medical Staff, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
• Chair, Department of Surgery, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
• Chair, Quality Council, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
• Director, Trauma Center, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
• President, American Cancer Society, Effingham County
• Member, Board of Directors, American Cancer Society
• Member, Board of Directors, United Way of Effingham

Board Certifications

• American Board of Surgery, Recertified in 2009

Community Forums, Teaching Forums, and Related Activities

• Introduced Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery in Effingham, 1991
• Introduced Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital
• Numerous Community Education Engagements, including topics on Breast and Cancer Care
• Annual Speaker and Organizer for National Cancer Survivors Day since 1991
• Team member of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tissue Bank at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center

Research

• Active Participant, S.T.A.R. Study Protocol for the Prevention of Breast Cancer

Honors

• Among top 20, class of 300, Montevideo, Uruguay
• United States Air Force Commendation Medal of Meritorious Service
• 2004 Rotary Vocational Excellence Award
• People’s Choice General Surgeon 2004-2021
• 2006 Illinois Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award
• 2013 BESI Award, Business Ethics, and Social Involvement Award, East Central Illinois Development Corporation
• 2014 Co-citizen of the Year for Effingham, IL

Spoken Languages

• Fluent in Spanish with a working knowledge of Italian, French, Portuguese and Armenian

Community Forums

• Most Common Myths About Mammograms & How They Impact You 2008
• Keeping Abreast of Breast Care – 2006
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease – 2004
• Cancer Care, A Century of Progress – 2004
• Staying Abreast of Breast Care – 2003
• Star Study Protocol – September 1999
• Hiatal Hernia or Heart Attack? – October 1997
• Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevent of Varicose Veins – September 1992
• Laparoscopic Gallbladder Surgery – April 1991
• Annual Speaker for National Cancer Survivors Day since 1991
• Annual Cancer Survivor Celebration

Hobbies

• Expressive Arts, Painting, Gingerbread Creations, Music