CCSD Celebrates Namesakes: Ruben P. Diaz

Dr. Diaz was born in 1953 in Bakersfield, California. He attended California State University where he earned a degree in both nursing and biology. Ruben P. Diaz then began his medical career as a registered nurse and continued his education to receive his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine. He continued through his specialized fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine in Los Angeles, California. 

After completing that, he and his family moved to Las Vegas in 1991 where he started his private practice called Children’s Lung Specialists. The same year he became the director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Services through the University Medical Center and director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center until his death on December 2, 2004. 

Dr. Diaz was a board-certified pediatric pulmonologist practicing in Las Vegas for 14 years. He greatly benefited the lives of children with various medical conditions by participating in multiple clinical drug trials and research projects. Dr. Diaz served as an assistant professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and co-authored many internationally published medical articles. 

In 1994, he was named the Physician of the Year at the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic, University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. In 2001, he received the Community Achievement Award from the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce for his medical and health services.   

CCSD is proud to have one of our local elementary schools named after Ruben P. Diaz, a prominent figure in our community.