Dr. Rufus Washington Ewing is the son of Mr. Hilly Ewing, veteran parliamentarian and Mrs. Jane Ewing of the historic settlement of Blue Hills, Providenciales. He was raised in a staunch Seventh Day Adventist home where honesty, integrity, love for mankind and service to one’s community were natural expectations from him and his many siblings.
Dr. Ewing showed early signs of his academic prowess when, after leaving the Blue Hills Primary School, he went on to become the valedictorian of the Class of 1985 at the Turks & Caicos High School. This academic achievement, rewarded by scholarship, led him to the Barbados Community College where he completed his A’Levels. He moved on to the University of the West Indies Mona Campus where he pursued Medicine and was awarded the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery Degree (MBBS) in 1993.
A true patriot at heart, he was instrumental in establishing the Turks & Caicos Students Association (TACSA). He served this organization for four years, two as its Vice President and two as its President.
After his internship in the Bahamas he returned to UWI in 1996 to read for the Degree of Doctor in General Surgery. Two years later he became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburg, UK then received training in Pediatric General Surgery at the IWK Grace Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He secured his Doctor of Medicine in General Surgery in 2001. In spite of his doctorate, Dr. Ewing still saw it fit to read for a Masters at the John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, obtaining that degree in 2008.
Eager to contribute to national development, Dr. Ewing presented his ideas to both political and healthcare leaders; both seeing his fervor and capability, blessed him with the position of Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO) with direct responsibility for the Myrtle Rigby Health Complex (MRHC); he also became lead surgeon of that complex. He was instrumental in each step which led to the Commissioning of the MRHC Operating Theatre and the ensuing reduction in costs for overseas treatment.
By the time Dr. Ewing was appointed Chief Medical Officer he had already made significant contributions in clinical guidance in the development of the new hospital facilities and the implementation of the National Health Insurance Plan. Numbered among his contributions at this juncture was moving the operating level of Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) from the level of the hospital to that of the Ministry of Health and hence strengthening the leadership, management and policy development capacity of that Ministry. He is also given credit for: the Treatment at Home Policy; Treatment Abroad Policy, Health Care Infrastructure Development Policy; Health Strategic Plans; Primary Health Clare Renewal; Migrant Health Evaluation Policy and Programme and Health Care Regulations.
After the suspension of the TCI Constitution and the imposition of direct rule from Britain, Dr. Ewing became frustrated with the policy direction of the Interim Administration, and along with other Civil Servants revitalized the dormant Civil Service Association (CSA) of he was elected as its President in January, 2011 and fought for the rights and welfare of Civil Servants.
Dr. Ewing will be remembered for his one-man demonstration against the Governor and the Advisory Council demanding their resignation and the imposition of direct rule. He resigned from the Civil Service on March 31 2012 and became the leader of the Progressive National Party in June, 2012, fully committing himself to the service of his country.
Dr. Rufus Ewing is married to his university classmate, and fellow doctor, Dr. Dawn Perry and together they have a son.
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