Founding Dean Staff
Professor and Chair for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Miguel A. Pirela-Cruz, M.D.
Professor and Chair for the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation
Phone: 915.545.6852
Email: Miguel.Cruz@ttuhsc.edu
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Website
Job Description
Professor & Regional Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery & Rehabilitation
Bio Sketch
Prior to his appointment to the Texas Tech University HSC Foster School of Medicine, Dr. Pirela-Cruz had experience in private practice, academic medicine, military medicine and the United States Public Health Service. His academic appointments were to the University of New Mexico, the University of Kansas, Wright State and the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. He has twenty seven years of military service as a flight surgeon. He is a board certified Orthopaedic Surgeon and fellowship trained in Hand and Micro Vascular Surgery. In addition to the practice of orthopaedic surgery he is a medical illustrator.
Service
American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Part II Board Examiner
Paul Foster School of Medicine Scientific Principle of Medicine Committee Member
Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation Founder
Perioperative Services Committee Chairperson
Medical Executive Committee Member, Thomason General Hospital
Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor
Honors And Awards
American Red Cross “Heroes of the Pass”, El Paso, TX 2004-05
Honorary Member Hand Society of Guatemala 2005
Meritorious Service Metal 2006
“Faculty of the Year”, Texas Tech University HSC – El Paso, TX 2007
Memberships
American Medical Association (AMA)
Society of Military Orthopedic Surgeons (SOMOS)
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) 032205
American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH)
American College of Surgeons (ACS)
American Association of Hand Surgery (AAHS)
American Orthopedic Association (AOA)
American Society for Peripheral Nerve (ASPN)
South West Trauma Association (SWOTA)
Research Focus
Peripheral Nerve Regeneration
Peripheral Nerve Transfer Surgery
Negative Pressure Therapy for Soft Tissue Defects
Return to Founding Dean Staff 
The Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is one of six schools that make up the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC).Texas Tech University System. The President of TTUHSC reports to the Chancellor, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the System. The Chancellor and the President are responsible to the Texas Tech University Board of Regents, which sets overall policy for the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech University, and TTUHSC.