Retiring Newton Clinic doctor’s passion for medicine is driven by his love of helping people over past 40 years

Dr. Paul Ruggle has a running joke he likes to recite, but he usually doesn’t tear up when he tries to tell it. This time was different. Surrounded by sons Adam and Brian inside one of the rooms he has treated hundreds of thousands of patients over his 39 years at Newton Clinic, he just couldn’t help but get choked up.

“I always tell people when they were growing up they looked up at me and said, ‘How hard a job can that be?’” Dr. Ruggle said.

By the end of the month, Dr. Ruggle will be retired from Newton Clinic. His sons are carrying on his passion in their respective medical fields elsewhere; Adam, the older brother, has worked in psychiatry for the past few years while Brian is a family physician in Minnesota. Both say they are inspired by their dad.

“It’s been extremely inspiring seeing the impact my dad has had on the community, and it led me to wanting to pursue the same path in medicine,” Adam said. “When I see patients I try to bring the same approach of kindness mixed with excellent medical care. He still inspires me today.”

During his pre-med, Adam learned how his father interacted and connected with patients first-hand at Newton Clinic. It gave Adam a glimpse of the positive impact he could have as a doctor, and it opened his eyes to the effect his dad’s practice — and kindness — had on people in his hometown.

To say Adam and Brian have followed in their father’s footsteps would be an understatement. The two even attended the University of Iowa, the same college as their father. Brian said his father certainly inspired him to become a doctor, but he also inspired him to become a kind human being that sees the best in people.

“And to lead with compassion and empathy, especially when it is difficult sometimes to do that,” Brian said. “I think it’s inspiring also from home he’s obviously a smart and kind person, and also a regular guy. So that was kind of helpful for me. I could follow the same path and have somewhat similar impact.”

Dr. Ruggle has practiced medicine for more than 40 years. In that time, he estimates he has had more than 160,000 patient encounters.

When Ruggle, originally from Perry, settled on Newton, he dug his roots in deep. He imbedded himself in the community and devoted himself to helping its people, curing them of their ailments and trying to make them happy and comfortable. In Newton, he was offered the opportunity to do what he wanted and what he loved.

For several years he helped deliver babies and cared for newborns up to 100-year-olds. Developing a continuity with families meant a lot to him.

His first exposure to Newton was in August 1981 through the emergency room at the former Skiff Medical Center, now known as MercyOne Newton Medical Center. Dr. Ruggle said he worked with great nurses and doctors in the ER department before transitioning over to Newton Clinic in 1983.

The industry was much different back then. For Dr. Ruggle to be “on-call,” it meant he needed to be physically by a phone, at least until he got his first doctor bag with a built-in telephone. Lugging around a 15-pound box everywhere was a luxury. Nowadays, that box has changed and fits comfortably in his pocket.

In addition to his service as a long-term president of Newton Clinic, Dr. Ruggle was president of the medical staff for MercyOne Newton for at least two terms and was one of the many personnel instrumental to getting a referendum passed in the 1990s that led to the construction of the Ross Medical Arts Building.

Newton is full of strong and resilient patients, Dr. Ruggle said. When the hospital needed to be upgraded and pass the bond issue, the community backed up their doctors and made Newton Clinic what it is. At one time there was only three doctors on staff. Now there are more than 20 providers.

“It was kind of a stretch for us to go out on a limb and invest the money. But of course looking back on it what else would we have done? It gave us room to grow, and we sure have,” Ruggle said. “…Newton is full of good, strong citizens that work hard and are generally very respectful of other people.”

Dr. Ruggle gives a lot of respect to the Newton citizens who took him in and accepted him as a young doctor.

“You do the best for them and they turn around and follow your orders as best they can,” he said. “They may not always turn out well but at least you’re helping people who have the same goals as you. I always try to remember there are individuals coming from different situations and to be empathetic.”

That has always been his approach to medicine and to his patients. He tried to keep in touch with his patients, too, a habit he devoted himself to early on in his practice. Dr. Ruggle likes to think they appreciated that. They certainly kept him energized and perhaps they even relieved the weight of the past 39 years.

“There’s never been a day when I didn’t want to come to work,” he said.

Upon his retirement he plans on traveling to New Zealand with his wife, Dianne, where they will continue helping people in need for a number of months. They also hope to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and the well-deserved luxuries that come from retirement.

While he was most certainly a busy doctor, Adam and Brian contend he was also a busy father. Adam said his dad always made it home for dinner and attended their activities. It showed both sons that they could still be doctors and be there for the people they care about. Their mom deserves a fair bit of credit, too.

“Dad did a lot for sure and we definitely appreciated that, (but) part of the equation is our mom,” Brian said, noting she provided background support that allowed their dad to still be a doctor for the community and a father of two sons. “…(She) kept things going at home.”

Dr. Ruggle agreed, “She’s rock solid. I couldn’t do it without her.”

Adam added, “I’m really grateful for both my parents and I think she helped enable my dad to serve patients for over 40 years. She’s been there for us, too. They both shaped who we are and we are both grateful for them.”

Although Dr. Ruggle could have retired earlier, he said the job was still so fulfilling and he still had a desire to help people in a time of need.

“I worked hard at it,” he said. “I think I did a lot of good.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 560 or at cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com