| Benjamin M. Rigor, M.D. Louisville, Kentucky A Distinguished Gentleman, a Scholar, and a Perfect Role Model |
A very distinguished gentleman who is an epitome of role model
and inspiration to the Filipino-American communities across the
North American continent, Benjamin M. Rigor, M.D., among
others, is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of
Anesthesiology, School of Medicine of the University of Louisville
in Kentucky. He is also chief of Anesthesiology of the UL Hospital
as well as Program Director of the Anesthesiology Training
Program of UL and Affiliated/Integrated Hospitals; and Co-Director
of the Pain Management Center of UL Hospital. His impressive
qualifications include the following: a scientist, researcher,
author, teacher, lecturer and a philanthropist.
Well known among Filipino-American physicians, especially
those that graduated from the University of the East, Ramon
Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center where he acquired hi M.D.
degree in 1962, Dr. Rigor is a leader, organizer and administrator.
He is CEO and President of the University Anesthesiology
Associates, P.C.; a Director of CME of the Association of
Philippine Physicians in America (APPA) and the American
College of International Physicians (ACIP). He founded three
philanthropic organizations that perform surgery to the poor and
indigent patients in the Philippines and other developing
and inspiration to the Filipino-American communities across the
North American continent, Benjamin M. Rigor, M.D., among
others, is a Professor and Chairman of the Department of
Anesthesiology, School of Medicine of the University of Louisville
in Kentucky. He is also chief of Anesthesiology of the UL Hospital
as well as Program Director of the Anesthesiology Training
Program of UL and Affiliated/Integrated Hospitals; and Co-Director
of the Pain Management Center of UL Hospital. His impressive
qualifications include the following: a scientist, researcher,
author, teacher, lecturer and a philanthropist.
Well known among Filipino-American physicians, especially
those that graduated from the University of the East, Ramon
Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center where he acquired hi M.D.
degree in 1962, Dr. Rigor is a leader, organizer and administrator.
He is CEO and President of the University Anesthesiology
Associates, P.C.; a Director of CME of the Association of
Philippine Physicians in America (APPA) and the American
College of International Physicians (ACIP). He founded three
philanthropic organizations that perform surgery to the poor and
indigent patients in the Philippines and other developing
nations of the world. He is in the Speaker’s Bureau of three pharmaceutical companies and the University of
Louisville. He is a recipient of the Affirmative Action Award (university-wide) from UL; founder and organized of
the Philippine-American Medical Society of New Jersey (PAMSNJ), the Texas Association of Philippine
Physicians (TAPP), Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists in American (PSAA) and the Southeast University
Department of Anesthesia Department Chairperson (SUDAC). He organized the ECFMG and FLEX review
courses for foreign medical graduates or international medical graduates who have not passed the
examination in New Jersey and Louisville in 1971-72, and again in 1981 and 1982.
Dr. Rigor’s awards and distinctions are numerous to mention. He belongs to the Top ’62 Club, an exclusive
membership of the top and best graduates for the University of the East. He is a recipient of the Golden
Apple Award for being the best faculty member in Clinical Sciences by the Student Medical Association (SMA),
Medical School-wide in New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. In 1976, he was named Outstanding
Physician by the Philippine-American Medical Society of New Jersey and in the same year, APPA’s Apolinario
Mabini Award for excellence in teaching in medicine and clinical sciences was bestowed on him. Since 1970,
Dr. Rigor has been named in the Who Is Who in America by the American Board of Medical Specialties and
Cattell’s American Men and Women of Science. His accomplishments and commendable performances in
highlighting positive Filipino image were not overlooked by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos who
awarded him the 1977 Outstanding Overseas Filipino Physician Award for excellence in medicine. The
following year, former Secretary of Tourism Jose Aspiras awarded Dr. Rigor the Philippine Department of
Tourism’s Most Outstanding Filipino Physician in Medicine and Medical Practice. For three years, in 1978,
1985 and 1992, the University of the East, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Alumnus Award, and the university’s
highest honor bestowed upon a former student, the U.E. President Francisco Dalupan Award given by the UE
Medical Alumni Association. In 1992 and 1993, the Philippine Medical Association of Kentucky (PMAK) voted
him most outstanding physician. Aware of the greatness of Dr. Rigor, the President of the University of
Louisville, Donald Swain, Ph.D., bestowed to the Filipino doctor UL’s highest honor, Outstanding
Performance Award for Achievement in Affirmative Action in 1990. Two years later, the Philippine Society of
Anesthesiologists broke tradition by bestowing to Dr. Rigor, who was not a resident of the Philippines, the
much-coveted Quintin J. Gomez Award for excellence and distinguished service towards advancement of
anesthesiology.
Dr. Rigor was born in Alabang, Rizal. He is married to the former Violeta Taa of Manila, a clinical psychologist,
who is now a homemaker doing health care volunteer works. They have three grown children: Benjamin, Jr.,
34; Antonio, 32; and Benedict, 28. Dr. Rigor’s late father was Tomas V. Rigor, Ph.D. of Victoria, Tarlac. His
late mother was the former Carmen Morales of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.
Dr. Rigor’s hobby is traveling, playing tennis, gardening, photography and philanthropic venture for the poor.
With all the awards and accolades bestowed upon Dr. Ben Rigor, it is no wonder then for the good doctor to
write FIL-AM IMAGE: “I have always sincerely considered that awards must be deserved and that the awardee
(s) are really deserving and meritorious so that it is credible and worth keeping for posterity sake…”
FIL-AM IMAGE is honored to name Dr. Rigor as one of the 1995 Twenty Outstanding Filipino-Americans in the
United States and Canada. #
Louisville. He is a recipient of the Affirmative Action Award (university-wide) from UL; founder and organized of
the Philippine-American Medical Society of New Jersey (PAMSNJ), the Texas Association of Philippine
Physicians (TAPP), Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists in American (PSAA) and the Southeast University
Department of Anesthesia Department Chairperson (SUDAC). He organized the ECFMG and FLEX review
courses for foreign medical graduates or international medical graduates who have not passed the
examination in New Jersey and Louisville in 1971-72, and again in 1981 and 1982.
Dr. Rigor’s awards and distinctions are numerous to mention. He belongs to the Top ’62 Club, an exclusive
membership of the top and best graduates for the University of the East. He is a recipient of the Golden
Apple Award for being the best faculty member in Clinical Sciences by the Student Medical Association (SMA),
Medical School-wide in New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. In 1976, he was named Outstanding
Physician by the Philippine-American Medical Society of New Jersey and in the same year, APPA’s Apolinario
Mabini Award for excellence in teaching in medicine and clinical sciences was bestowed on him. Since 1970,
Dr. Rigor has been named in the Who Is Who in America by the American Board of Medical Specialties and
Cattell’s American Men and Women of Science. His accomplishments and commendable performances in
highlighting positive Filipino image were not overlooked by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos who
awarded him the 1977 Outstanding Overseas Filipino Physician Award for excellence in medicine. The
following year, former Secretary of Tourism Jose Aspiras awarded Dr. Rigor the Philippine Department of
Tourism’s Most Outstanding Filipino Physician in Medicine and Medical Practice. For three years, in 1978,
1985 and 1992, the University of the East, Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Alumnus Award, and the university’s
highest honor bestowed upon a former student, the U.E. President Francisco Dalupan Award given by the UE
Medical Alumni Association. In 1992 and 1993, the Philippine Medical Association of Kentucky (PMAK) voted
him most outstanding physician. Aware of the greatness of Dr. Rigor, the President of the University of
Louisville, Donald Swain, Ph.D., bestowed to the Filipino doctor UL’s highest honor, Outstanding
Performance Award for Achievement in Affirmative Action in 1990. Two years later, the Philippine Society of
Anesthesiologists broke tradition by bestowing to Dr. Rigor, who was not a resident of the Philippines, the
much-coveted Quintin J. Gomez Award for excellence and distinguished service towards advancement of
anesthesiology.
Dr. Rigor was born in Alabang, Rizal. He is married to the former Violeta Taa of Manila, a clinical psychologist,
who is now a homemaker doing health care volunteer works. They have three grown children: Benjamin, Jr.,
34; Antonio, 32; and Benedict, 28. Dr. Rigor’s late father was Tomas V. Rigor, Ph.D. of Victoria, Tarlac. His
late mother was the former Carmen Morales of Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur.
Dr. Rigor’s hobby is traveling, playing tennis, gardening, photography and philanthropic venture for the poor.
With all the awards and accolades bestowed upon Dr. Ben Rigor, it is no wonder then for the good doctor to
write FIL-AM IMAGE: “I have always sincerely considered that awards must be deserved and that the awardee
(s) are really deserving and meritorious so that it is credible and worth keeping for posterity sake…”
FIL-AM IMAGE is honored to name Dr. Rigor as one of the 1995 Twenty Outstanding Filipino-Americans in the
United States and Canada. #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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