| Rafael A. Zaragoza, M.D. Dover, Delaware Innovator, Maverick and Compassionate National Leader |
They were so proud of him! Proud of Rafael “Raphy” Acosta
Zaragoza, a pure-blooded Filipino born and raised in Asingan,
Pangasinan, birthplace of former Philippine President Fidel
Ramos. Brimming with pride for Raphy’s admirable deeds, the
entire population of the State of Delaware, spearheaded by the
Mayor of Dover together with its U.S. Senator as wells as its
Governor and Vice Governor, the mainstream community
congratulated and heaved high praises for Raphy’s founding,
and forming almost single-handedly, and leading the Nation in
establishing in July 1995 the V.A.S.A.P. - Volunteer Ambulatory
Surgical Access Program. VASAP, conceived in Delaware, is a
prayer-answered to countless number of people who cannot
afford to pay for their health insurance nor be eligible for
Medicaid or welfare, and therefore unable to afford surgical and
proper medical treatments. Successful in Delaware, the
program is being duplicated nationally. Some using the identical
terminology, others with assumed names but duplicating the
same concept.
U.S. Senator from Delaware Joseph R. Biden, Jr. calls Raphy’s
achievement “as a model and inspiration ...” Delaware
Governor Thomas R. Carper and Lieutenant Governor Ruth Ann
Zaragoza, a pure-blooded Filipino born and raised in Asingan,
Pangasinan, birthplace of former Philippine President Fidel
Ramos. Brimming with pride for Raphy’s admirable deeds, the
entire population of the State of Delaware, spearheaded by the
Mayor of Dover together with its U.S. Senator as wells as its
Governor and Vice Governor, the mainstream community
congratulated and heaved high praises for Raphy’s founding,
and forming almost single-handedly, and leading the Nation in
establishing in July 1995 the V.A.S.A.P. - Volunteer Ambulatory
Surgical Access Program. VASAP, conceived in Delaware, is a
prayer-answered to countless number of people who cannot
afford to pay for their health insurance nor be eligible for
Medicaid or welfare, and therefore unable to afford surgical and
proper medical treatments. Successful in Delaware, the
program is being duplicated nationally. Some using the identical
terminology, others with assumed names but duplicating the
same concept.
U.S. Senator from Delaware Joseph R. Biden, Jr. calls Raphy’s
achievement “as a model and inspiration ...” Delaware
Governor Thomas R. Carper and Lieutenant Governor Ruth Ann
Minner jointly signed a statewide statement in recognition of Rafael A. Zaragoza.
Raphy Zaragoza has been constantly in the forefront when it comes to contributing his medical services to
his adopted country - the United States of America. From 1962 during the Cuban crisis and the Vietnam War,
he served as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Since his arrival in 1955 in America to pursue
advanced medical studies, immediately after graduating from the Medical School of the University of
Santo Thomas, Raphy has long been highlighting positive image for the Filipinos. Before establishing his
private medical practice in October 1964 in Dover, Delaware, he first completed his rotating internship at
Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis, MO, thereafter, his residency in surgery at Trumbull Memorial Hospital in
Warren, Ohio. He had his residency in urology at Bellevue Hospital in New York, and at Jersey City Medical
Center City in New Jersey. He received a “Special Fellow” in Urology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center (formerly Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases) in New York, New York.
Raphy Zaragoza has the distinction of being the “first” of various honors accorded an Asian descent. In
1981, he was the first Filipino to serve as State President of the Medical Society of Delaware. He has the
sole distinction of being the first foreign medical graduate (FMG) to be a Member of Board of Medical
Practice of the State of Delaware in 1985. In 1995 he earned the distinction of being the first Filipino to be
President of the local chapter of the prestigious American College of Surgeons, and the first Filipino to be the
State of Delaware Governor-at-Large of the same society. In 1975, he was president of the Philippine
Medical Society of Delaware, and since 1990, he has been consistent as a spearheader of humanitarian
medical missions providing free medical treatments, medicines and medical equipments to several
indigent areas in remote places in the Philippines.
Active and always available in providing “pro bono” services to various humanitarian groups, Raphy is an
asset to the various charitable groups. But it was with VASAP that Raphy made an indelible mark and
impact in his humanitarian efforts to provide free medical assistance to the less fortunate. A member and
one of the Directors of the Rotary Club of Dover since 1970, Raphy founded the VASAP with the
cooperation of prominent local Rotarians, as well as the staff of Kent General Hospital, where he is
Chief of Urology Services since 1964. Surgeries which can be performed as an outpatient and are
uncomplicated are provided free of charge. Also surgeries which ordinarily are too expensive and beyond
the reach of welfare and non-insured patients, such as hernia, cataract, hemorrhoids, vasectomy,
circumcisions, hydrocele, tubal ligation, lumps and bumps and other surgeries which fall under the category
of non-complicated/outpatient surgeries.
The VASAP project became the model project duplicated by other professional groups around the State of
Delaware, as well as globally. Thanks to the ingenuity of a Filipino physician: Dr. Rafael Acosta Zaragoza
who is a maverick and ahead of the pack of innovators!
Born and raised in Asingan, Pangasinan in 1929 as one of nine siblings of Aureo and Catalina Acosta
Zaragoza, Raphy graduated from Luna High School in Tayug, Pangasinan. Relocating in Manila, Raphy
started his Pre-Med at the UST Medical School, and subsequently obtained his degree in Doctor of
Medicine in 1954.
Married to Barbara Clair Zaragoza, a registered nurse and originally from Torington, Connecticut. They have
five adult children who are college graduates and are all professionals. They are M. Rafael Zaragoza, MD;
Michael R. Zaragoza, MD; Sandra Zaragoza, DDS; Nancy Zaragoza, JD; Robert Zaragoza, an Engineer and
a UCSD Medical student.
In spite of his heavy schedule, Raphy still managed to find time to indulge in his hobbies which are golfing,
skiing and traveling. (NM)
Raphy Zaragoza has been constantly in the forefront when it comes to contributing his medical services to
his adopted country - the United States of America. From 1962 during the Cuban crisis and the Vietnam War,
he served as a major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. Since his arrival in 1955 in America to pursue
advanced medical studies, immediately after graduating from the Medical School of the University of
Santo Thomas, Raphy has long been highlighting positive image for the Filipinos. Before establishing his
private medical practice in October 1964 in Dover, Delaware, he first completed his rotating internship at
Lutheran Hospital in St. Louis, MO, thereafter, his residency in surgery at Trumbull Memorial Hospital in
Warren, Ohio. He had his residency in urology at Bellevue Hospital in New York, and at Jersey City Medical
Center City in New Jersey. He received a “Special Fellow” in Urology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center (formerly Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases) in New York, New York.
Raphy Zaragoza has the distinction of being the “first” of various honors accorded an Asian descent. In
1981, he was the first Filipino to serve as State President of the Medical Society of Delaware. He has the
sole distinction of being the first foreign medical graduate (FMG) to be a Member of Board of Medical
Practice of the State of Delaware in 1985. In 1995 he earned the distinction of being the first Filipino to be
President of the local chapter of the prestigious American College of Surgeons, and the first Filipino to be the
State of Delaware Governor-at-Large of the same society. In 1975, he was president of the Philippine
Medical Society of Delaware, and since 1990, he has been consistent as a spearheader of humanitarian
medical missions providing free medical treatments, medicines and medical equipments to several
indigent areas in remote places in the Philippines.
Active and always available in providing “pro bono” services to various humanitarian groups, Raphy is an
asset to the various charitable groups. But it was with VASAP that Raphy made an indelible mark and
impact in his humanitarian efforts to provide free medical assistance to the less fortunate. A member and
one of the Directors of the Rotary Club of Dover since 1970, Raphy founded the VASAP with the
cooperation of prominent local Rotarians, as well as the staff of Kent General Hospital, where he is
Chief of Urology Services since 1964. Surgeries which can be performed as an outpatient and are
uncomplicated are provided free of charge. Also surgeries which ordinarily are too expensive and beyond
the reach of welfare and non-insured patients, such as hernia, cataract, hemorrhoids, vasectomy,
circumcisions, hydrocele, tubal ligation, lumps and bumps and other surgeries which fall under the category
of non-complicated/outpatient surgeries.
The VASAP project became the model project duplicated by other professional groups around the State of
Delaware, as well as globally. Thanks to the ingenuity of a Filipino physician: Dr. Rafael Acosta Zaragoza
who is a maverick and ahead of the pack of innovators!
Born and raised in Asingan, Pangasinan in 1929 as one of nine siblings of Aureo and Catalina Acosta
Zaragoza, Raphy graduated from Luna High School in Tayug, Pangasinan. Relocating in Manila, Raphy
started his Pre-Med at the UST Medical School, and subsequently obtained his degree in Doctor of
Medicine in 1954.
Married to Barbara Clair Zaragoza, a registered nurse and originally from Torington, Connecticut. They have
five adult children who are college graduates and are all professionals. They are M. Rafael Zaragoza, MD;
Michael R. Zaragoza, MD; Sandra Zaragoza, DDS; Nancy Zaragoza, JD; Robert Zaragoza, an Engineer and
a UCSD Medical student.
In spite of his heavy schedule, Raphy still managed to find time to indulge in his hobbies which are golfing,
skiing and traveling. (NM)
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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