Michael W. Cruz
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" W. Cruz, M.D. (born ?) is a Guamanian
surgeon
and politician
. Cruz served as the eighth elected Lieutenant Governor of Guam
from 2007 to 2011.
by his parents Miguel de Gracia Cruz and Rosalinda Quinata. His father was Chamorro while his mother was Filipina
.
He has three children from his first marriage: Shaunn, Mika’ele and Christina. Cruz is currently married to his second wife, Jennifer Rosario Cruz. The couple have one daughter, Taylor, as well as Rosario Cruz's son, Christian, from her previous relationship.
Cruz received a bachelor's degree
in biology from Walla Walla College
in Washington state
. He obtained a Doctor of Medicine
from Loma Linda University
in California
.
for his tour of duty in Iraq
.
, and served as the Medical Director of the Guam Memorial Hospital
. He is a member of the American Board of Surgery
, and the American Society of Breast Surgeons
, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons
.
Senator in the 28th Guamanian Legislature from 2005 to 2006. He served on the legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, authoring legislation to combat childhood obesity
in Guam.
He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Guam
in November 2006 as the running mate
of Governor Felix Camacho. Cruz took office on January 1, 2007.
and was a candidate in the September 2010 Republican primary. His running mate
for Lt. Governor was Senator Jim Espaldon. Cruz was defeated by Eddie Calvo in the Republican primary election
on September 3, 2010.
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Cruz served as the eighth elected Lieutenant Governor of Guam
Lieutenant Governor of Guam
The Guamanian self governing government consists of a locally elected Governor, Lieutenant Governor and a fifteen member Legislature. The current Lieutenant Governor is Ray Tenorio, who has been in office since January 3, 2011....
from 2007 to 2011.
Personal life
Cruz was raised in Agat, GuamAgat, Guam
Agat is a village on the island of Guam, an unincorporated territory of the United States. It is located south of Apra Harbor on the island's western shore. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2000 census....
by his parents Miguel de Gracia Cruz and Rosalinda Quinata. His father was Chamorro while his mother was Filipina
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
.
He has three children from his first marriage: Shaunn, Mika’ele and Christina. Cruz is currently married to his second wife, Jennifer Rosario Cruz. The couple have one daughter, Taylor, as well as Rosario Cruz's son, Christian, from her previous relationship.
Cruz received a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in biology from Walla Walla College
Walla Walla College
Walla Walla University is a University offering liberal arts, professional, and technical programs located in College Place, Washington, just a few miles from Walla Walla. The current President is John McVay. It was founded in 1892 and is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.The...
in Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
. He obtained a Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
from Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University is a Seventh-day Adventist coeducational health sciences university located in Loma Linda, California, United States. The University comprises eight schools and the Faculty of Graduate Studies...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Military
Cruz is a Colonel in the Guam Army National Guard. He is a veteran of Operation Desert Storm. Cruz volunteered as a commander in the Rapid Advanced Medical Team during the Iraq War, serving from 2003 to 2004. He was a recipient of Bronze Star MedalBronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for his tour of duty in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Medical career
Cruz is a surgeonSurgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, and served as the Medical Director of the Guam Memorial Hospital
Guam Memorial Hospital
Guam Memorial Hospital is located in Tamuning, Guam and is the only civilian hospital serving the community of Guam. The hospital has 158 licensed acute care beds, plus 40 beds at its off-site, long-term care Skilled Nursing Facility....
. He is a member of the American Board of Surgery
American Board of Surgery
The American Board of Surgery is an independent, non-profit organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training and knowledge...
, and the American Society of Breast Surgeons
The American Society of Breast Surgeons
The American Society of Breast Surgeons is a professional medical society whose active members are general surgeons who dedicate all or part of their practices to the treatment of breast disease.-Demographics:...
, and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons
American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is an educational association of surgeons created in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.-Membership:...
.
Political career
Cruz was elected as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Senator in the 28th Guamanian Legislature from 2005 to 2006. He served on the legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, authoring legislation to combat childhood obesity
Childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing. As methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on BMI. Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects...
in Guam.
He was elected Lieutenant Governor of Guam
Lieutenant Governor of Guam
The Guamanian self governing government consists of a locally elected Governor, Lieutenant Governor and a fifteen member Legislature. The current Lieutenant Governor is Ray Tenorio, who has been in office since January 3, 2011....
in November 2006 as the running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
of Governor Felix Camacho. Cruz took office on January 1, 2007.
2010 gubernatorial candidacy
Cruz declared his candidacy for the 2010 gubernatorial electionGuam gubernatorial election, 2010
The Guam gubernatorial election of 2010 was held on November 2, 2010. Republican Governor Felix P. Camacho was term-limited in 2010 and ineligible to run for re-election. In January 2009, the website D.C.'s Political Report predicted that the Republican Party would retain the governorship...
and was a candidate in the September 2010 Republican primary. His running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
for Lt. Governor was Senator Jim Espaldon. Cruz was defeated by Eddie Calvo in the Republican primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
on September 3, 2010.