Paul Ruff, MD

Dr. Paul L. Ruff is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 25 years of experience caring for infants, children, and adolescents in the Starkville community. He is the owner of Starkville Pediatric Clinic and one of two pediatricians in the practice, working alongside a skilled team that also includes three nurse practitioners.

Dr. Ruff earned his undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from Mississippi State University before completing medical school and his pediatric residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. After finishing his training, he moved to Starkville and, one year later, helped found Starkville Pediatric Clinic, where he continues to practice today.

Dr. Ruff is known for a thoughtful, practical approach to pediatric care, emphasizing prevention, clear communication, and long-term relationships with families. He is a strong advocate for childhood immunizations, evidence-based immune system support, and responsible antibiotic use. He believes that good pediatric care means not only treating illness, but also helping families understand how to keep children healthy and resilient as they grow.

Over the years, Dr. Ruff has had the privilege of caring for multiple generations of Starkville families. He especially enjoys taking care of what he affectionately calls his “grandpatients”—the children of former patients he once cared for as kids themselves.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Ruff is deeply involved in the Starkville community. He is a regular performer with the Starkville Community Theatre, often appearing onstage alongside his wife, Cindy, and serves as the emcee for Starkville’s annual Make-A-Wish Evening of Wishes, supporting critically ill children across north Mississippi. Paul and Cindy have three adult children who have all moved away and have since been enthusiastically replaced by a household of pugs.