Dr. Ralph F. Helzerman was born in Pendleton, Oregon. Shortly afterwards his family moved to Tecumseh, Michigan where he grew up and graduated from high school. He attended the University of Michigan and received his degree in medicine in 1967.

Dr. Helzerman returned to the Northwest for his internship at the Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. He then entered the service where he served as a General Medical Officer for two years at Travis Air Force Base in California.

Upon completion of his ophthalmology residency at the Oregon Health Sciences University in 1973, Dr. Helzerman joined the Hillsboro Eye Clinic. He is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and a member of the Oregon Academy of Ophthalmology and the Oregon Medical Association.

Dr. Helzerman and his wife, Marilynn, live in Hillsboro and have four daughters and five grandchildren. His hobbies include fly-fishing, growing roses, and singing bass in the Oregon Chorale.