Paul was a resident instructor in general surgery at Baylor University School of Medicine from 1964 to 1965 and a resident neurosurgeon at the University of Maryland from 1965 to 1969. For the next two years, Paul furthered his education as a Fellow in neurophysiology at National Hospital in Queens Square, London, and as a Fellow in neurophysiology at the University of Wisconsin. From 1970 to 1974 Ronald was assistant professor of neurosurgery at Hanover, PA, General Hospital and Memorial Osteopathic Hospital, and as a clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Maryland.