John M. Ruiz, Ph.D.
Member
Dr. Ruiz is a professor of clinical psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona, where he is also the director of diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
Dr. Ruiz’s program of research focuses on psychosocial influences on health. His funded research examines relationships between individual-level psychosocial factors, social behaviors, and cardiovascular and cancer diseases, with an emphasis on biobehavioral mechanisms. In addition, Dr. Ruiz has recognized expertise in sociocultural aspects of racial and ethnic health disparities, particularly the epidemiological phenomenon referred to as the Hispanic Health Paradox. His work reflects a broad range of methodologies from laboratory to community-participatory research to population-level epidemiology.
Dr. Ruiz serves in editorial roles for several journals and is the editor-in-chief of the American Psychological Association (APA) journal, Health Psychology. He has active leadership roles in multiple professional societies and is a founding member and immediate past-president of the Behavioral Medicine Research Council, which represents the overlap of four major U.S.-based behavioral medicine organizations. Dr. Ruiz is also a leader in the push for health equity with roles as past chair for APA’s Committee on Socioeconomic Status, an appointee to the 2021 APA Presidential Task Force on Health Equity, and a member of the inaugural Health Equity Committee of the APA.
Dr. Ruiz received his B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned his M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a health emphasis from the University of Utah. Dr. Ruiz completed his clinical internship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and his National Institute of Health postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular behavioral medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He is a fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, the APA, and the American Psychosomatic Society.
Dr. Ruiz joined the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in January 2022.
Dr. Ruiz’s program of research focuses on psychosocial influences on health. His funded research examines relationships between individual-level psychosocial factors, social behaviors, and cardiovascular and cancer diseases, with an emphasis on biobehavioral mechanisms. In addition, Dr. Ruiz has recognized expertise in sociocultural aspects of racial and ethnic health disparities, particularly the epidemiological phenomenon referred to as the Hispanic Health Paradox. His work reflects a broad range of methodologies from laboratory to community-participatory research to population-level epidemiology.
Dr. Ruiz serves in editorial roles for several journals and is the editor-in-chief of the American Psychological Association (APA) journal, Health Psychology. He has active leadership roles in multiple professional societies and is a founding member and immediate past-president of the Behavioral Medicine Research Council, which represents the overlap of four major U.S.-based behavioral medicine organizations. Dr. Ruiz is also a leader in the push for health equity with roles as past chair for APA’s Committee on Socioeconomic Status, an appointee to the 2021 APA Presidential Task Force on Health Equity, and a member of the inaugural Health Equity Committee of the APA.
Dr. Ruiz received his B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He earned his M.A. in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology with a health emphasis from the University of Utah. Dr. Ruiz completed his clinical internship at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and his National Institute of Health postdoctoral fellowship in cardiovascular behavioral medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. He is a fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, the APA, and the American Psychosomatic Society.
Dr. Ruiz joined the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in January 2022.