John M. Ruiz

Dr. John M. Ruiz is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity within the same department. He holds adjunct appointments in Public Health and Family Studies. His research focuses on psychosocial influences on health, particularly cardiovascular and cancer diseases, health disparities, and the Hispanic Health Paradox. He is internationally recognized for advancing health equity through leadership roles in NIH-funded research and national committees.

Education:

• BA in Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara (1991)
• PhD in Clinical Health Psychology, University of Utah (2001)
• Clinical Internship and Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Research Interests: Dr. Ruiz’s work spans laboratory-based studies to population-level epidemiology, emphasizing biobehavioral mechanisms and sociocultural factors in health disparities. He advocates for equitable interventions through participatory approaches and systemic change.

Leadership & Service: Current roles include President of the Behavioral Medicine Research Council, Editor-In-Chief of APA’s Health Psychology (2023–2028), and member of the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). He chairs NIH study sections and serves on editorial boards of Health Psychology, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, and others. His leadership extends to APA’s Health Equity Committee and the NIH Science of Behavior Change initiative.

Awards & Recognition:

• 2021 APA Presidential Citation for health equity leadership
• Elected fellowships in major psychological societies

Grants & Affiliations: NIH-funded research, member of the Sarver Heart Center, University of Arizona Cancer Center, and the Center on Health Disparities. He founded the Health Psychology doctoral training program and leads equity initiatives at the University of Arizona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution.