Biography

Dr. Ruiz’s program of research focuses on psychosocial influences on health. His NIH-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/ethnic health disparities, particularly the epidemiological phenomenon referred to as the Hispanic Health Paradox. His current work focuses on sociocultural factors that may help explain paradoxical survival differences in the context of lung cancer.

Dr. Ruiz is the current Editor-In-Chief of APA’s Health Psychology (2023-2028). He has active leadership roles in multiple professional societies including as the immediate Past-President of the Behavioral Medicine Research Council (BMRC) as well as roles in the Society for Health Psychology, the American Psychosomatic Society, and the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. Dr. Ruiz serves on the editorial boards of several journals (Journal of Latina/o Psychology, Health Psychology, Annals of Behavioral Medicine, Journal of Behavioral Medicine), is a recent associate editor for 4 journals (PLOS One, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Journal of Research in Personality) including Senior Associate Editor of Annals of Behavioral Medicine, and has guest edited several special issues. Dr. Ruiz is also a leader in the push for health equity as Past Chair for APA’s Committee on Socioeconomic Status (CSES), member of the inaugural APA Health Equity Committee, and appointment to the 2021 APA Presidential Task Force on Health Equity for which he received a 2021 APA Presidential Citation. He is a permanent member of the NIH Behavioral Medicine Interventions and Outcomes (BMIO) study section, and he served on the external advisory board for NIH’s Science of Behavior Change (SOBC) effort.

In 2022, Dr. Ruiz began a 4-year, federal appointment to serve on the 16-member, US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) which reviews evidence on preventive health guidelines. Dr. Ruiz is an elected fellow of the American Psychosomatic Society, Association of Psychological Science, Society for Health Psychology (APA, Division 38), and the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research.

At the University of Arizona, he is a member of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, the
Sarver Heart Center, the Center on Health Disparities, Center on Aging, the Hispanic Center of Excellence, and the BIO 5 Institute. He has additional adjunct appoints in Public Health, Family Studies, and has served in a range of committees, task forces, and other university service roles.

Cancer Focus