John M. Ruiz, PhD
2026 University Faculty Service Award
Dr. John M. Ruiz is a Professor of Clinical Health Psychology in the Department of Psychology at the University of Arizona with additional appointments in the UA Cancer Center, Public Health, and Family Studies and is a member of numerous centers throughout campus. He is a population health scientist with a program of research emphasizing prevention, resilience, and equity. His NIH-funded research examines relationships between individual level psychosocial factors, social behaviors, and cardiovascular and cancer diseases. In addition, Dr. Ruiz has recognized expertise in sociocultural aspects of racial/ethnic health disparities.
Dr. Ruiz has a significant record of department, institution, community, and national service with a focus on academic and health equity leadership. He is the recipient of the 2024 Segundo de Febrero Henry “Hank” Oyama Community Partnership Award from Amistades, a local 501c3 for his community health efforts in Southern Arizona. Nationally, Dr. Ruiz is the current Editor-In-Chief of APA’s Health Psychology (2023-2028) and he serves as the 2025 Chair-Elect of APA’s Council of Editors which oversee the 90+ journals in the APA portfolio. He has active leadership roles in multiple professional societies including as Past-President of the Behavioral Medicine Research Council (BMRC). 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 past 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 helps to guide national healthcare policy through its recommendations.