Monica Ruiz

Dr. Monica S. Ruiz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Prevention and Community Health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. With a PhD and MPH, Dr. Ruiz has dedicated her career to addressing health risks disproportionately affecting vulnerable and marginalized populations. Her research focuses on persons who use drugs and individuals from racially and ethnically diverse communities. Dr. Ruiz's work spans evaluating addiction treatment workforce training and examining factors influencing HIV infection and opioid overdose risk, including gentrification and housing instability. As co-director of GWU's Maternal and Child Health Center of Excellence, she leads a community-academic partnership addressing mental health disparities among African American youth in DC's Ward 5. Dr. Ruiz's multifaceted research portfolio reflects her commitment to understanding and mitigating the complex social, contextual, and structural factors that contribute to health disparities. Through her work, she aims to develop evidence-based interventions and policies to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations and advance health equity.