Maria Elena Ruiz, PhD, RN, FNP-BC

Faculty Research and Clinical Expertise

Research: Health disparities, aging, and intergenerational relations; homeless & Latino (funded). Particular emphasis on vulnerable populations, Latinos, social epidemiology, and the intersection of place, culture, language, and health. Special focus on community based participatory research and mixed qualitative and quantitative designs

Clinical: Family Health, Advanced Practice, Community/Public Health

Professional Activities

2010-PresentAssociate Director, Chicano Studies Research Center, UCLA

2010-2010Elected Board Member, National Association of Hispanic Nurses

2008-PresentLifeworks Organization (Mental Health Services), Executive Board Member, Oregon

2007-2009National Association of Hispanic Nurses-Oregon, President 

2004-2006National Association of Hispanic Nurses National Office, Board of Directors 

2008-PresentOregon Latino Health Coalition, Executive Board Member

1998-1999National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty (NONPF), Conference Planning Committee

Education

Cal State Los Angeles, BA, 1974, Sociology, Minor: Education

LAC+USC School of Nursing, RN Diploma, 1979, Nursing

University of California San Francisco, BS, 1986, Nursing

University of California San Francisco, MS, 1988, Nursing, Family Health (FNP Certificate), Minor: Cross Culture

University of Southern California, MA, 2000, Sociology

University of Southern California, PhD, 2006, Sociology

Honors and Awards

2007Nominee, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary's Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for 2020

2007 - 2008Selected Leadership Fellow, American Leadership Forum of Oregon, fellowship funded by the Northwest Health Foundation, OR

2008Award: Betty J. Cleckley Minority Research Award "Latino Elders: Is Familismo Alive & Well?" American Public Health Association, Gerontology Health Section Award for research on minority elders

2009Robert Wood Johnson, New Connections Symposium, selected Junior Faculty participant

2009Nominee Excellence in Teaching Award, Statewide Masters Public Health Program, Oregon

2009Finalist Teaching with Sakai Innovation Award, for Innovation and integration of Cultural Competency in Distance Education

2010Robert Wood Johnson, New Connections Symposium, selected Junior Faculty participant

2010Nurse of the Year Award, National Association of Hispanic Nurses

Publications

Since UCLA Appointment

Peer Reviewed Papers (*indicates data-based)

Ruiz, M.E., & Ransford, H. E. (In Press, 2012). Latino Elders Reframing Familismo: Implications for Health and Caregiving. Journal of Cultural Diversity.

Galvez, G., Mankowski, E.S., McGlade, M.S., Ruiz, M.E., & Glass, N (2011). Work-related intimate partner violence among employed immigrants from Mexico. Journal of Psychology of Men & Masculinity. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 12(3), 230-246.

Wros, P., Doutrich, D., & Ruiz, M.E. (2009). The Wisdom of Hispanic Nurses: Ethical Concerns and Moral Conflicts in Practice. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 16(4), 151-9.

Book Chapters or Monographs

Ruiz, M.E. (2012). Essential Health Benefits for Latinos, Position Statement (Lead author). The National Association of Hispanic Nurses.

Ruiz, M.E. (2011). How do we make the profession as diverse as the population for which it cares? No easy answers to questions about increasing diversity in nursing. In The power of ten 2011-2013: Nurse leaders address the profession's ten most pressing issues, pp. 15-16. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

Ruiz, M.E. (Winter 2010). Health for All: L.A. & the U.S. Mexico Border-Public Health Matters. LA NAHN CONNEXION, Newsletter of the Los Angeles Chapter, National Association of Hispanic Nurses, pp. 3-4.

Prior to UCLA Appointment

Peer Reviewed Papers (*indicates data-based)

Ruiz, M.E. (2007). Familismo and Filial Piety among Latino and Asian elders: Reevaluating family and social support. International Journal of Hispanic Nurses, 5(2), 37-46.

Doutrich, D., Wros, P., Valdez, R., & Ruiz, M.E. (2005). Professional Values of Hispanic Nurses: The experience of Hispanic nurses. International Journal of Hispanic Nurses, 3(3), 161-170.

Ruiz, M.E. (1995). Collaborative Learning & Diversity: Nursing a Multicultural Classroom. Available on-line: www.center for excellence.usc.edu.

Hoppenbrouwers, T., Geidel, S., Ruiz, M.E., & Judson, L. (1982). Electronic sleep monitoring in the newborn and young infant: Technical guidelines. In C. Guilleminault, MD (Ed.), Sleeping and Waking Disorders, (pp. 61-98). Menlo Park, CA: Addison-Wesley.

Abstracts

Hodgman, J.E., Hoppenbrouwers, T., Cabal, L. Ruiz, M.E., & Chavez, A. (1984). Respiratory and cardiac patterns in healthy premature infants after the first week. Western Pediatrics Perinatology (abstracts).

Hoppenbrouwers, T., Ruiz, M.E., Hodgman, J.E., & Cabal, L. (1984). Quiet sleep respiratory rate in normal premature. Western Pediatrics Perinatology (abstract).

Book Chapters or Monographs

Ruiz, M.E. & Moynahan, G. (1995). Pediatric asthma care guidelines. In E. Androwich & L. Burkhard (Eds.), Plans of care for specialty practice: A nursing diagnosis approach. Albany, NY: Del Mar.

Ruiz, M.E. (1995). Collaborative Learning & Diversity: Nursing a Multicultural Classroom. Available on-line: www.center for excellence.usc.edu.