Community Board Podcast

Ester Ruiz, PhD, PMHNP-BC began her career at Arizona State University, College of Nursing & Health Innovation (CONHI) in 1981 as adjunct faculty, then as Director of Student Services, Minority Student Advisor, Assistant Professor and as Professor until her retirement in 2010. For many years, she was only one of a few Hispanic nurses in the western United States to have a PhD. Dr. Ruiz co-founded both the Nursing Students for Cultural & Ethnic Diversity at ASU and the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Phoenix Chapter in 1991. Dr. Ruiz has made her clinical and education career unique and worthy of recognition for her tireless efforts and countless volunteer hours in providing mental services to the uninsured and low income community. Dr. Ruiz was involved in many research studies focused on improving the quality of mental health care in the Hispanic community and narrowing health care disparities. Dr. Ruiz’s impact on the Hispanic community, nursing students, and nurse colleagues has been monumental.