Ruth Q. Wolever

Ruth Q. Wolever is an Associate Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with secondary appointments in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. She leads the Vanderbilt Health Coaching Certificate Program through the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Vanderbilt. Ruth also serves as Chief Science Advisor and a subject matter expert for eMindful. Ruth is a nationally-board certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC) and a clinical health psychologist with over 20 years of experience training and mentoring medical and allied health professionals in behavioral medicine, emotional health, and coaching. She has over 25 years of experience designing, implementing, and evaluating behavior change programs for medical patients and those at risk for chronic disease. Ruth is internationally recognized for her expertise on Health and Wellness Coaching, is a founding member of the National Consortium for Credentialing Health and Wellness Coaches, and served as the inaugural President of the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching from Jan 2016 – Feb 2019. Ruth studies integrative health coaching and mindfulness-based approaches to self-regulation and lifestyle change for those with, or at elevated risk for, diabetes, heart disease, insomnia, tinnitus, chronic pain, and other stress-related disorders. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NCCAM – now NCCIH, Office of Women’s Health, NHLBI, NIDCD, and NIDDK), United States Air Force, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, industry, and philanthropy. Ruth has co-authored over 80 articles and academic chapters, and collaboratively given over 260 peer-reviewed or invited presentations. She also co-authored The Mindful Diet, released in 2015 by Simon & Schuster. She is particularly interested in the intersection of mindfulness, inter-professional training, and behavior change.