It is with great pleasure that Wellness at Penn announces the appointment of Patricia Ruiz, DNP, APN, as the new Executive Director of Student Health and Counseling, effective March 1, 2024. Dr. Ruiz is a certified Advanced Practice Nurse with expertise in college health. An experienced student affairs administrator, clinician and educator, she brings more than 20 years of experience in diverse higher education settings.
“I am thrilled to join the Wellness at Penn team and look forward to collaborating on this work with the incredibly talented clinical staff within Student Health and Counseling,” says Dr. Ruiz. “In my role, I hope to facilitate a culture of collaboration to inspire innovation, ensuring that healthcare is meaningful, high-quality, and responsive to the needs of the entire student community.”
Prior to this, Dr. Ruiz served as the Director of the Student Health Center at Montclair State University, where she was responsible for planning and directing all areas of clinical care, regulatory compliance, fiscal responsibilities, and overseeing the public health of the students and campus. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Fairfield University, her Master of Science from Columbia University, her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Rutgers University, and her Post-Master’s Teaching Certificate from Penn.
“Dr. Ruiz is an exciting addition to our Wellness team,” says Benoit Dubé, MD, Associate Provost and Chief Wellness Officer. “Her extensive experience in caring for the student community at Montclair, matched with her dedication to collaboration and innovation will serve our student community well—furthering our vision of a campus that integrates the science, theory, and practice of wellness.
In her role, Dr. Ruiz will lead the student-facing clinical team and help to advance Wellness at Penn’s mission Infuse wellness across its eight domains throughout the Penn experience through inclusive, innovative, and impactful initiatives. Through this role, Dr. Ruiz will oversee the medical care and behavioral health services that nurture the resilience and success of the more than 26,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Penn.
When she’s not working, Dr. Ruiz enjoys baking bread, birding, and finding amazing sustainable vintage items. A native New Yorker, she is eager to discover the city of Philadelphia, especially the museums and jazz music scene.
About Wellness at Penn
Wellness at Penn is dedicated to caring for students during their academic journey while creating a campus-wide community of care. Our team is committed to offering a wide range of opportunities to access support, clinical resources, education, and practical tools to meaningfully engage with one's health and wellbeing.
Our vision is simple: we want to create a campus experience that integrates the science, theory, and practice of wellness. We will accomplish this by infusing wellness across its eight domains throughout the Penn experience through inclusive, innovative, and impactful initiatives. The eight domains of Wellness include: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, occupational, and spiritual wellness. All of our initiatives are grounded in collaboration and fueled by CARE: compassion, accessibility, respect, and empowerment.
Our organization is built upon two pillars: Student Health and Counseling and Public Health and Wellbeing. Both pillars operate collaboratively to create a campus community centered on wellness.