Ruth Wolever, PhD., NBC-HWC

Dr. Ruth Wolever, Ph.D., NBC-HWC, is a Professor of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with a secondary appointment in the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and an adjunct appointment at Meharry Medical College. She is the Program Director for the Vanderbilt Health Coaching Program.

Ruth is a nationally-board certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC) and a clinical health psychologist. She has over 27 years experience training and mentoring medical and allied health professionals in behavioral medicine, emotional health and coaching. She also has over 27 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 (formerly named the International Consortium for Health and Wellness Coaching). She has co-led national board certification efforts for health and wellness coaches through her service as Chair of the Certification Commission for NBHWC, and as a Director on the NBHWC Board of Directors. 

In addition to her focus on training, 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 kidney disease, chronic pain and 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. 

Prior to joining Vanderbilt, Ruth was the Founding Research Director for Duke Integrative Medicine and an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke School of Medicine.  Ruth has co-authored 79 articles and academic chapters, and collaboratively given over 320 peer-reviewed or invited presentations. She also co-authored The Mindful Diet, released in 2015 by Simon & Schuster. Ruth has served as an expert consultant in emotional health and behavior change for Everyday Health, for GlaxoSmithKline, for Nurtur (a fully-owned subsidiary of Centene), for the Samueli Institute, for Nokia, for Sharecare, and for clinics on better integrating behavioral health into primary care models. She was the Chief Science Officer for eMindful until it was acquired by Wondr Health. She currently serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for WondrHealth, Fullfill, and the Institute of Coaching. Ruth is particularly interested in the intersection of mindfulness, inter-professional training, and behavior change.

See Dr. Wolever's research referenced in this New York Times Article!