Published on Aug. 20, 2026
Ruth is a PhD student in the MU Institute for Data Science and Informatics with an emphasis in Health Informatics. Her research focuses on the responsible application of artificial intelligence and machine learning, including natural language processing, to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes, particularly for rural and underserved populations. She holds dual master’s degrees in Health Administration and Biomedical Informatics, Biostatistics and Medical Epidemiology from the University of Missouri and has a clinical background in dentistry. Her work spans rural telehealth, clinical AI, healthcare analytics, and healthcare operations, including using NLP to understand implementation barriers in telehealth programs and evaluating AI-enabled approaches in clinical care. Bringing together her experience in clinical care, healthcare administration, informatics, data science, and project management, Ruth is interested in developing and evaluating practical health technologies that improve healthcare access, quality, and sustainability. Outside of her academic and professional work, Ruth enjoys traveling, discovering new cultures, and experiencing the world through the people, places, and traditions she encounters.