Ruth Y. Shoge, OD, MPH, FAAO brings deep expertise at the intersection of healthcare, public health, education, and equity. A clinician, educator, and nationally recognized leader in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Ruth has spent her career advancing systems that improve health outcomes while strengthening institutions from the inside out.
Currently an Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at a leading public university, Ruth works across clinical care, academic leadership, and policy-informed practice. Her work is grounded in a strong belief that equitable systems require both technical excellence and cultural humility — and that meaningful change happens when leaders are equipped to address structural barriers head-on.
Ruth’s background spans pediatric and binocular vision care, public health research, curriculum design, faculty development, and organizational leadership. She has led and advised numerous institution-level and national initiatives focused on workforce diversity, access to care, and culturally responsive practice. In parallel, she founded a consulting practice to support long-term DEIB planning and education for academic, private, and corporate organizations.
Across roles, Ruth is known for her ability to translate complex research and lived experience into practical strategies that improve systems, strengthen teams, and deliver more equitable outcomes.
Diversity Advisory Board Member, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc.
Ruth is a frequent national and international speaker on topics including health equity, culturally responsive care, workforce diversity, bias awareness, pediatric vision, concussion-related vision disorders, and DEIB leadership. She has presented at major professional conferences and webinars across healthcare, optometry, and public health.
She is also a published researcher and contributor to peer-reviewed journals, with work focused on access to care, disparities in vision health, workforce diversity, and evidence-informed approaches to improving outcomes for underserved populations. Her research includes participation as an investigator in multiple federally funded studies and large national research collaboratives.