Sharon L. Ruyak, PhD, CNM, RN, is an assistant professor at The University of New Mexico College of Nursing. She has practiced as a registered nurse and certified nurse-midwife in a variety of maternal-child health settings. Her research interests focus on the biobehavioral contributions of chronic stress to adverse pregnancy outcomes in the maternal-infant dyad.

Ruyak received her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degree from the University of Colorado, Denver; her Master of Science in Nursing from Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Towson University in Towson, Md.