Ruby H.N. Nguyen, PhD

Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health

Ruby H.N. Nguyen

Contact Info

nguy0082@umn.edu

Office Phone 612-626-7559

Office Address:
Div. Epidemiology & Community Health
1300 S. 2nd Street
Suite 300
Minneapolis MN 55454

Associate Professor, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health


PhD, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University

MHS, Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University

BA, Microbiology, University of Minnesota

Summary

My research focuses on maternal, child and family health; the effect of the environment on child development; and domestic and sexual violence within families and communities.

My current work focuses on a cohort study that examines the role of endocrine disrupting chemicals, specifically phthalates, in child development. I am also involved in work related to vulvodynia and chronic pain. 

Expertise

Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Epidemiology; Women's Health; Chronic Conditions; Environmental Exposures; Undergraduate Public Health Education

Awards & Recognition

  • 2020 — Harry Lando Faculty Award
  • 2020 — University of Minnesota Community-Engaged Scholar Award
  • 2019 — UMN President's Community-Engaged Scholar Award, Collegiate/Campus-Wide Recipient
  • 2018-2021 — UMN University and Faculty Senator
  • 2018 — Leonard Schuman Excellence in Teaching Award
  • 2015 — Delta Omega, Honorary Society in Public Health, Faculty Inductee
  • 2010 — National Vulvodynia Association Marinoff Career Award

Research

Research Summary/Interests

Research Funding Grants

  • Mount Sinai School of Medicine, "Phthalate Exposure and Gender-Related Development," Principal Investgator
  • NIH, "The Infant Development and Environment Study (TIDES)," Investigator 

Publications

See a full list of publications on PubMed

Recent Publications

  • Sathyanarayana S, Grady R, Barrett ES, Redmon B, Nguyen RH, Barthold JS, Bush NR, Swan SH. "First Trimester Phthalate Exposure and Male Newborn Genital Anomalies," Environmental Research, Nov 2016
  • Sathyanarayana S, Barrett E, Nguyen R, Redmon B, Haaland W, Swan SH. "First Trimester Phthalate Exposure and Infant Birth Weight in the Infant Development and Environment Study," International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Sept 2016
  • Nelson JW, Edhlund BL, Johnson J, Rosebush CE, Holmquist ZS, Swan SH, Nguyen RH. "Assessing a New Method for Measuring Fetal Exposure to Mercury: Newborn Bloodspots," International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, July 2016
  • Barrett ES, Parlett LE, Sathyanarayana S, Redmon JB, Nguyen RH, Swan SH. "Prenatal Stress as a Modifier of Associations between Phthalate Exposure and Reproductive Development: Results from the Multicentre Pregnancy Cohort Study," Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, March 2016
  • Alur S, Wang H, Hoeger K, Swan SH, Sathyanarayana S, Redmon BJ, Nguyen R, Barrett ES. "Urinary Phthalate Metabolite Concentrations in Relation to History of Infertility and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology," Fertility and Sterility, Nov 2015

Teaching

Teaching Areas

I teach in the Maternal and Child Health program as well as lead the curriculum and teach the Public Health Undergraduate Minor. 

Courses

  • PUBH 3202: What is Public Health?
  • PubH 3350: Epidemiology: People, Places, and Disease
  • PubH 6605: Perinatal and Reproductive Health

Community Engagement

I am currently part of a working group on violence against Asian women and children, which was part of the 2015 Minnesota session (Chapter 71, Article 8, Section 58). Along with Rainbow Research, a community-based research group, I am overseeing data collection that will become part of a report and recommendations back to the Legislator and Governor in 2017. I am particularly looking at the data on prevalence estimates in Minnesota and the impact of victimization for these women and children. 

Media

U of MN Health Sciences Expert Link

Health Experts Profile

In The News

SPH News

  • Nguyen Named to Search Committee for Director of Center for Bioethics
  • Nguyen Honored as Collegiate Recipient of the 2019 President's Community-Engaged Scholar Award (Read More)
  • Exposure to Chemical in Many Plastics Linked to Language Delay in Toddlers (Read More)
  • Nguyen Appointed to State Environmental Health Tracking Panel (Read More)
  • Nguyen Discusses Macaroni and Cheese and Phthalates (Read More)
  • Nguyen Expands Study of Chemical Exposure in Children (Read More)
  • Protecting Babies and Children from Harmful Chemicals (Read More)

In The Media

  • New prescription: Gender matters in healthcare (Minnesota Monthly)
  • Common Plastic Chemicals Linked to Language Delays in Children (Minnesota Daily)
  • Study: Chemical in Plastic Linked to Language Delay in Toddlers (KARE 11)