Dr. Kathleen Ruth has over 20 years of professional experience as a health scientist and epidemiologist. Ruth previously served 17 years in the U.S. Public Health Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she completed the Epidemic Intelligence Service Program and conducted health science studies in HIV and maternal child health. She successfully managed multimillion-dollar cooperative agreements to strengthen the capacity of health departments, community-based organizations, and healthcare agencies across the U.S. to provide quality HIV prevention and care services. Ruth received a Commendation Medal for successfully leading the development of an evidence-based toolkit for healthcare providers to improve treatment adherence and retention in care among patients with HIV. She has provided onsite critical technical assistance to Mozambique and Tanzania CDC Global AIDS Programs.

Ruth currently serves as a director at CAI Global, an organization that provides training, technical assistance, research, and other support to agencies that provide health care and social services.

Ruth received her bachelor of science degree from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, a master of science degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her PhD in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia. Ruth lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Cory Ruth, and their three children. She was appointed by Governor Brian Kemp in 2024.