Life & Work with Joanne Ruelas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joanne Ruelas.

Hi Joanne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a social worker for the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in the patient navigation and outreach department. I specifically support patients receiving treatment for a movement disorder, such as Parkinson’s disease, and their families. I have been a social worker for 18 years. I graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. I have experience in various hospital settings and child welfare.

I thoroughly enjoy my job and support my patients and their families daily. I do so through referrals, support groups (I facilitate 4 different ones), educational seminars, and outreach activities. I have always enjoyed listening to people’s stories and learning where they’ve come from to get to where they’re at today- that’s the best part of my job. I’ve had various stories throughout the past 4 years I’ve been with Barrow and prior jobs.

I grew up in a small town called Tuba City, located 75 miles north of Flagstaff on the Navajo Reservation. I am biracial, both Native American from the Navajo Tribe and White (Irish, German, Italian, and English). I have two younger sisters. My husband and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl, V Maree, in December 2022. I am also an auntie to six nieces and nephews. My husband and I have a mixed breed dog named Oso, who turned 10 this past year.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
As a social worker, I often serve as a problem solver for my patients and their families. I work very hard to find resources to help patients improve their quality of life and support them when experiencing challenging times. I am also very proud to serve our patients by assisting them in navigating the healthcare system. At times, the healthcare system can be overwhelming, and I love being able to help educate and advocate for our patients. A personal hurdle I am working to overcome is returning to work after having my baby girl! As much as I miss her while I am away, I am very proud to set an example for her and for her to know I am working hard for our family and community!

Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
Social worker and educator at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I don’t have a favorite book or podcast, but I frequently used the “What to Expect” app during my pregnancy! Instead, I prefer to listen to music. My favorite genres are country or “oldies” from the ’50-’70s era.