It is with deep sadness we share with you that Joanne C. Ruhland, Vice President of Government Relations for Wake Forest Baptist Health, was involved in an automobile accident on Friday, October 15, in South Carolina that claimed her life along with that of her sister.
Joanne represented Wake Forest Baptist Health at the local, state and national levels for more than 33 years, was well-respected, and will be missed immensely.
A celebration of Joanne’s life will be held when further information becomes available.
Born in New York City in 1954, Joanne moved with her family to North Carolina in 1972 and received her MBA in finance and economics from Appalachian State University.
Joanne was instrumental in securing federal funding for construction of an 11-story building to house the Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Nutrition Research Center and for development of Piedmont Triad Research Park (now Innovation Quarter). Additionally, she worked with government officials in formulating health policies, especially relating to Medicare and Medicaid.
She was a past chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Government Relations Representatives, as well as a past chair of Premier Inc.’s Federal Affairs Network. In 2003, Joanne won Premier’s James L. Scott Excellence in Advocacy Award.
She was a faculty member of the medical school’s Department of Public Health Sciences. Joanne was also a faculty member of Wake Forest University’s Calloway School of Business and Accountancy and the Babcock Graduate School of Management, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in health management and health policy.
Joanne is survived by her husband of 42 years, Stanley John Ruhland. A loving wife, devoted sister and dedicated professional, Joanne also was passionate about dogs, especially the Australian Shepherd rescue; her church, Holy Cross Catholic Church in Kernersville; and cooking.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hopkins Road Animal Hospital, 643 Hopkins Road, Kernersville, NC 27284 and the Discovery Fund for the Comprehensive Cancer Center at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (https://giving.wakehealth.edu/Ways-to-Give). Please indicate “In memory of Joanne Ruhland.”