Jessie Gruman (December 7, 1953 – July 14, 2014[1]) was a social psychologist active in the movement to incorporate evidence into health care and to help consumers adopt healthier behaviors.
As president of the Center for Advancing Health Gruman drew on her own experience of treatment for five cancer diagnoses, interviews with patients and caregivers, surveys and peer-reviewed research to describe and advocate for policies and practices to overcome the challenges people face in finding good care and getting the most from it.
Her interest in psychology was sparked by her experience when she had been treated for cancer at the University of Wisconsin Medical Center at the age of 20.
She implemented the employee health promotion program, Total Life Concept (TLC) at the national headquarters of AT&T, Communications between 1984 and 1986.
She contributed regularly to the center's Prepared Patient Blog and frequently commented on current health news via Twitter.
She concluded that most patients are unable to make critical decisions about their health care in the consumer-driven model.
She was also honored by Research!America, the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and the Society for Behavioral Medicine, which in 2014 created the Jessie Gruman Award for Health Engagement to recognize annually an individual who has made a pivotal contribution to research, practice or policy in the field of health engagement.