Ruby Louise Puryear Hearn (born April 13, 1940) is an American biophysicist who has dedicated her career to health policy.

Her work spans initiatives in maternal, infant, and child health; AIDS; substance abuse; and minority medical education.

In 1980 she began working at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the largest healthcare philanthropy in the United States.

[8] Hearn spent the majority of her career at the foundation, where her program planning efforts focused on "maternal, infant, and child health; AIDS; substance abuse; and minority medical education.

Hearn has served on the Science Board of the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the governing Council of the Institute of Medicine.