Dr. Ilene Ruhoy

Dr. Ruhoy has clinical experience in connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), neuromuscular disorders, autoimmune disorders, post-infection neurological conditions, traumatic brain injuries, seizure disorders, mitochondrial diseases, and more.

Originally from New York, Dr. Ruhoy knew she wanted to be a doctor as early as third grade, when she won a spelling bee and told a local news reporter that she planned to go into medicine. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Marymount College, she earned her medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and then a PhD in environmental toxicology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

During her time in Nevada, Dr. Ruhoy worked with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, writing her dissertation on pharmaceutical residues in the water supply and publishing additional research on the effects of green spaces on the brain. This fueled Dr. Ruhoy’s desire to focus on the environment and its impact on our health. “We've understood for a long time that exposures—whether infections, toxicants, or other contaminants—have a physiologic effect, but people didn’t always dive into that as a root cause. That’s a lot of the work that I’ve taken on with my patients,” she says.

Dr. Ruhoy then completed her residency in neurology at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital, training in both adult and pediatric neurology. She also completed a fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona and received additional fellowship training in neuromuscular disorders at the University of Washington.

Integrative medicine appealed to Dr. Ruhoy because, she says, “I always think there’s got to be more to any situation.” She combines evidence-based research and Western medicine with her training in herbal formulations, mind-body connections, and environmental exposures to offer a holistic approach, thoroughly considering all possibilities for what might be causing patients’ symptoms.

This dedication helped when she fell mysteriously ill in 2014. After many doctors dismissed her symptoms as everything from chronic sinus infections to perimenopause, Dr. Ruhoy discovered she had a 7 cm tumor in her brain that has since required radiation and brain surgery.

“I know what it was like not to be believed,” Dr. Ruhoy says. “So I realized that if I could control it, I would never allow another patient to feel like that ever again.”

When patients come to her, Dr. Ruhoy says they have often seen many other doctors searching for answers. She starts by taking extensive histories of their symptoms and exposures throughout their life so she can understand their journey. Dr. Ruhoy views her relationship with each patient as a partnership, because, she says, “they know their body better than I do.”

Dr. Ruhoy has worked as an Attending Neurologist at Seattle Children’s Hospital, established her own private practice, and served as Medical Director for the Mount Sinai South Nassau Chiari EDS Center, which was named a Ehlers-Danlos Society Center of Excellence under her leadership.

At Atria, Dr. Ruhoy appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with top specialists across disciplines without the bureaucracy that can often exist at large health systems.

She previously served as Director of the Institute for Environmental Medicine and an Assistant Professor at the Touro University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Vegas, and now hosts a podcast about complex illnesses and is frequently invited to speak at lectures, grand rounds, and conferences around the country.

Dr. Ruhoy lives in Seattle with her husband, who is a pathologist, and their daughter. She loves running, hiking, and spending time with her family’s two dogs. Her book, Invisible No More: Embracing Your Road to Recovery From Long COVID and Other Complex Chronic Illnesses, was published in June 2025.