Ruthfirst Eva Anaale Ayande holds a PhD (Public Health) from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where she also completed a graduate certificate in feminist studies. She earned an MSc in Dietetics and a BSc in Nutrition and Food Science (combined major) from the University of Ghana, as well as a Certificate in Nutritional Epidemiology from the German Institute of Human Nutrition (Dife).

Ruthfirst conducts interdisciplinary research in maternal and child health. Her research focuses on nutrition interventions to help improve maternal health and health literacy, neonatal outcomes, infant and young child feeding practices, as well as examining structural, economic and sociocultural determinants of health. She is a Registered Dietitian with expertise in both community nutrition and nutrition support therapy in the acute care setting. She continues to work clinically in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Yale-New Haven Hospital.