Bettina Drake, PhD, MPH, was installed as the Michael F. Neidorff Professor at a ceremony October 5 at WashU Medicine. The ceremony began at 4:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building. Bruce D. Levy, MD, the George and Carol Bauer Dean of WashU Medicine, delivered welcome remarks.
John A. Olson, MD, PhD, the chair of the Department of Surgery, who is the William K. Bixby Professor, gave the formal introduction of Drake. Chancellor Andrew D. Martin, PhD, and Levy presented Drake with a medallion recognizing her installation as the Michael F. Neidorff Professor. Drake then presented “Epidemiology Through a Community-Engaged Lens: Partnerships to Drive Impact,” highlighting an approach that is central to her research.
Drake is an epidemiologist and principal investigator at the Drake Lab, whose research focuses on identifying preventive strategies to reduce health disparities in cancer and other chronic diseases. Her lab studies risk factors and strategies to promote health equity, while engaging community members in research and emphasizing the importance of diverse study populations in developing effective interventions and treatments.
Drake also co-leads the Prostate Cancer Community Partnership – part of Siteman Cancer Center’s Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities – through which community-based research informs study design and recruitment strategies and findings are disseminated in collaboration with community partners.
In 2024 Drake was appointed as the inaugural St. Louis Confluence Collaborative faculty director. The collaborative is considered a key component of the university’s strategic plan “Here and Next,” serving as an organizing platform to advance community-engaged research, teaching and practice across the greater WahsU ecosystem.
Drake was joined by friends and loved ones, who celebrated her recognition. The installation ceremony concluded with closing remarks from Levy, followed by a reception in the lobby of the Jeffrey T. Fort Neuroscience Research Building.
The professorship is named after Michael Neidorff, who passed away in 2022. His widow, Noémi Neidorff, pledged to establish the endowed professorship in 2023. In 2017, the university presented the Neidorffs with the Robert S. Brookings Award during Founders Day for their continued support to strengthen the St. Louis community through the arts, education and research.
Congratulations to Bettina F. Drake, PhD, MPH, on her installation as the Michael F. Neidorff Professor.
