Biography

With 30 years in clinical practice, research, education, and administration, Dr. Drees is Dean Emerita of the School of Medicine. She served thirteen years in that role, from 2001-2014.  She is currently the Program Director for the Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism.  Since 2018, she has served as the President of the Graduate School for the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, MO.

Her research interests center around community impact and improved quality of health care, such as prevention of diabetes mellitus and prevention of fractures.  She is the site PI for the Enhanced Lifestyles for Metabolic Syndrome (ELM) study, which is a $9 million, six-year, multi-site trial for evaluation of lifestyle intervention for sustained reversal of metabolic syndrome.  She is the President of the regional American Diabetes Association Community Leadership Board.