Elaine Drew

Elaine Drew is a cultural anthropologist and applied medical anthropologist serving as a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (2015–present). She previously held tenure-track positions at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (2004–2008) and the Medical College of Wisconsin (2008–2014). Her work focuses on culturally-based health promotion, community engagement, and reducing health disparities in underserved communities.

Education:

• PhD in Anthropology, University of Kentucky, 2004

Research Interests:

• Community-based participatory research ethics
• Culturally-tailored interventions for diabetes, cancer prevention, and maternal health
• Health disparities in Indigenous, Latinx, African American, and immigrant communities
• Cultural dimensions of physical activity and prenatal care

Lab & Teams: Founded the Medical Anthropology Lab at UAF in 2017, supporting mixed-methods research and anthropometric procedures.

Advising & Grants: Extensive mentoring of students in anthropology and public health; collaborations include projects on cervical cancer behaviors, Yup’ik diabetes risk, and Latino diabetes interventions. Grant details unspecified but emphasizes community partnerships.