Patricia Drentea

Patricia Drentea is a Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), within the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds multiple affiliated roles across UAB's School of Medicine and School of Public Health, including Senior Scientist at the Integrative Center for Aging Research and Scientist at the Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE). Her research focuses on aging, family dynamics, gender, and the impact of debt on mental and physical health. She earned her BA in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her MA and PhD in Sociology from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Drentea’s work emphasizes the intersection of social inequality and health outcomes, particularly in later life. Her book Families and Aging (2019) explores how evolving family structures influence aging processes. She teaches both traditional and online courses in the UAB Sociology program, contributing to the Online MA in Sociology. Her affiliations include the Minority Health & Research Center and the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach to healthcare disparities and policy.

Her research spans caregiving, end-of-life care, and financial well-being, with a focus on marginalized populations. Collaborations across UAB’s medical and public health schools highlight her commitment to translational research addressing real-world health challenges. Dr. Drentea’s contributions bridge sociological theory with practical applications, shaping policy and practice in aging and health equity.