January 29, 2026

Drexel University recently announced its first cohort of Distinguished Professors. This designation is the highest title the University can bestow on a member of the full-time faculty, and recognizes sustained excellence, national and international distinction, and extraordinary commitment to the University's values. The selection committee named three Distinguished Professors, two of whom are faculty members at the College of Medicine:

• Nancy D. Spector, MD, professor of pediatrics; Betty A. Cohen Chair in Women's Health; executive director of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine and Executive Leadership in Health Care programs; and senior vice dean for faculty. Through her direction of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program, Dr. Spector has strengthened the next generation of leaders across academic medicine worldwide while significantly elevating Drexel's national profile. Her scholarship on medical errors has advanced both patient safety and educational practice across more than three decades at Drexel.
• Akhil B. Vaidya, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology and director of the Center for Molecular Parasitology. Dr. Vaidya's seminal contributions to understanding Plasmodium biology have advanced malaria therapeutics with global health implications. His 48 years at Drexel — including 36 as a full professor — reflect an extraordinary record of scientific rigor and sustained impact.

The selection process for this title was exceptionally competitive, with 25 nominations received from across the University.