Dr. Rupa Patel MD MPH is the Founder and Director of the Washington University in St. Louis Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention (PrEP) program. The program provides clinical services, fosters research, and offers capacity building for organizations to integrate PrEP into routine health services. The program works closely with the Missouri state and local health departments to promote coordinated linkage to care and provider and community education activities. The program utilizes a pharmacy-based PrEP care model to serve the uninsured and underinsured. Dr. Patel directs the CDC Capacity Building Assistance Program that oversees technical assistance for HIV testing, PEP, and PrEP implementation for health departments in 12 Midwest states.
Dr. Patel’s research interests include financial and insurance related barriers to PrEP access and retention among young adults in Medicaid non-expansion states. Dr. Patel is a member of the WHO PrEP Implementation Technical Advisory Group and has served as a PrEP clinical advisor and reviewer for projects in Asia, Africa, North America, and South America. Dr. Patel received the 2018 St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 under 40 Award. She completed her BA in Economics at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and pursued her Medical Degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Dr. Patel also holds a Master in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
