Professor of population health and disease prevention and general internal medicine – Lari Wenzel, PhD, from the UCI Program in Public Health and the School of Medicine, is retiring at the end of June after 27 years of campus service. She leaves an outstanding legacy of achievements and a portfolio of valuable cancer research. Her contributions to the public health field are truly remarkable and her impact on countless students, faculty, and communities around the nation cannot be overstated.
Wenzel began her career as an assistant adjunct professor in the Division of Epidemiology while it was housed under the UCI School of Medicine. When this division came over to the Program in Public Health, Dr. Wenzel has been a steadfast figure in UCI Public Health’s growth. Her passion for improving health outcomes, commitment to serving cancer survivors, and unwavering dedication to researching quality of life have left an indelible mark on the academic world and beyond.
A renowned cancer survivor researcher, Wenzel has paved the way for incorporating patient-reported outcomes into clinical trials. Her research has set the standard on how interventions should improve psychosocial outcomes and help identify predictors of long-term cancer survival. Wenzel has held leadership positions within numerous National Cancer Institute (NCI) clinical trials groups including the Gynecologic Oncology Group and the NRG Oncology Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Committee.
Wenzel’s leadership in the classroom and the research community has been truly exemplary, and her mentorship of countless students and researchers has helped to shape the future of public health.”
– Lisa Grant Ludwig, PhD
In addition to her appointment at UCI Public Health, Wenzel held a prominent role as the founding director of the Biobehavioral Shared Resource (BBSR) within UCI’s Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Through her leadership, BBSR has provided extensive consultative services to assist researchers across the nation as they incorporate patient/ participant- reported outcomes into their projects.
“Wenzel’s leadership in the classroom and the research community has been truly exemplary, and her mentorship of countless students and researchers has helped to shape the future of public health,” said Lisa Grant Ludwig, PhD, chair and professor of population health and disease prevention. “Her commitment to fostering a collaborative and inclusive learning environment has helped to cultivate a community of scholars who are dedicated to making a positive impact on the world.”
Founding dean and director Bernadette Boden-Albala, added, “on behalf of all those whose lives and careers that Dr. Wenzel has touched, we want to express our deepest gratitude and admiration for her remarkable contributions to public health. Her legacy will continue to inspire future generations of public health professionals.”
