Bursky School faculty named to Research.com’s Best Scientists lists

Fifteen primary and secondary faculty members at Bursky School of Public Health are among the top 1% of scientists in the world, according to Research.com's annual Best Scientists lists. Research.com is an online platform that compiles data-driven academic rankings of colleges, universities and scholars.

The scholar rankings are based on the scientists' contributions to their disciplines, as measured by the number of influential papers authored in the field, and also takes into consideration awards, fellowships and other academic recognitions received. Research.com creates lists of outstanding scientists by discipline and overall. Bursky School faculty earned spots on the social sciences and humanities, medicine and world lists.

Best scientists in the world, 2025/2026

• Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery and director of the Division of Public Health Sciences in the Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty
• Jeffrey I. Gordon, MD, the Dr. Robert J. Glaser Distinguished University Professor at WashU Medicine and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty

Best scientists in the social sciences and the humanities, 2026

• Margaret Kruk, MD, MPH, the Distinguished Endowed Professor of Health Systems & Medicine at WashU Medicine and director of the universitywide QuEST Center, and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty
• Matthew Kreuter, MPH, PhD, the Kahn Family Professor of Public Health and a director of the Health Communication Collaborative research network at the Bursky School
• Rodrigo Reis, MS, PhD, a professor at the Bursky School
• Byron Powell, PhD, an associate professor and the associate dean for research at the Brown School; a co-director of the Dissemination & Implementation Science Innovation Research Network (DISIRN) at the Bursky School, and a member of the school's secondary faculty
• Lisa Klesges, PhD, a professor of surgery at WashU Medicine and, until recently, the Bursky School's interim associate dean of research
• Douglas Luke, MA, PhD, a Distinguished Professor in Public Health Systems Science at the Bursky School
• Mary M. McKay, PhD, executive vice provost, a professor at the Brown School and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty
• Patricia Cavazos-Rehg, PhD, the Founder's Distinguished Professor of Precision Psychiatry at WashU Medicine and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty
• Lindsay Stark, MPH, DrPH, a professor at the Bursky School and a director of undergraduate public health education in Arts & Sciences

Best scientists in medicine, 2026

• Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, the Niess-Gain Professor of Surgery and director of the Division of Public Health Sciences in the Department of Surgery at WashU Medicine, and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty
• Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, the Margaret C. Ryan Dean and the Eugene S. and Constance Kahn Distinguished Professor in Public Health at the Bursky School, and vice provost for interdisciplinary initiatives at WashU
• Ross Brownson, PhD, the Steven H. and Susan U. Lipstein Distinguished Professor and a director of the Dissemination & Implementation Science Innovation Research Network (DISIRN) at the Bursky School
• William Powderly, MD, the J. William Campbell Professor of Medicine at WashU Medicine and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty
• Denise Wilfley, PhD, the Scott Rudolph University Professor at WashU Medicine and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty
• Margaret Kruk, MD, MPH, the Distinguished Endowed Professor of Health Systems & Medicine at WashU Medicine and director of the universitywide QuEST Center, and a member of the Bursky School secondary faculty