Leaders Who Built Trinity Health Oakland
"Dad was the doctor everyone trusted," said his daughter, Laura Malczewski when asked to describe her father's philosophy of care. Dale Drew, MD, was Chief of Urology and Chief of Staff emeritus at Trinity Health Oakland and among the first surgeons to provide urology care at the hospital when his practice moved there in 1958. "My dad would make his patients feel calm and relaxed. He took great joy in helping to save people's lives," said his son John Drew. "Dad really enjoyed finding solutions to problems and he inspired confidence," added his son Jamie Drew. Dr. Drew and his wife, Betty, planned a significant legacy gift to support Trinity Health Oakland to honor his decades of service at the hospital, their health care careers, their commitment to the community, and, most importantly, to help others. "They gave generously to organizations that had either affected their lives or the lives of others in a positive way," said their children.
Dr. and Mrs. Drew found each other to be a perfect match while he was a Northwestern Medical School student and she was class president of the Northwestern University Wesley School of Nursing. The couple was married June 3, 1950. After two years as a pediatric nurse, Mrs. Drew became a full-time mother and volunteer. "My mother managed to make life with four children fun! She was a master planner, and we never lacked for new experiences," said Laura. "I only truly appreciated her exceptional organizational abilities when I had a family of my own. How she managed to be active and productive in so many outside organizations still mystifies me," added Jamie.
Together Dale and Betty Drew were committed to making the world a better place. "My mother had the ability to connect to everyone she met, no matter if they were young or old, or of a different race or religion," said her children, which she demonstrated in many ways including as a Professional Registered Parliamentarian. Beyond his medical expertise and compassion, Dr. Drew was known as a great storyteller with an inexhaustible knowledge of history and a wonderful sense of humor. He loved sports, music, singing in the choir, painting and photography. His dedication, intelligence and character earned him an invitation to stay at Northwestern University and pursue neurosurgery by Dr. Loyal Davis (Nancy Reagan's father), someone who rarely asked graduates to stay on under him." This is the extraordinary level of personalized surgical care Dr. Drew brought to Trinity Health Oakland.
The planned bequest gift from Dr. and Mrs. Drew's estate reflects their commitment to health care excellence and community vitality, and the value they placed on every individual and family. This gift will have a lasting impact on the patients who trust Trinity Health Oakland with their care and the community it serves.
