Brenda Battle

Brenda Battle joined Barnes-Jewish Hospital as director of the Center for Diversity and Cultural Competence in August 2006. In her role as director of the Center, Battle oversees programs to promote diversity and cultural competence within Barnes-Jewish Hospital. The Center was developed to promote diversity and cultural competence initiatives and programs throughout the hospital, collaborate with Washington University School of Medicine and other local agencies to support research and efforts to reduce health care disparities, promote dialogue around issues of diversity and cultural competence, oversee activities to promote recruitment and retention of multi-cultural staff who support diversity and cultural sensitivity within Barnes-Jewish Hospital, oversee programs for Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Limited English Proficient (LEP) patient population through the Refugee and Interpreter Services program, promote an environment where patients and staff are respected, and change some assumptions, practices, and beliefs in an effort to promote an understanding of the world from the perspectives of others.

Prior to joining Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Battle served as Vice President of Operations and later Executive Vice President, Government Affairs for Medical Transportation Management, Inc., a national contractor for non-emergent transportation benefits. In her role as VP of Operations, she oversaw all operational departments and sales and marketing. Battle’s work grew MTM from a three state operation to a 33 state operation in three years. As EVP of Government Affairs, Battle led a nationwide team of contracted lobbyist. As a registered lobbyist in many of these states, she was instrumental in influencing legislative and policy decisions that affected Medicaid beneficiaries. Battle has a Master's degree in business. She has more than 25 years of health-care related experience beginning with a nursing career at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Battle expanded her health care experience as a manager in long-term care and over 11 years in managed care, with her last role as executive of Care Partners, a Medicaid managed care organization in St. Louis, MO.

Battle is a member of the Missouri Foundation for Health, serving on the Community Advisory and Programs and Grants Committees. She serves on the board of directors for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) of St. Louis County and the American Heart Association. Born and raised in St. Louis, she is active in her church, serving as the assistant director of Higher Grounds International Ministries.