William B. Neaves, Ph.D., has been a member of Cerner Corporation's Board of Directors since March 2001. From June 2000 through June 2010, Neaves served as chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. He continues as a member of the board of directors in his current position as president emeritus. He also served as president of The Stowers Institute from June 2000 through July 2009. The Stowers Institute conducts basic research on genes and proteins that control fundamental processes in living cells in the hope of unlocking the mysteries of disease and finding keys to their cause, treatment and prevention.

Prior to joining The Stowers Institute in 2000, Neaves served more than 20 years in various leadership positions at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He served in succession as dean of Southwestern Graduate School, dean of Southwestern Medical School and chief academic officer and Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Neaves is a member of the board of trustees of Washington University in St. Louis and the National Council of the Washington University School of Medicine. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences.

Neaves earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and his doctorate in anatomy from Harvard University. He has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles describing the results of his research, which has received funding from the National Institutes of Health and the Population Council.