PhD, MS
Fred Eshelman Distinguished Professor, Division of Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy
Eshelman School of Pharmacy
Associate Director of Cancer Care Access & Excellence, UNC Lineberger
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Prevention and Control
UNC Lineberger Community Outreach & Engagement
Area of Interest
My research focuses on understanding and addressing chronic disease disparities in underserved populations. As an enrolled member of the Lumbee tribe of eastern North Carolina, and Chair of the North Carolina American Indian Health Board, I am particularly interested in factors that contribute to health disparities in American Indian populations.
I co-lead the Southeastern American Indian Cancer Health Equity Partnership (SAICEP), a partnership between the Comprehensive Cancer Centers at NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers at UNC, Duke and Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, designed to engage North Carolina tribal communities in cancer research, outreach and education.
Awards and Honors
- Appointed to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Minority Health, 2024
- Minority Student Caucus, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 50 for 50 designation, 2022
- Distinguished Alumni Award, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Nutrition, 2021
- Diversity Alumni Award, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2014
- Program Honoree, 34th Annual Zollicoffer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, 2014
- Community Spirit Award, American Diabetes Association, 2012
- Professional and Community Service Award, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Division of Public Health Sciences, 2011
- Distinguished Alumni Award, University of North Carolina Greensboro, School of Human Environmental Sciences, 2009
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences New Investigator in Clinical Sciences Award, 2002
News and Stories
American Indians with cancer often experience lower-quality end-of-life care
Marc Emerson, PhD, MPH, and colleagues conducted a study of people diagnosed with cancer in North Carolina and found that American Indians experienced lower-quality end-of-life care compared to white patients.
Bell serves on AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report steering committee
UNC Lineberger’s Ronny Bell, PhD, MS, is a member of the steering committee that oversaw the development of the American Association for Cancer Research’s Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024.
