Chapel Hill, NC (October 14, 2024) – Ronny A. Bell, PhD, Fred Eshelman Professor and Chair in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at UNC, has been named Editor in Chief of the North Carolina Medical Journal. He succeeds Editor Emeritus Peter J. Morris, MD, MPH, MDiv, who served in this role for 12 years.
Dr. Bell has served as co-scientific editor of the NCMJ since 2019. In this role, he helped to shape the scientific coverage of the journal and engage top authors and peer reviewers from across the state. He takes on the role of Editor in Chief at a time of evolution for the journal, as it transitions to digital-first publishing and emphasizes original research of relevance to North Carolina health policy.
“I am honored to serve in this capacity, and to step into the role so admirably led by Dr. Morris,” said Bell. “I look forward to being a part of the future direction of the Journal as an informational resource for health care providers, public health professionals, and policymakers in our state.”
Prior to entering his current role at UNC in 2023, Bell served as Director of the Office of Cancer Health Equity and Professor of Social Science and Health Policy at Wake Forest, Professor and Chair of the Department of Public Health at ECU in 2016, and served for 20 years on the faculty in the Division of Public Health Sciences at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where he also directed the Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity from 2006-2016. Bell has a robust knowledge of public health policy and relationships with community health stakeholders throughout North Carolina. He is an enrolled member of the Lumbee tribe and a native of Pembroke, North Carolina.
Bell enters the role of NCMJ Editor in Chief succeeding the tenure of Peter J. Morris, MD, MDiv, MPH. Morris helped steer the editorial direction of the journal, lending his expertise from an accomplished career in pediatrics, public health, and nonprofit leadership.
“The NCIOM team wishes to thank Dr. Morris for his incredible leadership and contribution to the North Carolina Medical Journal,” said NCIOM President & CEO Michelle Ries, MPH.
“We have learned so much from his wisdom and it’s been a privilege to bring his perspective to our readers. We are tremendously excited to welcome Dr. Bell in his new capacity as editor-in-chief and are looking forward to our work together to provide key health policy information and insight to policymakers and health professionals across the state.”
The journal also welcomes Adam J. Zolotor, MD, DrPH, as co-scientific editor, responsible for assessing original research submissions for peer review and publication. Zolotor, Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at UNC School of Medicine and Director of Medical Education at the NC AHEC, previously served as Vice President and President and CEO of the NCIOM from 2012-2020.
He joins fellow scientific editor Nathan A. Boucher, DrPH, MPA, Research Health Scientist at Durham VA Health System; faculty at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, Medical School, and Nursing School; and Senior Fellow at the Duke Center for the Study of Aging & Human Development and the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy Core Faculty.
The North Carolina Medical Journal is a journal of health policy analysis and debate co-published by the North Carolina Institute of Medicine and The Duke Endowment. The NCMJ publishes six issues per year. This issue is co-sponsored by Medical Advocates for Healthy Air. To learn and read more, visit ncmedicaljournal.com.