Nathaniel Bell Joins IFS Research Team at the College of Social Work
The Institute for Families in Society (IFS) is excited to announce the appointment of Nathaniel Bell as the Director of Research and Evaluation within the Division of Integrated Health and Policy Research. Bell brings his expertise to IFS through his career of understanding healthcare access, quality and delivery.
As a tenured faculty member, Nathaniel's research focuses on the connections between healthcare access, geographic disparities and the social determinants of health. His work explores how individuals navigate the healthcare system, factors influencing treatment outcomes, and the impact of geographical location on patient well-being.
Nathaniel received his doctorate in geography from Simon Fraser University in 2010. Prior to joining the University of South Carolina, he was a Canadian Institutes for Health Research Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Surgery at the University of British Columbia and the research manager for Trauma Services at Vancouver General Hospital.
"We are delighted to welcome Nathaniel Bell to our research team," said Associate Director and Research Professor, Ana Lòpez – De Fede. “He will make a great addition to IFS.”
IFS Director Cheri Shapiro says Nathaniel will be an asset to the Institute. "His commitment to understanding and addressing healthcare disparities aligns perfectly with our mission to improve the lives of individuals and families through research and policy."
In addition to his role at IFS, Nathaniel also serves as co-Chair of the Trauma Services Research Council at Prisma-Richland Hospital. His arrival at the Institute for Families in Society marks a significant step in the organization's pursuit of research that impacts society's most pressing issues.
Voices/Voces
Voices/Voces is a play in Spanish and English based on interviews
conducted with women
throughout South Carolina who were covered by Medicaid for
pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. This creative work,
funded by the IFS, elevates women’s voices and demonstrates the
importance of including women and consumers in shaping
responsive and culturally sensitive health care systems.
Achieving equitable health care requires including diverse
voices in the discussions and decision-making processes that
ultimately define policies and programs. The original research
was conducted under contract with SC Healthy Connections
Medicaid in support of the SC Birth Outcomes Initiative to
better understand pregnancy and birth inequities in the context
of COVID-19 among women who rely on Medicaid/Emergency Medicaid
for their pregnancy-related care. The main findings for that
study are summarized in the VOICES/VOCES report available by
clicking HERE.
Voices/Voces had a live theatre performance on
October 21 and 22, 2021.