Lucile L. Adams-Campbell (born December 30, 1953) is the first African-American woman to receive a PhD in

epidemiology Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and Risk factor (epidemiology), determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent dise ...

in the United States. She serves as the Professor of Oncology at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and associate director for Minority Health at the

Georgetown University Medical Center Georgetown University Medical Center is a Washington, D.C.–based biomedical research and educational organization affiliated with Georgetown University that is responsible for over 80% of the university's sponsored research funding and is led ...

. She is a Fellow of the

National Academy of Medicine The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), known as the Institute of Medicine (IoM) until 2015, is an American nonprofit, non-governmental organization. The National Academy of Medicine is a part of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineerin ...

, and the Washington DC Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Adams-Campell was born in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

Her father, David, was a linguist and her mother, Florence, was a teacher. Adams-Campbell received a B.S. in biology at

Drexel University Drexel University is a private university, private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony Joseph Drexel, Anthony J. Drexel, a financier ...

. As a student, she worked as an apprentice on naval ships. She remained at Drexel University for her graduate studies, completing a master's program in Biomedical Science. For her doctoral studies, Adams-Campbell joined the

University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The university is composed of seventeen undergraduate and graduate schools and colle ...

Graduate School of Public Health, and graduated with a PhD in epidemiology in 1983. Her doctoral research considered

hypertension Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a Chronic condition, long-term Disease, medical condition in which the blood pressure in the artery, arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms i ...

in Black people. She worked at the

as a postdoctoral researcher until 1987.

Research and career

In 1995, she was appointed Director of the

Howard University Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...

Cancer Center. At the time, she was the only Black woman to lead any cancer institute. Her research primarily focuses on understanding health disparities, especially cancers such as breast, prostate and colon cancers that disproportionately affect African-Americans. In the same year, Adams Campbell and Dr. Lynn Rosenberg from Boston University Medical School worked together to launch the first big study of heath in Black American women. The study is now known as the Black Women's Health Study, and in the study data from over 59,000 women which contributed to finding that racially based health disparities contributed to their higher risk for developing breast cancers among other things. Adams-Campbell's work uses clinical trials, cancer epidemiology and etiology along with lifestyle interventions and has led to over 200 peer-reviewed publications and international recognition as an expert in minority health and health disparities research. Currently, Adams-Campbell is a professor of oncology at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., United States. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic higher education, Ca ...

Medical Center. She is also the associate Director for Minority Health and Health Disparities Research, Senior Associate Dean for Community Outreach and Engagement, and is the Program Director of the Master's in Epidemiology Program, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Georgetown University in addition to being a member of the

Awards, honors and memberships

* 2000

Distinguished Alumni Award * 2008 Elected Fellow of the

* 2010

Legacy Institute * 2015 member of Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee * 2019 received the Aileen O'Brien Graef Speaker Award * 2021 awarded the Joseph F. Fraumeni, Jr. Distinguished Achievement Award * Previously served as Chair of the

American Association for Cancer Research The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's oldest and largest professional association related to cancer research. Based in Philadelphia, the AACR focuses on all aspects of cancer research, including Basic research, basic, ...

. * National Academy of Medicine's National Cancer Policy Forum * Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Human Genome Research Institute * D.C. Hall of Fame * Council Chair of American Association for Cancer Research's Women in Cancer Research (WICR)

Selected publications

* * * * A comprehensive list of all publications can be foun
here

Personal life

Adams-Campbell is married to Thomas Campbell, who she attended high school with in

, but did not properly meet until her undergraduate degree at

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams-Campbell, Lucile 1953 births Living people African-American women scientists Scientists from Washington, D.C. Drexel University alumni Georgetown University Medical Center faculty American women epidemiologists American epidemiologists University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health alumni 20th-century American women scientists 21st-century American women scientists 20th-century African-American women writers 20th-century American women writers 20th-century African-American writers 20th-century African-American scientists 21st-century African-American women 21st-century African-American scientists Members of the National Academy of Medicine