Lucile Adams-Campbell


Lucile L. Adams-Campbell is the first African-American woman to receive a PhD in epidemiology 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. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Medicine, and the Washington DC Hall of Fame.

Early life and education

Adams-Campell was born in Washington, D.C. Her father, David, was a linguist and her mother, Florence, was a teacher. Adams-Campbell received a B.S. in biology at Drexel University. 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. Campbell is the first African American woman to earn a doctorate degree in epidemiology. For her doctoral studies, Adams-Campbell joined the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, and graduated with a PhD in epidemiology in 1983. Her doctoral research considered hypertension in Black people. She worked at the University of Pittsburgh as a postdoctoral researcher until 1987.

Research and career

In 1995, she was appointed Director of the Howard University 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 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 National Academy of Medicine. Campbell is a internationally recognized expert in minorty health and disparities research.

Awards, honors and memberships

Selected publications

A comprehensive list of all publications can be found .

Personal life

Adams-Campbell is married to Thomas Campbell, who she attended high school with in Washington, D.C., but did not properly meet until her undergraduate degree at Drexel University.