Associate Professor
Department
Department of Systems, Populations and Leadership
Contact
University of Michigan School of Nursing
400 North Ingalls Building
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-5482
In the News
October 2, 2024: Hurricane Helene Deaths Will Continue for Years, Study Suggests. Interview. New York Times.
December 30, 2023: Pack Your Memories Into Your Disaster Bag. Interview. The Atlantic.
Interests
Disaster preparedness and response
Acute and emergency care
Healthcare resilience
Aging
Dr. Sue Anne Bell is a nurse scientist and family nurse practitioner whose work focuses on strengthening health systems and community resilience in the face of disasters and public health emergencies. Her research, supported by the NIH and NASA, examines how disasters affect health and healthcare delivery, particularly among older adults. She has served as a policy advisor and member of national advisory councils on disaster preparedness and health systems readiness, and is clinically active with the National Disaster Medical System with extensive field experience across the United States.
Affilliations/Service
National Institutes of Health Visiting Scholar, 2024-2025
Voting Member, National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 2021- present
Health Scientist, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Advisory Council, 2018-2023
Notable Awards/Honors
Policy Impact Award, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, 2023
Civilian Covid Response Medal, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2022
Invited testimony to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Aging, 2021
Public Policy Advocate Award, American Nurses Association of Michigan, 2021
Nurse Researcher Award, Emergency Nurses Association, 2021
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2020
Education
Executive Leaders Program, Center for Homeland Defense and Security at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Monterey, CA, 2022-2023
National Clinician Scholars Program, 2016-2018
PhD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI 2014; Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies 2014
MSN, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 1999
BSN, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 1997
Publications Highlights
Bell, S.A., Kruger, K., Ikari, R., Khunmuench, C., Gates, K., Rosemberg, M.A. (2025). Addressing dementia care needs during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from home care workers. Journal of Gerontological Nursing.
Kruger, K., Rettell, Z., Chang, T., & Bell, S.A. (2025). Youth Perspectives about Readiness for Disaster Events. Traumatology.
Bell, S. A., Miranda, M. L., Bynum, J. B., & Davis, M. A. (2023). Mortality following exposure to a hurricane among older adults living with dementia. JAMA Network Open, 6(3), e232042. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.2043
Koman, P. D., Billmire, M., Baker, K. R., Carter, J. M., Thelen, B. J., French, N. H. F., & Bell, S. A. (2022). Using wildland fire smoke modeling data in gerontological health research (California, 2007-2018). Science of The Total Environment, 838(3), 156403. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156403
Bell, S. A., Krienke, L., Brown, A., Inloes, J., Rettell, Z., & Wyte-Lake, T. (2022). Barriers and facilitators to providing home-based care in a pandemic: Policy and practice implications. BMC Geriatrics, 22, 234. doi: 10.1186/s12877-022-02907-w
Bell, S. A., Donnelly, J. P., Wang, L., & Davis, M. A. (2022) Hospitalizations for chronic conditions following hurricans among older adults: A self-controlled case series analysis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 70(6), 1695-1703. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17702
Bell, S.A., Klaza, K., Iwashyna, T.J., Norton, E., & Davis, M.A. (2020). Long-term healthcare provider availability following large-scale hurricanes: A difference-in-differences study. PLOS One, 15(11):e0242823. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242823
Bell, S.A., Banerjee, M., Griggs, J. Iwashyna, T.J., & Davis, M. A. (2020). The effect of exposure to disaster on cancer survival. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35, 380-382. http://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05465-x