Lonnie A. Nelson

Dr. Lonnie A. Nelson is a Professor in the Cancer Prevention Program within the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and serves as Faculty Lead for the Indigenous Cancer Health Equity Initiative. A descendant of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, he directs community-centered research addressing critical health disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native communities through culturally grounded approaches.

His academic credentials include:

• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rehabilitation Neuropsychology, Harborview Medical Center (2006)
• PhD in Clinical Psychology, University of Arizona (2004)
• MA in Clinical Psychology, University of Arizona (2000)
• BA in Psychology, University of Arizona (1997)

Dr. Nelson's research portfolio centers on eliminating health inequities through community-based participatory research frameworks. His primary focus areas include cancer prevention initiatives (tobacco cessation, lung cancer screening), cognitive aging and dementia in urban Indigenous elders, cardiovascular risk linked to sleep health, opioid use disorder treatment retention, and suicide prevention. He emphasizes that researchers must serve communities and follow their lead in all scientific endeavors.

As principal investigator of the U19 CANOE Partnership cooperative agreement, he oversees a comprehensive research program advancing cancer awareness, navigation, and equitable outcomes for Indigenous populations while cultivating the next generation of Indigenous health equity researchers.

His work operates through the Indigenous Cancer Health Equity Initiative and CANOE Partnership teams, which integrate academic researchers, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders to co-develop culturally responsive interventions addressing systemic health barriers.