Marc Emerson

Dr. Marc Emerson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A Diné (Navajo) and Jemez tribal member, he focuses on integrating biological and socioecological perspectives to address cancer care disparities and improve outcomes for American Indian/Alaskan Native communities.

• PhD in Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health (2019)
• MPH in Epidemiology, San Diego State University (2012)
• BA in Psychology, San Diego State University (2008)

His research prioritizes Indigenous methodologies to counter Western science’s environmental and psychological harms. Key areas include structural racism, settler colonialism, and their impacts on pandemic resilience (e.g., Navajo Nation’s experience with COVID-19) and chronic disease outcomes.

Dr. Emerson’s publications highlight socioeconomic and healthcare access barriers in cancer treatment, racial disparities in survival rates, and intersections of mental health and substance use in Indigenous populations. His work bridges epidemiological rigor with culturally grounded frameworks.

• Eddie Méndez Postdoctoral Scholar Award, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (2020)
• Delta Omega Inductee, Theta Chapter (2020)
• Inspiring Meaningful Programs and Communication Through Science Award, Morehead Planetarium (2019)
• Tribal Researchers’ Cancer Control Fellow (2017)
• Community Engagement Fellow, Carolina Center for Public Service (2017)
• Intramural Research Training Award Trainee, NIH (2016)

Dr. Emerson actively engages in Indigenous community-driven research, emphasizing equity and decolonizing practices in public health.