Paul L Delamater

Paul L Delamater is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with affiliations as a Fellow at the Carolina Population Center, the Sheps Center for Health Services Research, and a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on health care access, geographic information systems (GIS), spatial data science, and epidemiological patterns. He investigates topics such as vaccination policy, healthcare accessibility disparities, and environmental health risks. His work integrates spatial analysis to address public health challenges, including opioid overdose prevention, Lyme disease spread, and disaster-related health impacts.

Delamater’s research also explores structural inequities in healthcare access, tobacco retail environments, and the sociodemographic factors influencing health outcomes. He has contributed to understanding vaccine hesitancy, particularly in California and North Carolina, and the implications of legislative changes on vaccination rates and homeschooling trends. His interdisciplinary approach includes collaborations with institutions like the CDC and the NIH, addressing both local and national health challenges through spatial modeling and policy analysis.

Notable projects include studies on the geographic distribution of vaccine deserts, hurricane-related gastrointestinal illness, and the spatial clustering of nonmedical vaccine exemptions. His work emphasizes actionable insights for policymakers to improve health equity and crisis preparedness.