Robert Bell

Dr. Robert L. Bell, a local nuclear medicine expert, died Tuesday at his Nashville home after a brief battle with cancer. Born in Chicago on July 10, 1925, Dr. Bell was a former nuclear medicine and ultrasound physician at Centennial Medical Center. He received his medical degree from the University of Chicago School of Medicine in 1955 after receiving and a B.S. in Chemistry from Roosevelt University in 1951 and a Ph.B from the University of Chicago in 1948. He was board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology, as well as Nuclear Medicine by the Conjoint American Board of Nuclear Medicine.
A World War II veteran, Dr. Bell was a radio operator in the Merchant Marines who survived the invasion of Iwo Jim and Okinawa and six trips across the Atlantic.
Dr. Bell is survived by his wife of 55 years Margery D. Bell, his five children, including Robert Bell of Nashville; Rebecca Bell of Nashville; Jennifer Bell of Salt Lake City, UT; Jacquelyn Bell of Columbia, MO; John and wife Mandi Bell of Atlanta, GA; seven grandchildren, Melenka Reed, Nastassia Reed, Otto Felix, Liam Bell, Elaina Bell, Maya Bell and Sophia Bell; sister and brother in law Glennis and Dean Zeeb.
Dr. Bell moved to Nashville in 1972 to work as a pathologist with Associated Pathologists of Nashville and as director of the Department of Nuclear Medicine and Ultrasound at Parkview and West Side hospitals. From 1978 until 1994, he was president of Medical Imaging Associates and contracted with 13 hospitals, including Parkview and West Side, to perform nuclear medicine and ultrasound services. From 1994 to his retirement in 2000, he supplied the nuclear medicine and ultrasound services for Radiology Consultants, Inc.
Until his death, Dr. Bell was actively involved in hyperbaric medicine, which evolved out of his active scuba diving experience. He traveled to China with hyperbaric specialists to visit facilities in military hospitals and medical schools. Dr. Bell was also an active member of the International Review Board for 18 years where he reviewed research protocols of HCA Centennial Medical Center and the TriStar chain of hospitals.
Visitation with the family will be from 12:30 - 2 p.m. Friday at the Hillsboro Presbyterian Church, 5820 Hillsboro Road. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Dr. Bell's name to the University of Chicago Medical Alumni Fund or the American Cancer Society.