Dr. Thaddeus John Bell

Dr. Thaddeus John Bell is a family physician in Charleston, SC and native of Columbia, SC. He is a graduate of South Carolina State University (BS – Biology, 1966), Clark Atlanta University (MS – Science Education, 1970), Medical University of South Carolina (Doctor of Medicine, 1976), United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine (Certified Flight Surgeon, 1983), and Charleston Southern University (Doctor of Humane Letters, 2000).

Dr. Bell considers his most important career accomplishment, other than the care he has provided to his patients, to be the development, growth, and positive influence of his nonprofit, Closing the Gap in Health Care (CTGIHC). Under the umbrella of CTGIHC, Dr. Bell established the Lowcountry Jazz Festival, which is an annual festival held in Charleston during Labor Day weekend, featuring world-class smooth jazz and R&B artists in efforts to fund scholarships for students attending any of MUSC’s six colleges. 

In 2022, Dr. Thaddeus J. Bell received The Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the Governor of South Carolina. The Order of the Palmetto recognizes lifetime achievement and service by South Carolina residents and those born in the state. 

Now 80 years old, Dr. Bell leads a very active life, still maintaining his private practice in North Charleston and running both the nonprofit and the jazz festival, with the help of his dedicated family and staff. His continued efforts have led to him becoming known as a community and statewide leader in medicine.