About — Ashley Bell for Congress

Hi, I'm Ashley.

The short version:

14 years in medicine. Ashley has worked in emergency medicine, primary care, rural clinics and hospitals, and telemedicine.
20 years as an educator. Ashley was a junior high and high school public school teacher, then a university professor for PA programs.
Rural native. Ashley was raised in ruby red rural East Texas. She was raised Republican and became a Democrat in 2016, after working in medicine and education and re-examining her values. Oh, and that orange guy helped.
Lives in Winston-Salem, NC. Ashley graduated from Wake Forest School of Medicine in 2011 and has been in the Triad area on and off since.
A long track record of leadership. Ashley has experience in leadership at national, state and local levels in her profession, serving on boards of directors and national committees. She has visited Capitol Hill many times to advocate for PAs and patients. She has taught leadership courses at various universities.
A history of calling out corruption. As a professor, Ashley stood up to a billion dollar ed-tech company that was taking advantage of students. As a result of her collaboration with media and the US Department of Education, that company was forced to declare bankruptcy and end its unethical business practices.

The long version...

I'm a Physician Associate (PA), educator, and straight talker.

Ashley Bell is a lifelong public servant, educator, and healthcare professional running for Congress to bring compassion, competence, and common sense back to Washington. As a physician associate, public school teacher and university professor, Ashley has built a career on putting people first — whether in the clinic, in the classroom, or in the community.

Ashley’s journey began in ruby red rural East Texas, where she was raised by small business owners. Her grandfather started an HVAC business in 1957 that still operates today. She became the first in her family to attend college, graduating from the University of Houston - depending on the Pell grant, academic and music scholarships, and multiple part time jobs to pay her way.

Her career began in Texas public schools, where she discovered her passion for service through music and teaching. As a junior high and high school band director, Ashley inspired young minds and led students to success, showing that with the right leadership, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things. Driven by a desire to make an even greater impact, Ashley pursued a career in medicine at the Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem NC — earning her credentials as a physician associate and becoming a trusted healthcare provider and mentor. She later earned a Doctor of Medical Science from the University of Lynchburg.

In her role as a PA, Ashley has cared for thousands of patients, treating not just symptoms but stories. She has seen firsthand how policy decisions made in Washington ripple through exam rooms, emergency departments, and struggling rural clinics. That experience fueled her next chapter: shaping the future of healthcare by educating the next generation of providers. She understands the importance of truth through science, and has taught evidence based medicine and research skills at both masters and doctoral levels.

When Ashley developed a chronic illness in 2023, and her academic employer at the time refused to honor her reasonable disability accommodations that would have allowed her to continue working while managing her illness, she was forced to choose her health over her job. The resulting loss of health insurance, income, and financial stability exposed a painful truth: that in our current environment, everyone - regardless of their current situation - is just one challenge away from losing everything. After regaining control over her illness, rebuilding her life, and refocusing her priorities, Ashley became interested in disability issues and rights.

Ashley knows what it means to work hard, serve others, rise to meet a challenge, and pick oneself up after tough times. Her story isn’t about climbing a political ladder — it’s about answering a call. A call from working families who can’t afford another round of political games. A call from students drowning in debt. A call from patients waiting weeks for care they need today. Ashley is running because she believes leadership is about showing up, listening, and doing the right thing — even when it’s not easy.

Rooted in the values of education, service, and equity, Ashley’s campaign is focused on bold solutions: expanding access to healthcare, strengthening public education, protecting reproductive freedom, and building an economy that works for everyone — not just the wealthy and well-connected.

Ashley Bell is not a career politician. She’s a teacher, a healer, a neighbor — and now, a candidate who refuses to accept the status quo. She knows what’s at stake, and she believes that together, we can create a future where every voice is heard, every family is valued, and every community has a chance to thrive.