Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD
Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement
Director, Bloomberg American Health Initiative
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School Of Public Health
Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein is a physician, public health leader, and health policy expert whose career has shaped public health practice at the local, state, and national levels. He serves as Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he also directs the Bloomberg American Health Initiative. His work focuses on translating evidence into policy and strengthening public health systems to address urgent national challenges, including addiction, obesity, environmental threats, and health inequities.
Before joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. Sharfstein served as Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Principal Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City. He is widely recognized for his leadership in healthcare reform, public health regulation, and crisis management. A member of the National Academy of Medicine, Dr. Sharfstein is also the author of Public Health Crisis Survival Guide: Leadership and Management in Trying Times, bringing deep expertise to conversations on public policy, healthcare accountability, and systems reform.