Primary Faculty Within the Health Systems Program Area
All ranks of professors, scientists, and research associates can serve as an MSPH adviser. All ranks of professors can serve as doctoral student advisers, and all ranks of professors and scientists can serve as doctoral student co-advisers.
Professors, Assistant Professors, and Associate Professors
Smisha Agarwal, PhD, MPH ’09, MBA, studies how to improve maternal and newborn health in low-income settings by strengthening health systems and using technological solutions.
Joseph Ali, JD, studies how to conduct global public health research and practice that maximally respects ethical values in an increasingly interconnected digital world.
Abdulgafoor M. Bachani, PhD ’11, MHS ’08, studies how to address burden of and preventing injury and disabilities, and to expand access to rehabilitation services.
Abdullah Baqui, DrPH 1990, MPH 1985, studies the major causes of neonatal, child, and maternal morbidity and mortality.
Sara Bennett, PhD, MPhil, examines health policy and systems in low- and middle-income countries with a focus on institutional capacity, sustainability, and systems governance.
William Brieger, DrPH ’92, MPH, works on social, cultural and behavior change for tropical disease control and community primary health care in Africa.
Gilbert Burnham, MD, PhD, MSc, is a physician who addesses humanitarian health problems in populations affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
Andreea Creanga, MD, PhD ’09, implements and evaluates quality improvement initiatives in perinatal health, domestically and internationally.
Shannon Doocy, PhD ’04, studies the health impact of natural disasters and conflict, including refugees and displaced populations, and how to improve humanitarian responses.
Cyrus Engineer, DrPH ’07, MHS ’03, MHA, is a practice leader in health sector performance management, including quality, patient safety, and project management.
Kathryn Falb, ScD, MHS ’07, designs and tests multidisciplinary strategies to prevent violence against women and children, primarily in humanitarian settings.
Shivam Gupta, PhD ’09, MPH ’04, MBBS, studies primary health care, health systems strengthening, and road safety in low- and middle-income countries.
Qingfeng Li, PhD ’13, MHS, studies machine learning models to support the use of big data and improve road safety in low- and middle-income countries.
Anju Malhotra, PhD, connects research with practice to shape smart, scalable strategies for advancing gender equality in health, education, & opportunity in the global South.
Maria Merritt, PhD, focuses on the ethics of international public health research and practice.
Ligia Paina, PhD ’14, MHS ’08, studies how to improve health systems policies and programs so they provide equitable, quality care and are responsive to poor and marginalized communities.
Bryan Patenaude, ScD ’17, MA, researches the sustainability, efficiency, and equity of public health programs and health systems in low- and lower-middle-income countries.
David Peters, DrPH ’93, MPH ’89, MD, studies how to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries, particularly to better serve poor and vulnerable populations.
Krishna D. Rao, PhD ’04, MSc, finds ways to improve access to quality health services and financing of health care in low and middle-income countries.
W. Courtland Robinson, PhD ’04, researches populations in migration, whether displaced by conflict or natural disaster, or in the context of migrant labor and human trafficking.
Mathuram Santosham, MD, MPH 1975, is the founder and Director Emeritus of the Center for Indigenous Health at the Johns Hopkins University.
Jeremy Shiffman, PhD, MA, a political scientist, researches the politics of health policy-making in low-income countries and in global health governance.
Anthony D. So, MD, MPA, works on research and policy to improve innovation and access to health technologies with a particular focus on antimicrobial resistance.
Paul Spiegel, MPH ’96, MD, is recognized for his research on preventing and responding to complex humanitarian emergencies and director of the Center for Humanitarian Health.
Antonio Trujillo, PhD, MPP, is a health economist working to improve access to medicines and the lives of seniors with chronic conditions around the globe.
Research Professors, Assistant Research Professors, and Associate Research Professors
Dustin Gibson, PhD ’14, MS, develops and evaluates digital tools and technologies to address health system gaps in low- and middle-income countries
Rosemary Morgan, PhD, MSc, studies the role of gender inequities on health, health systems, and public health interventions, with a focus on women’s health and wellbeing.
Yusra Shawar, PhD, MPH, studies the global governance of health and the politics of health policy processes in low- and middle-income countries.
Andres Vecino, MD, PhD '16, MSc, uses economics theory and methods to improve health systems in lower and middle-income countries with a focus on Latin America.
Practice Professors, Associate Practice Professors
Anbrasi Edward, PhD, MPH ’96, MBA, MSc, works in health systems research and evaluation addressing primary healthcare and community-oriented systems in global contexts.
Assistant, Associate, and Senior Scientists
Md Zabir Hasan, PhD ’19, MPH, MBBS, studies health policy and systems to strengthen health equity, global health, and health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
Alain Koffi, MD, PhD, MS, is a population health researcher with a focus on the biological causes and social determinants of neonatal and child deaths in low-income countries.
Meighan Mary, PhD, MPH employs implementation science to assess community-centered reproductive, maternal, and perinatal health innovations globally.
Dinesh Neupane, PhD, studies for global hypertension control, conducts epidemiological research on NCDs, and community healthcare workers at the primary health care level.
Daniela C. Rodríguez, DrPH, MPH, studies how politics, public health, and evidence intersect in policies that impact vulnerable communities around the world.
Meike Schleiff, DrPH ‘17, MSPH ‘13, specializes in community health and primary health care with a focus on improving human resource capacity and addressing inequities.
Elizabeth Stierman, PhD ’22, MPH '11, evaluates approaches to improve quality of care, address social determinants, and advance equity in maternal and child health.
Carrie Wolfson, PhD ’22, MPA, studies fertility and adverse pregnancy events using demographic and epidemiological techniques.
Senior Research Associates and Research Associates
Sarah Clifford, MSPH '22, works to translate evidence into meaningful programs and policies that improve maternal health outcomes.
Ambulai Johnson, MPH ‘20, MSc, focuses on strengthening health systems to address health risks of climate change and environmental factors in low- and middle-income countries.
James Kumwenda, MD, MSPH ’20, studies health leadership, health systems strengthening, and capacity strengthening in primary health care.
Joshua Mak, MSPH ‘21, evaluates vaccine equity in international contexts and assesses the feasibility of new technologies to address vaccine and mental health issues.
Lois Privor-Dumm, MBA, works to expand access to vaccines, trains advocates to speak on the value of immunization, and evaluates the use of policy to protect communities.
Yuan Shang, MSPH '23, studies how to prevent disabilities and chronic conditions and expand access to rehabilitation services in low- and middle-income countries.
