Joshua Sharfstein

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein

Joshua Sharfstein is an American physician and public health official. He has served in various significant roles, including as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and as the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under President Barack Obama.

Early Life and Education

Sharfstein was born in Massachusetts. He attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later graduated from Harvard Medical School with a Doctor of Medicine degree.

Career

Early Career

Sharfstein began his career in public health as a pediatrician. He worked at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and was involved in various public health initiatives.

Baltimore Health Commissioner

In 2005, Sharfstein was appointed as the Health Commissioner of Baltimore. During his tenure, he focused on reducing infant mortality, improving access to health care, and addressing the opioid crisis.

Food and Drug Administration

In March 2009, Sharfstein was appointed as the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by President Barack Obama. In this role, he was involved in overseeing the regulation of food, drugs, and medical devices.

Maryland Department of Health

Sharfstein later served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health. In this position, he worked on various public health issues, including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academic Career

Sharfstein is also a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he teaches and conducts research on public health policy and management.

Personal Life

Sharfstein is married and has children. He resides in Maryland.

See Also

• Food and Drug Administration
• Maryland Department of Health
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health