Search
Loading Complete
Joel C. Sunshine

Joel C. Sunshine, MD, PhD, MS

Dermatopathology

Dermatology

Accepting New Patients
Online Booking
4.8 of 5 stars106 ratings, 36 reviews

Highlights

Languages

  • English

In-Network Plans

View All Accepted Plans (14)

Gender

Male

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

About Joel C. Sunshine

Primary Academic Title

Assistant Professor of Dermatology

Johns Hopkins Physician

Logo for Johns Hopkins Physician

Background

Dr. Joel Sunshine is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Pathology, Oncology, and Biomedical Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He specializes in medical dermatology and skin cancer. His areas of clinical expertise include general dermatology, cutaneous oncology including melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma, and supportive oncodermatology. 

Dr. Sunshine obtained his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University, his M.D. and Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and his dermatology residency training and dermatopathology fellowship from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Centers and Institutes

Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

CV

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/-/media/profiles-support/cvs/sunshine.pdf

X (Twitter)

https://twitter.com/joelsunshine

Find a Clinical Trial

View all trials by this principal investigator.

Additional Academic Titles

Assistant Professor of Pathology, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

Research Interests

Dr. Sunshine's primary research interest is understanding how skin cancers interact with the immune system, finding new ways to predict which patients will do well with what treatment, and developing new therapies to improve the immune response to skin cancers.

Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=GIzdVucAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

PubMed

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=joel+sunshine

Selected Publications

  • Sunshine JC, Akanda MI, Li D, Kozielski KL, and Green JJ. Effects of Base Polymer Hydrophobicity and End-Group Modification on Polymeric Gene Delivery. Biomacromolecules. 2011; 12(10),3592–3600

  • Sunshine JC, Nguyen P, Kaunitz G, Cottrell T, Berry S, Esandrio J, Xu H, Ogurtsova A, Bleich KR, Cornish TC, Lipson EJ, Anders RA, Taube JM. PD-L1 Expression in Melanoma: A Quantitative Immunohistochemical Antibody Comparison. Clinical Cancer Research. 2017; 23(16):4938-44

  • Sunshine JC, Peng DY, Green JJ. Uptake and transfection with polymeric nanoparticles are dependent on polymer end-group structure, but largely independent of nanoparticle physical and chemical properties. Molecular Pharmaceutics. 2012; 9(11):3375-3383

  • Sunshine JC, Perica K, Schneck JP, Green JJ. Particle shape-dependence of CD8+ T cell activation by artificial Antigen Presenting Cells. Biomaterials. 2014; 35(1):269-277

  • Nghiem PT, Bhatia S, Lipson EJ, Kudchadkar RR, Miller NJ, Annamalai L, Berry S, Chartash E, Daud A, Fling SP, Friedlander PA, Kluger HM, Kohrt HE, Lundgren L, Margolin K, Mitchell A, Olencki TO, Pardoll DM, Reddy SA, Shantha EM, Sharfman WH, Sharon E, Shemanski LR, Shinohara MM, Sunshine JC, Taube JM, Thompson JA, Townson SM, Yearley JH, Topalian SL, Cheever MA. PD-1 Blockade with Pembrolizuma in Advanced Merkel-Cell Carcinoma. New England Journal of Medicine. 2016; 374:2542-2552.

Patents

  • Peptide/particle delivery systems, 9,717,694
  • Multicomponent Degradable Cationic Polymers, 9,884,118
  • Biomimetic artificial cells: anisotropic supported lipid bilayers on biodegradable micro and nanoparticles for spatially dynamic surface biomolecule presentation, 20,180,256,745
  • Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells Having a Defined and Dynamic Shape, 20,140,370,099

Honors

  • Fellow, Advancing Innovation in Dermatology, 1/1/17
  • Siebel Scholar, Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation, 1/1/15

Graduate Program Affiliations

Biomedical Engineering

Memberships

  • Society for the Immunotherapy of Cancer
  • Society for Investigative Dermatology

Locations

  1. Johns Hopkins Health Care & Surgery Center - Green Spring Station, Lutherville
    • 10755 Falls Road, Pavilion I STE 350, Lutherville, MD 21093

    Expertise

    Education

    McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

    Fellowship, Dermatopathology, 2020

    McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

    Residency, Dermatology, 2019

    Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

    Medical Education, MD PhD, 2015

    Brandeis University

    Graduate School, MS, 2007

    Board Certifications

    Dermatopathology

    American Board of Dermatology, 2020

    Dermatology

    American Board of Dermatology, 2019

    Insurance

    Johns Hopkins providers accept various commercial health insurance plans. However, they may not be included in all of an insurance company's plans or offerings. This may include Exchange, Medicaid, Medicare, and specific limited benefit plans. Exceptions to participation also exist based on your employer’s benefits package and the provider's location or specialty. Please contact your insurer directly to make sure your doctor is covered by your plan. For more details, please review our Insurance Information.
    Search plans
    • Aetna
    • CareFirst
    • Cigna
    • First Health
    • Geisinger Health Plan
    • HealthSmart/Accel
    • Humana
    • Johns Hopkins Health Plans
    • MultiPlan
    • Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
    • Point Comfort Underwriters
    • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
    • UnitedHealthcare
    • Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

    Ratings & Reviews

    4.8 out of 5

    106 ratings, 36 reviews

    The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    Overall Rating by Patient
    Average provider Overall Rating by Patient rating 4.7 out of 5 stars
    Provider Listened Carefully
    Average provider Provider Listened Carefully rating 4.8 out of 5 stars
    Provider Explained Things Clearly
    Average provider Provider Explained Things Clearly rating 4.8 out of 5 stars
    Provider Knew Medical History
    Average provider Provider Knew Medical History rating 4.8 out of 5 stars
    Provider Showed Respect
    Average provider Provider Showed Respect rating 4.9 out of 5 stars
    Provider Spent Enough Time
    Average provider Provider Spent Enough Time rating 4.6 out of 5 stars
    Search reviews
      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 4/15/2025

      Both resident and attending were very attentive and caring

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 4/15/2025

      It has been an excellent experience being seen over years now at Johns Hopkins Dermatology at Greensprings Station. Appreciate greatly my health care keeping vigalence and treatment for melanoma.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 4/15/2025

      Excellent I felt your service was superior to the treatment I have been receiving from Duke University Hospital.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 3/21/2025

      Dr. Sunshine was thorough and professional

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 3/18/2025

      My exam is a routine follow up post GvHD issues, Dr Sunshine is prompt, thorough, looks at any concerns I may have.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 3/18/2025

      Dr. sunshine is always thorough. I drive all the way from Rehoboth Beach because of the excellent care!

      4 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 3/11/2025

      It felt like speed dating almost, but mostly efficient. It was my first visit to a dermatologist and for the cost of my specialist visit copay, it almost felt like it wasn't worth it.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 3/11/2025

      It was a very good experience. I arrived early and was already in the exam room before the appointment time.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 3/4/2025

      Great office and a team of experts. Thorough check up with multiple evaluations. Every was super nice and very knowledgeable,

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/21/2025

      Everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/4/2025

      Dr. Sunshine made me feel very comfortable and took the time to explain things to me. He was a pleasure to interact and very professional and friendly. I would highly recommend him

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 2/4/2025

      Very Good

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/14/2025

      Dr Sunshine is great- very professional, knowledgeable and thorough. Could not ask for a better dermatologist.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/14/2025

      Dr. sunshine is a caring physician who always listens and makes time for what seems to be a routine skin check. I know that he's looking out for me.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/14/2025

      Excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/7/2025

      Dr. Sunshine and his resident were excellent in their thorough exam and explanation. We feel fortunate to have him as our Dermatologist!

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 1/7/2025

      Efficient and knowledgeable

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 12/3/2024

      This was my first time being seen by this provider, as my former Hopkins skin specialist no longer sees patients. He recommended Dr. Sunshine to me.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/19/2024

      Great

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/19/2024

      Very helpful

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/19/2024

      Dr. Sunshine was attentive and professional.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/12/2024

      Excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/12/2024

      Dr. Sunshine was very knowledgeable & explained things in non medical terms for me. He was nice & had a very calm demeanor. We had a laugh about personal relatable experience. I would definitely recommend him to family!

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/5/2024

      Excellent

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 11/5/2024

      Very good

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/22/2024

      Very nice doctors. Including Dr [ ]

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/15/2024

      I have decided he will be my dermatologist going forward

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 10/8/2024

      Everything went wonderful. Will definitely come back. Everyone was so professional, kind, and incredibly punctual. Will be also recommending this place to family and friends.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 9/17/2024

      I drive 2 1/2 hours for my appointment and it is totally worth it! I have referred so many people to this office

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 9/3/2024

      Knowledgeable, polite, intrerested

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/13/2024

      Great doctor!!!!

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/6/2024

      I'm always impressed with the JHMI dermatology department. Every clinician I've seen has been on time and knowledgeable and professional.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 8/2/2024

      Very professional and knowledgeable.

      5 out of 5 stars
      Reviewed on 6/4/2024

      Knew me. Did complete skin check. Did a biopsy and informed about results