Sherita Hill Golden, MD

Dr. Sherita Hill Golden is the Hugh P. McCormick Family Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism. She holds joint appointments in the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality.  An internationally recognized physician-scientist and member of the National Academy of Medicine, the Association of American Physicians, and the American Society of Clinical Investigation, Dr. Golden’s epidemiological research interests focus on two areas: (1) endogenous sex hormones as risk factors for CVD, type 2 diabetes, and insulin resistance in post-menopausal women and (2) mental health complications of diabetes and the biological, hormonal, and behavioral factors that might explain these associations. Her health services research focuses on understanding and eliminating diabetes health disparities and implementing and evaluating systems interventions to improve patient safety and quality of care in hospitalized patients with diabetes.  She serves as the Principal Investigator of the Johns Hopkins site of the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome Study.

She is the author of more than 275 articles focused on diabetes, endocrinology, and health disparities. In order to more directly address the root causes of health inequities identified through her research, Dr. Golden has used her executive leadership roles to develop systems, community, and policy interventions. As inaugural Executive Vice-Chair of the Department of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2015-2019), she launched a department-wide civic engagement initiative, resulting in programs that addressed community-related concerns and enhanced employee engagement following Baltimore’s civil unrest surrounding the 2015 death of Freddie Gray. During her tenure as Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine (2019-2024), she oversaw diversity, inclusion, and health equity strategy and operations for the School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins Health System. This included staff training for accurate collection of self-identified patient demographic data; system-wide policies prohibiting patient discrimination and discriminatory aggression toward employees and trainees and allowing the use of chosen names on ID badges; a system-wide in-person and online unconscious bias and anti-oppression education programs; and a system-wide Disability and Accessibility Workgroup. In partnership with JHM Human Resources, she launched the Levi Watkins, Jr. Mentorship Program, which is designed as part of JHM’s talent management strategy focused on identifying and developing high-potential leaders, including those from underrepresented groups. During COVID-19 she facilitated mobile community testing and education for the underserved in Baltimore City and equitable vaccine distribution to non-clinical, minoritized frontline staff across JHM. Dr. Golden is a leader in the national discussion advancing health equity, including supporting Maryland legislators in drafting and testifying in support of state-level health equity policy.   

In 2017 she was the co-recipient of the Walter Reed Distinguished Achievement Award from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, Medical Alumni Association, and Medical School Foundation, which recognizes professional accomplishment, outstanding innovation, and exemplary leadership in the field of Medicine. In 2018 Dr. Golden was named a winner of the 17th Annual Women Worth Watching Awards from the Profiles in Diversity Journal. She was one of 132 winners from across the globe recognized as an executive leading the way to excellence in the workplace, marketplace, and the world. Dr. Golden is also the recipient of the 2019 University of Virginia Distinguished Alumna Award and in 2020 she was named a Maryland Top 100 Woman. She was named a 2021 Baltimore Sun 25 Woman to Watch and in 2022 was awarded the President’s Award from the University of Maryland Alumni Association for distinguished professional achievement.

Dr. Golden graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude from the University of Maryland, College Park, and Alpha Omega Alpha from the University of Virginia School of Medicine before training in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.  During her endocrinology fellowship, she received a Master of Health Science degree in Clinical Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health where she was elected to the Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society.