Joshua Sharfstein and Michelle Spencer, respected experts from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, will advise Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s administration as Baltimore continues its nationwide search for a new health commissioner, the mayor announced today.
Sharfstein and Spencer will serve as part-time senior advisors on health policy. They will maintain their current positions on the Bloomberg School staff while advising the city. Their roles are supported through the Bloomberg School’s Bloomberg American Health Initiative, allowing them to dedicate part of their time to supporting the city without stepping away from their work at the school.
“Baltimore is blessed to be home to some of the best public health professionals in the world, and Dr. Sharfstein and Ms. Spencer are exemplary examples of that wealth of talent. I am grateful for their commitment to Baltimore City and their willingness to join our team during this critically important time,” said Mayor Scott in his announcement. “Their deep knowledge, experience, and dedication to health equity will be invaluable and will certainly help ensure that the invaluable work of the Health Department continues uninterrupted. I am confident that with their support, we will continue to strengthen our Health Department and effectively address the urgent health challenges facing our city, particularly the overdose crisis.”
The Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office is investigating former Baltimore Health Commissioner Ihuoma Emenuga for potential criminal conduct. The mayor fired Emenuga last month. Deputy City Administrator Simone Johnson currently serves as interim commissioner of health.
Dr. Joshua Sharfstein, currently serves as the director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative and Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement at the Bloomberg School. Shafstein is no stranger to the Baltimore healthcare community, having previously served as the Baltimore Health Commissioner from 2005 to 2009. His additional experience includes roles as secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and principal deputy commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He is the co-author of The Opioid Epidemic: What Everyone Needs to Know.
“I look forward to supporting Baltimore by advising the administration during this important time, and I thank the mayor for the opportunity to serve,” said Dr. Sharfstein in a statement.
Michelle Spencer brings over 25 years of experience in public health management and leadership with a focus on health equity and racial disparities. She serves as deputy director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative and a practice professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Bloomberg School. Spencer previously held senior leadership positions in the Baltimore City Health Department and the Maryland Department of Health.
“I’m humbled by the opportunity to advise and serve Baltimore during this transition period and to support its critical public health work,” Spencer said.
The appointments come at a time when the city is facing scrutiny in response to ongoing public health challenges, including the overdose crisis. Last May, The New York Times published, with reporting from The Baltimore Banner, a series exploring Baltimore’s overdose deaths, describing the city as the “U.S. overdose capital.” The investigation was updated earlier this month.
In addition to the Sharfstein and Spencer appointments, Sara Whaley, program director of the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, has been named an advisor on the city’s use of opioid settlement funds. Whaley has advised states across the country on best practices for managing settlement resources.
