Department of Health Policy and Management

About

Since its founding in 1921 as a unit focused on the management and study of health care delivery, the Department of Health Policy and Management (HPM) has evolved into a policy-centered department that examines how laws, programs, and systems shape health and health care at local, state, national, tribal, and global levels. HPM faculty and staff tackle urgent public health challenges by developing, implementing, and evaluating health and social policies. Their deep policy expertise drives evidence-informed, system-level changes that promote health and reduce health disparities.

HPM is also committed to educating the next generation of leaders—policymakers, researchers, analysts, and health care administrators—giving students the skills to make meaningful change. Reflecting this leadership, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School has been ranked #1 in Health Policy and Management by peer assessment in the U.S. News & World Report since the publication began ranking this area in 2023.

The Department advances research, education, and practice across these core areas of health policy:

Bioethics and Health Policy
Health Economics and Policy
Health and Public Policy
Health Services Research and Policy
Leadership and Management

Degree Programs

HPM offers six academic degree programs that let students learn from leading educators and practitioners, take part in cutting‑edge research, and gain hands‑on experience through practicums and field placements.

Research Centers & Institutes

HPM faculty come from diverse disciplinary and professional backgrounds but share a focus on research and practice that addresses major health and social policy challenges and their effects on population health. The Department’s research is organized through nearly twenty centers and institutes that tackle key public health priorities. Their work is timely, rigorous, and responsive to the needs of clinicians, health care administrators, and policymakers at local, state, national, and tribal levels. Much of this research also extends beyond the U.S. to advance health in other high‑ and middle‑income countries. All HPM centers and institutes are listed here and include:

Affiliated Centers, Institutes, and Initiatives

Faculty

HPM faculty come from many disciplines and lead research and practice across several key areas:

Evaluating how policy changes affect the health of individuals and populations.
Assessing the organization, financing, and delivery of health care and public health services, including impacts on access, quality, outcomes, and cost.
Developing and testing community‑based models of health and preventive services to improve access, quality, outcomes, and cost.
Improving methods for measuring population and individual health, health risks, and characteristics of health services (access, quality, cost).
Examining the ethics of public health policy, practice, and research.

The Department also includes distinguished part‑time affiliate faculty—leaders in management, practice, policy, and public health—who teach courses, serve as preceptors, and mentor students.

A full list of Department faculty is available here.

Department Governance

The Department is committed to transparent, participatory decision-making. Faculty, staff, and students are involved in governance through elected or appointed standing committees, and there are both formal and informal opportunities to meet with department leadership. The Department’s Leadership Team and several standing faculty and staff committees are central to its operations.

The Leadership Team (LT) handles the Department’s day-to-day decisions and guides strategic initiatives. Its members are the Department Chair, the Vice Chair for Academic Programs, the Vice Chair for Faculty, the Vice Chair for Inclusion, Diversity, Anti‑Racism & Equity (IDARE), the Senior Department Administrator, and the Senior Director of the Office of Academic Affairs.

The Academic Policy and Admissions Committee (APAC) oversees the department’s academic standards and admissions. Its responsibilities include: managing and reviewing academic policies, evaluating proposals for new programs, ensuring consistency across program curricula, setting and monitoring admissions standards, and addressing other matters affecting the department’s academic quality. APAC members include: master’s program directors, PhD concentration directors, representatives from the School-wide MPH and DrPH programs, departmental academic staff, and student representatives from both the master’s and doctoral programs.

The Faculty Development Committee (FDC) reviews faculty appointments, promotions, and overall career progress, and makes recommendations to the Department Chair following School policies. The committee is made up of senior departmental faculty.

The Practice Committee promotes a culture that expands opportunities for faculty, students, and staff to learn about, engage in, and receive recognition for public health practice. The committee includes both faculty and student members.

The Social Committee works to strengthen connections among faculty, staff, and students. It organizes department-wide events—such as the annual holiday party—and includes faculty, staff, and student members.

HPM Departmental Academic Policies

Advising

Each student is assigned a faculty adviser when admitted to the program. Advisers guide students through academic requirements and course selection and help plan the proper progression toward the degree. Because advisers know current School and departmental policies, their approval is required on many School documents. Any special requests or petitions submitted to School administrative offices also need the adviser’s endorsement, in addition to the approval of the Department chair.

EXPECTATIONS, RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Advisers help students define educational goals, choose coursework and independent studies, and plan steps to reach those goals. They will periodically review a student’s academic progress, noting strengths and areas for improvement. Advisers offer guidance, but students make the final decisions within Department, School, and University policies.

Students must schedule regular meetings—either in person or virtually—to discuss goals, progress, problems, and next steps. If an adviser cannot answer a question, they will refer the student to a knowledgeable source. Advisers should offer regular meeting times or provide a clear process for scheduling individual appointments. Both students and faculty may request a change of adviser; faculty may accept or decline specific advisees. To begin changing advisers, students should first consult the program director.

Minimum Expectations for Student-Adviser Meetings

The following are minimum expectations for scheduled meetings between a faculty adviser and advisee. In general, meetings should be scheduled so students can prepare for the meeting, should be at least a half-hour or more in duration, and should be conducted in an appropriate location, desirably without interruptions.

Degree	Year in Program	Minimum Meeting Frequency
Master of Health Administration	Year 1	One in-person meeting in each academic term
	Year 2	Zoom or in-person meeting in each academic term
Master of Science in Public Health in Health Policy	Year 1	One in-person meeting in each academic term
	Year 2	Zoom or in-person check-in each academic term
Master of Health Science in Health Economics and Outcomes Research	Year 1 Year 2	One in-person or Zoom meeting in each academic term For online program, one Zoom meeting each academic term
PhD in Health Policy and Management	Year 1	One in-person or Zoom meeting in each academic term
	Years 2-3	One in-person or Zoom meeting every 3-4 weeks
	During Thesis Research	One in-person or Zoom meeting in each academic term; written comments on thesis drafts within 4 weeks of receipt.

HPM Teaching Assistant Training Requirement

All TAs working in HPM courses, regardless of their department or program, must complete the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) TA training before beginning any duties.

CTL’s TA training has been approved by the Johns Hopkins Center for Teaching Excellence & Innovation (CTEI) to satisfy Phase I of the Teaching Academy – Preparing Future Faculty (PFF) program. TAs who wish to pursue Teaching Academy certification can complete CTL’s training and then continue with the Teaching Academy program. More information about the Teaching Academy is available here.

HPM Student Conflict Mediator

Having trouble with a faculty mentor, supervisor, or staff member? Unsure how to address a concern or feel you’ve been treated unfairly?

The HPM Student Conflict Mediator can help. The mediator offers a confidential, impartial, informal, and independent space to:

discuss departmental student concerns
access information and clarify policies and procedures
explore response options and get problem-solving assistance

You may remain anonymous if you prefer and control any actions taken (except when disclosure is legally required). The mediator does not take sides, does not participate in formal processes, and does not serve as an office of record or keep personally identifiable records. They can, however, explain both formal and informal options available to you.

The HPM Student Conflict Mediator is Professor Jon Vernick.

HPM Student Coordinating Committee (SCC)

The Department has an active student group, the Student Coordinating Committee (SCC), which facilitates communication and interaction between students and the Department’s faculty and administrators. Each year the SCC plans and runs events and initiatives to support this goal. All HPM students are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Course Waivers for CEPH Competency Courses

Students who earned a degree from an accredited School of Public Health since 2020 have already met the CEPH learning objectives and do not need to repeat them through the Cells to Society courses. A waiver process is available. Contact the HPM Office of Academic Affairs before matriculation for details on how to request the waiver.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Students must meet minimum standards to remain enrolled in the degree programs in the Department. A student's failure to meet the criteria is grounds for being placed on academic warning and/or being dismissed from the program. Further information on minimum standards for each program can be found in each program's section.

IMPORTANT: Students receiving federal loans and federal work-study funding must adhere to the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy posted on the Financial Aid Office website.

Withdrawals

Failure to register for a term results in automatic withdrawal from the program. Withdrawn students must be formally readmitted before resuming their studies. To request readmission, a student must submit their most recent transcript (showing coursework completed before withdrawal) and a cover letter explaining the reasons for the withdrawal and why they wish to return. These materials should be sent to the program director, who will make a recommendation to the HPM Student Matters Committee for approval or denial.

BSPH Academic Policies

Academic Ethics Code
Compliance Line
Grading Appeal Policy
Grading System
Graduation Policy
Interdivisional Registration
Multi-term Course Policy
Post-Doctoral Fellow Student Status
Student Grievance Policy
Voluntary Leave of Absence Policy

University Academic Policies and Information

Academic Calendar
Academic Integrity Policies
Animal Care and Use Program
Credit Hour Policy
FERPA
PhD Specific Policies
Student Leave of Absence Policy
Student Status (Course Load)
Transcripts and Enrollment Verifications
Higher Education Act Disclosures
Office of Institutional Equity
Veterans Affairs

Higher Education Act Disclosures

Office of Institutional Equity

Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures
Equal Opportunity and Title IX Notice
Sexual Misconduct Policy and Procedures

Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities

Academic Grievance Policy: Student and Postdoctoral Fellows
New Child Accommodations for Full-Time Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Trainees
Personal Relationships Policy
Photography and Film Rights Policy
Student Conduct Code
Student Disability Services (SDS)
Student Health

Bloomberg School of Public Health