Professor
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Dr. Joel Gittelsohn, Professor, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, is a public health nutritionist and medical anthropologist, who focuses on the primary prevention of chronic disease in disadvantaged communities. With more than 370 publications, Dr. Gittelsohn has led multiple intervention trials aimed at improving the food environment and providing education needed to support healthy food choices and reduce obesity and diabetes in indigenous communities (Native American, First Nations, Inuit, Pacific Islanders) and Baltimore City. Dr. Gittelsohn has conducted a series of intervention trials with schools, corner stores, carryouts, wholesalers, churches, food pantries, worksites and recreation centers. These studies have shown success in increasing knowledge, healthy food purchasing and consumption, in reducing obesity, and in improving stocking and sales of healthier foods. Recently, he has begun to use systems science methods in his work, to simulate the impact and unexpected consequences of policies to improve the urban food environment, and reduce risk for chronic diseases, including cancer. He has also begun developing digital applications to improve healthy food access in disadvantaged communities, and enhance reach and sustainability. Dr. Gittelsohn leads grants to improve the food environment by working with independently owned restaurants, small retail food stores, and food pantries in Baltimore, and with Alaska Native communities. Currently, Dr. Gittelsohn serves as a senior investigator for ACLM's research study, this Lifestyle Medicine Integration in Health Systems: A Case Study Project.
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Successful Implementation of Lifestyle Medicine: Lessons Learned from Eight Health Systems
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM CT