Post by Terrapin Think Tank

We were honored to host Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein on Thursday, March 12th for an engaging and insightful speaker event! Dr. Sharfstein is Vice Dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement, director of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative, and Professor of the Practice in Health Policy and Management. Previously, he served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Principal Deputy Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, as Commissioner of Health for Baltimore City, and as health policy advisor for Congressman Henry A. Waxman. Dr. Sharfstein shared his inspiring career trajectory—from his early interests in public health to leadership roles shaping health policy at the state and national levels. His journey highlighted how passion, persistence, and interdisciplinary thinking can open doors to meaningful impact. A key takeaway for our students: there are more opportunities than ever for undergraduates to get involved in health policy—whether through research, internships, advocacy, or community engagement. Dr. Sharfstein encouraged students to explore broadly and take initiative early. Building on his previous visit, where he discussed Maryland’s unique total cost of healthcare model, this year’s conversation continued to challenge us to think critically about how policies can be proposed to best serve communities. Thank you, Dr. Sharfstein, for your time, wisdom, and continued support of student learning! #HealthPolicy #PublicHealth #StudentOpportunities #FutureLeaders #HealthcareInnovation #StudentEngagement #Leadership