Sherita Hill Golden is an American physician, researcher, and leader who is known for her contributions to the field of endocrinology and metabolism, especially in relation to diabetes and health disparities. She is also the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine, where she oversees the diversity, inclusion, and health equity strategy and operations for the School of Medicine and the Health System.
Background and Education
Early life
Golden was born and raised in Maryland, where she developed an interest in science and medicine from a young age. She was inspired by her parents, who were both educators, and by her grandmother, who had diabetes and taught her about the importance of healthy eating and exercise.
Education
Golden attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. She then moved to the University of Virginia School of Medicine, where she earned her medical degree and was the first African-American to receive the C. Richard Bowman Scholarship for clinical excellence. She also became interested in diabetes and endocrinology after being exposed to a diabetes expert at Virginia.
Golden completed her residency in internal medicine and her fellowship in endocrinology and metabolism at the Johns Hopkins University, where she also obtained a master’s degree in health science from the Bloomberg School of Public Health. She was elected to the Delta Omega society for her academic achievements.
Career in Medicine
Golden joined the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1999 as an assistant professor of medicine. She rose through the ranks to become a full professor of medicine in 2010, and was appointed the Hugh P. McCormick Family Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism in 2017. She also holds joint appointments in the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research, in the Department of Epidemiology at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality.
Research and Achievements
Focus on diabetes epidemiology, health services research, and disparities
Golden is an internationally recognized physician-scientist and a member of the National Academy of Medicine, the Association of American Physicians, and the American Society of Clinical Investigation. Her research focuses on the epidemiology, prevention, and management of diabetes and its complications, with an emphasis on the biological and systems factors that contribute to health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities.
She has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles on topics such as diabetes and depression, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cognitive impairment, diabetes and COVID-19, and diabetes and health care quality. She has also led or participated in several large-scale clinical trials and observational studies, such as the Diabetes Prevention Program, the Look AHEAD Study, the ARIC Study, and the MESA Study. She has received numerous grants and awards for her research, including the American Diabetes Association’s Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award and the Endocrine Society’s Outstanding Clinical Investigator Award.
Hugh P. McCormick Family Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Golden is the inaugural holder of the Hugh P. McCormick Family Professorship of Endocrinology and Metabolism, which was established in 2017 to support her research and teaching activities. The professorship was endowed by the McCormick family, who have a long history of philanthropy and involvement with Johns Hopkins. The McCormick family also suffers from a rare genetic disorder that causes severe insulin resistance and diabetes, and they have been collaborating with Golden and her colleagues to find a cure for their condition.
Diversity and Leadership
Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Johns Hopkins Medicine
Golden is the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine, a position she assumed in 2019. In this role, she collaborates with leaders across Johns Hopkins Medicine to further advance the diversity and inclusion efforts and to promote health equity for patients, employees, trainees, and communities. She is responsible for developing and implementing policies, programs, and initiatives that foster a culture of respect, belonging, and excellence for all.
Some of her accomplishments as the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer include:
- Executing the implementation of Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Standards, which ensure that patients receive care that is respectful of and responsive to their cultural and linguistic needs.
- Training staff on how to collect self-identified patient demographic data accurately and consistently, which enables better monitoring and analysis of health outcomes and disparities.
- Establishing a system-wide policy that prohibits patient discrimination toward employees and trainees based on their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other characteristics, and that provides support and resources for those who experience such discrimination.
- Launching a system-wide unconscious bias and anti-racism train-the-trainer program, which equips leaders and educators with the skills and tools to facilitate workshops on how to recognize and address unconscious bias and racism in the workplace and in health care.
- Facilitating mobile community testing for COVID-19 for the underserved populations in Baltimore City and ensuring equitable vaccine distribution to non-clinical, minoritized frontline staff across Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Promoting diversity and inclusion in the medical field
Golden is also a leader in the national discussion on advancing diversity and inclusion in the medical field. She has been involved in several organizations and initiatives that aim to increase the representation and retention of underrepresented minorities in medicine, such as the Association of Black Cardiologists, the National Medical Association, the Society of General Internal Medicine, and the National Institutes of Health. She has also mentored and sponsored many students, trainees, and faculty from diverse backgrounds and helped them achieve their academic and professional goals.
Additionally, Golden has used her executive leadership roles to address the root causes of health inequities and to engage with the local community. As the 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, which resulted in programs that addressed community-related concerns and enhanced employee engagement following the civil unrest in Baltimore after the 2015 death of Freddie Gray. She also created the Journeys in Medicine speaker series, which provided a platform for sharing diverse perspectives and experiences on topics such as race, culture, and identity.
Personal Life and Impact
Personal achievements and interests
Golden is married to Dr. W. Daniel Hill, a cardiologist and an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins. They have three children, two of whom are pursuing careers in medicine. Golden enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, and cooking. She is also a devout Christian and a member of the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore.
Golden has received many honors and awards for her personal achievements and contributions, such as the University of Maryland Distinguished Alumnus Award, the University of Virginia School of Medicine Distinguished Alumnus Award, the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association Excellence in Teaching Award, the Johns Hopkins University Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, and the Johns Hopkins Medicine Innovations in Clinical Care Award. She has also been named one of the 100 Most Influential African-Americans in Healthcare by Savoy Magazine, one of the Top 25 Women in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, and one of the 1,000 Inspiring Black Scientists in America by Cell Mentor.
Impact on healthcare and society as a whole
Golden has made a significant impact on healthcare and society as a whole through her research, clinical care, education, and leadership. She has advanced the scientific knowledge and clinical practice of diabetes and endocrinology, especially in relation to health disparities and outcomes. She has also improved the quality and safety of health care delivery and the patient experience for people with diabetes and other chronic conditions. She has trained and inspired the next generation of physicians and scientists from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. She has also advocated for health equity and social justice for marginalized and vulnerable populations and communities. She has been a role model and a trailblazer for women and minorities in medicine and academia. She has embodied the values and mission of Johns Hopkins Medicine and has exemplified excellence, compassion, and innovation in all that she does.
Conclusion
Sherita Hill Golden is a remarkable physician, researcher, and leader who has dedicated her life and career to improving the health and well-being of people with diabetes and other chronic diseases, especially those who face health disparities and inequities. She is also a visionary and a champion for diversity and inclusion in medicine and society. She is a respected and influential figure in the field of endocrinology and metabolism, as well as in the broader health care system and community. She is a Hugh P. McCormick Family Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism and the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Johns Hopkins Medicine. She is a leader, a mentor, a teacher, a colleague, a friend, a wife, a mother, and a woman of faith. She is Sherita Hill Golden.
