Sarah L. SzantonView profile
Professor
Sarah L. Szanton is the Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and holds the Patricia M. Davidson Professorship for Health Equity and Social Justice. She also maintains a joint appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Under her leadership, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is ranked No. 1 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for its master's and doctor of nursing practice programs. Dr. Szanton earned her BA in African American Studies from Harvard University in 1988, followed by a BSN from Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. She completed her MSN at the University of Maryland in 1998 before returning to Johns Hopkins for her PhD in Nursing Science. Dr. Szanton's research focuses on health equity, aging in community, and the social determinants of health. She is particularly known for her work on the CAPABLE program (Community Aging in Place—Advancing Better Living for Elders), which addresses environmental challenges faced by older adults through a combination of nursing, occupational therapy, and handyworker services. Her research also examines the impact of financial strain on health outcomes and the measurement of structural racism and resilience across the life course. Dr. Szanton's extensive publication record demonstrates a consistent focus on improving health outcomes for low-income older adults through community-based interventions. Her work bridges clinical practice, policy, and environmental modifications to address health disparities. A recurring theme in her research is the intersection of socioeconomic factors with health outcomes in aging populations, particularly how financial constraints and structural racism impact health and disability. Dr. Szanton has received numerous prestigious awards including: Election to the National Academy of Medicine (2021) Heinz Foundation Human Condition Award (2019) Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame (2019) Edgerunner Award from the American Academy of Nursing (2017) Top 50 "Influencers in Aging" by Next Avenue (2016) As a researcher, Dr. Szanton has been Principal Investigator on more than $20 million in grants from the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She has mentored numerous doctoral students and established programs like the Pathway to PhD Nursing Scholars Program to accelerate diversity within PhD-prepared nurses. As Dean, she launched the Policy Honors Program to develop student advocacy skills in health policy. Dr. Szanton is core faculty at the Center on Aging and Health and Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions. She co-developed the CAPABLE program, which is now active in 23 states, and directs the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing's Center for Innovative Care in Aging. Her work through the Hopkins Housing & Health Collaborative and the Center for Equity in Aging focuses on translating research into practical interventions that help older adults age in their communities.









