Boris D. Lushniak

Boris D. Lushniak is a Professor and Dean of the School of Public Health at the University of Maryland, leading one of the university's most diverse academic colleges since 2017. He has spearheaded new academic programs, global health initiatives, and civic engagement efforts focused on social justice and dismantling systemic racism. His leadership during the global coronavirus pandemic and Ebola response in Liberia underscores his expertise in public health crises.

Education:

• BS in Medical Sciences (Honors Program), Northwestern University
• MD (Honors Program), Northwestern University Medical School
• MPH, Harvard University School of Public Health

Research & Leadership: Dr. Lushniak’s career spans federal service, including roles as U.S. Deputy Surgeon General (2010–15), Acting Surgeon General (2013–14), and Rear Admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. He led critical responses to 9/11, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and the Ebola crisis. His work emphasizes occupational health, environmental health, and evidence-based public health policy.

Initiatives: Under his deanship, the School expanded into global health and established the Department of Global, Environmental, and Occupational Health (2024). He co-chairs Maryland’s Commission on Public Health to improve foundational health services.

Personal: A proponent of preventive health, he actively practices long-distance bicycling, running, and hiking.