Olivia Sugarman

Olivia Sugarman, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Scientist in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research centers on health policy and services for marginalized populations, particularly people who use drugs and those involved in the criminal-legal system. She utilizes mixed methods, health behavior frameworks, and community-partnered research to evaluate policies affecting access to mental health and substance use treatment, with a focus on equity and harm reduction.

• PhD in Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, LSU Health Sciences Center, 2022
• MPH in Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University, 2016
• BS in Pre-Professional Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 2014
• Postdoctoral Training, Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, Johns Hopkins, 2022–2024

Dr. Sugarman’s research interests include opioid use disorder, HIV/HCV, Medicaid policy, incarceration and health, and program evaluation. She investigates how policy reforms impact treatment access and outcomes, including studies on buprenorphine retention, naloxone distribution, and co-treatment of hepatitis C and addiction. Her work often involves analyzing large administrative datasets and qualitative community input.

Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on emerging drug supply threats like xylazine, state-level policy responses, and overdose prevention strategies. She has published in leading journals such as Health Affairs, JAMA Health Forum, and Drug and Alcohol Dependence, highlighting trends in policy evaluation, health equity, and real-world implementation of evidence-based interventions.

Scientific Awards:

• Teaching Excellent Recognition, Course 305.861.71: Graduate Seminar in Injury Research and Policy, Term 1, 2024

Dr. Sugarman has been involved in significant grant-funded projects, including the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, where she leads evaluation efforts across seven states. She mentors students and collaborates widely with public health agencies and community organizations. She has advised on policy implementation and evaluation, particularly in Maryland and Louisiana. Her work bridges research, policy, and community engagement to improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations.

She is actively involved in research teams focused on overdose prevention, mental health policy in correctional settings, and harm reduction service delivery. Her lab and collaborative networks include data scientists, epidemiologists, and policy analysts working on linked state databases and mixed-methods studies.