Ruth Faden

Ruth Faden is the Philip Franklin Wagley Professor of Biomedical Ethics and founder of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. She holds a joint appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Johns Hopkins University. A leading scholar in bioethics, Dr. Faden has shaped national and global discourse on structural justice, research ethics, and women's health. She currently works part-time at the FDA’s Office of the Commissioner, contributing her expertise to regulatory policy.

• PhD, Program in Attitudes and Behaviors, University of California, Berkeley
• MPH, University of California, Berkeley
• MA, General Studies in Humanities, University of Chicago
• BA, American Civilization, University of Pennsylvania

Dr. Faden’s research focuses on structural justice theory, ethical challenges in public health, food and agriculture, learning health systems, and the rights of pregnant women in biomedical research. She emphasizes equity in vaccine policy, pandemic preparedness, and global health governance. Her work bridges philosophy, policy, and practical ethics, aiming to transform institutions to better serve marginalized populations.

Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward global health ethics, maternal and perinatal health, equitable research inclusion, and the ethical oversight of clinical trials. Themes of justice, equity, and structural reform are central across her body of work, with increasing focus on pandemic response, food systems, and the integration of research and treatment in health care delivery.

• Lifetime Achievement Award, American Society for Bioethics and Humanities (ASBH), 2011
• Lifetime Achievement Award, Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIMR), 2011
• Golden Apple Award, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health, 1980–81
• Member, National Academy of Medicine
• Fellow, Hastings Center
• Fellow, American Psychological Association
• Member, Delta Omega

Dr. Faden has advised numerous national and international bodies, including serving as chair of President Clinton’s Advisory Committee on Human Radiation Experiments. She has secured major endowments for the Berman Institute and founded key initiatives such as the Hinxton Group, Second Wave, PHASES, PREVENT, and the Global Food Ethics and Policy Program. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing ethical frameworks for including pregnant women in research and for global health equity. She has received significant grant funding to support interdisciplinary research in bioethics and public policy.

She is the co-founder of several major research initiatives: the Hinxton Group (stem cell ethics), Second Wave (pregnant women’s health), PHASES (HIV and pregnancy), PREVENT (vaccines and pregnancy), and the Global Food Ethics and Policy Program. These projects involve international collaborations and aim to shape policy through rigorous ethical analysis. The eSchool+ Initiative, formed during the COVID-19 pandemic, focuses on ethical school reopening and student well-being.