Samantha J. Harris

Samantha J. Harris, PhD, MPA, is an Assistant Scientist in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her primary appointment is with the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, where she leads state-level evaluations in Kentucky and New Mexico, focusing on overdose prevention and implementation of harm reduction policies.

• Institution: Johns Hopkins University
• School: Bloomberg School of Public Health
• Department: Department of Health Policy and Management
• Position: Assistant Scientist

Education:

• PhD in Health Policy, University of Georgia, 2021
• MPA in Health Policy, University of Kentucky, 2016
• BA in Arts Administration, University of Kentucky, 2014
• Postdoctoral Training, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Samantha Harris's research centers on improving access to mental health and substance use treatment, particularly through public insurance programs like Medicaid and Medicare. Her work applies mixed-methods approaches to evaluate policies related to harm reduction, overdose prevention, and service delivery within the criminal legal system. She has a strong interest in aging and health, opioid and alcohol use disorders, and equitable access to care.

Her recent publications highlight trends in Medicare coverage for methadone and buprenorphine, implementation of syringe services programs, and attitudes toward decriminalization policies. Her work spans qualitative and quantitative methods, often focusing on policy impact and implementation barriers at the state level.

Scientific Contributions:

• Lead researcher on rapid-cycle evaluations of overdose prevention programs
• Co-Investigator on NIH, SAMHSA, and privately funded projects
• Frequent collaborator with interdisciplinary teams and state agencies

Harris has served in policy-focused fellowship placements and contributes to high-impact journals such as Health Affairs and Drug and Alcohol Dependence. She advises on policy evaluation and health services research but no formal students are listed. She is actively involved in the Bloomberg Overdose Prevention Initiative, working closely with Dr. Brendan Saloner and Dr. Sachini Bandara. Her lab or team is embedded within this initiative, conducting real-time assessments of innovative state policies to reduce fatal overdoses.