Stefan Baral

Stefan Baral is a Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with affiliations in the Center for Global Health and the Center for Public Health and Human Rights. He is the co-director of the Program for Implementation and Equity Research (PIER) and leads multiple NIH-funded initiatives focused on HIV, stigma, and implementation science.

Education:

• MD, Queen’s University (2005)
• MSc, McMaster University (2001)
• MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2007)
• MBA, Johns Hopkins Carey Business School (2007)

His research focuses on epidemiology and implementation science related to infectious diseases, particularly HIV and STIs among key populations such as men who have sex with men, female sex workers, and transgender individuals. He investigates stigma, mental health, and structural barriers to care in Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S. His work emphasizes equity, human rights, and scalable public health interventions.

His extensive publication record, with over 550 outputs, demonstrates consistent leadership in HIV epidemiology, stigma measurement, and implementation research. Recent articles highlight his focus on big data, PrEP access, gender-based violence in conflict settings, and community-engaged implementation science.

Scientific Awards:

• Research Contributions to Health in Senegal, Ministry of Health, Senegal (2018)
• Global Health Advising Award, Johns Hopkins (2015, 2012)
• C.P. Shah Award for Resident Research (2009)
• Multiple scholarships and recognitions from 2000–2008

Baral is actively involved in advising and grant leadership, serving as Principal Investigator on multiple R01 grants from NIH, amFAR, and the Global Fund. He co-directs the Implementation Science concentration in the DrPH program and teaches advanced courses in implementation research methods. He leads collaborative teams across global institutions and community organizations, emphasizing equity and impact in public health science.

He is affiliated with key research hubs including the Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) Implementation Science core and the Mid-Atlantic Consortium (MACC+) Implementation Science support hub.