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Kathy McDonald
Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Health Systems, Quality and Safety
Kathy McDonald is a distinguished academic and researcher in the field of health systems, quality, and safety. As the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University, she holds primary appointments in the Schools of Medicine and Nursing, with joint appointments in the Carey Business School and Bloomberg School of Public Health.12
Academic Background
Dr. McDonald earned her BS in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University, an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and a PhD in Health Policy, Organizations & Management from the University of California, Berkeley.2
Professional Experience
Johns Hopkins University
Dr. McDonald joined Johns Hopkins University in November 2019 as the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Health Systems, Quality and Safety.2 In this role, she:
- Explores factors that contribute to safe, affordable, and high-quality health care delivery systems
- Conducts research in close partnership with frontline teams, including patients and families
- Has affiliations with the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare, the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, and Hopkins Business of Health Initiative1
Stanford University
Prior to joining Johns Hopkins, Dr. McDonald had a long and distinguished career at Stanford University:
- Served as Executive Director and Senior Scholar from August 1994 to December 2019
- Was the founding executive director of the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research at Stanford University's School of Medicine
- Directed Stanford's Center for Health Policy12
Research Focus
Dr. McDonald is a patient-safety expert who focuses on:
- Factors that prevent health organizations from achieving high standards of care
- Safe, affordable, and high-quality health care delivery systems
- Partnerships with frontline teams, including patients and families1
Professional Affiliations
- Co-Director of the Center for Diagnostic Excellence at Johns Hopkins
- Principal Faculty member of the Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality
- Past President of the Board of Trustees for the Society for Medical Decision Making (2009-2011)12
Dr. McDonald's extensive experience and interdisciplinary approach to health systems research make her a leading figure in the field of healthcare quality and safety.
