Sarah Szanton

Sarah L. Szanton is a prominent figure in the field of nursing, particularly known for her work in geriatric nursing, health equity, and social justice. Here are some key points about her:

Position and Affiliations

• Dr. Szanton is the fifth dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and holds the Patricia M. Davidson Professor for Health Equity and Social Justice position.134
• She has a joint appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.1

Research and Innovations

• Dr. Szanton is the co-developer of the CAPABLE program, a person-directed, home-based initiative that integrates services from an occupational therapist, a registered nurse, and a handy worker to help older adults maintain health, independence, and safety. The program is active in 23 states.125
• Her research focuses on improving health equity, aging in community, the impact of financial strain on health, and the measurement of structural racism and resilience across the life course. She has published over 200 papers and been the Principal Investigator on more than $20 million in grants from various organizations, including the National Institutes of Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.1

Leadership and Advocacy

• Under her leadership, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing has been ranked No. 1 nationally by U.S. News & World Report for its master’s and doctor of nursing practice programs and No. 3 globally by QS World University.1
• Dr. Szanton launched the Policy Honors Program to help students develop advocacy skills in influencing health policies and is chartering the creation of an innovative policy institute to advance health policy leadership and research for global nurse leaders and scientists.1
• She is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, having helped shape the Pathway to PhD Nursing Scholars Program to accelerate diversity among PhD-prepared nurses and established the Term Professorship for Rising Faculty to fund distinguished faculty in their research and leadership.1

Awards and Recognition

• Dr. Szanton has been elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine and named a Woman of Achievement by Business and Professional Women of Maryland. She is also a Heinz Award winner for the Human Condition and recognized by PBS as one of the “Next Avenue Influencers in Aging”.1

Early Career

• Early in her career, Dr. Szanton provided house calls to homebound elderly patients with low incomes in West Baltimore, which influenced her later work on addressing environmental and health challenges faced by older adults.1

Overall, Dr. Szanton is a highly respected leader in nursing education, research, and policy, with a strong commitment to health equity and social justice.