Center & Institute Affiliations
Danielle German, PhD '09, MPH, conducts research to understand and address the social context of health behavior and well-being among marginalized populations.
Contact Info
Research Interests
Social determinants of health; Mixed methods; Drug use; Harm reduction; HIV/AIDS; Mental health; LGBTQ health; Social stability; Social networks; Rats
Experiences & Accomplishments
Dr. German (she/her) is the Vice-Chair for Inclusion, Diversity, Anti-Racism, and Equity in HBS. She teaches a doctoral level seminar in mixed methods research and directs the JHSPH Certificate Program in LGBTQ Public Health. Her research draws from interdisciplinary perspectives and uses qualitative and quantitative methods to understand and address the social and structural context of health behavior and disease transmission, with particular emphasis on applied research related to drug use, HIV transmission, and mental health among marginalized populations in Baltimore and throughout Maryland. She has a long history of behavioral research, harm reduction program experience, and collaboration with community organizations and health departments.
As Principal Investigator for BESURE, the Baltimore arm of CDC’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance Project, Dr. German oversees annual community-based mixed methods data collection to measure prevalence and trends over time in HIV, health and social issues, health-related behaviors and access to services among people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, and individuals at increased risk of heterosexual HIV transmission, as well as a complementary set of projects focused on transgender health (CLEAR: Communities Leveraging Evidence for Action and Research). As Co-PI for the Statewide Ethnographic Assessment of Drug Use and Services (SEADS), a large qualitative study designed to understand drug use, barriers to service utilization, and potential for harm reduction expansion across Maryland, Dr. German oversaw data collection among people who use drugs and stakeholders across the 18 Western, Central, and Eastern Shore counties. Publicly accessible SEADS reports are available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1zxmJNs1Pa5cWMBf7m92zhkHUykbTK1K2
We have several current mixed methods studies examining polysubstance use patterns and trajectories, emerging drug threats, and related health concerns to inform overdose prevention and other strategies to improve the health and well-being of people who use drugs. We are also conducting implementation science research to adapt a social network intervention to address HIV and drug use stigma in collaboration with rural syringe service programs.
Honors & Awards
Excellence in Teaching, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022: Doctoral Seminar in Mixed Methods for Public Health Research
Excellence in Teaching, Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2019, 2020: MHS Seminar in Social Factors in Health
Johns Hopkins University SOURCE Service-Learning Community Fellow, 2016
HBS Student Organization Teaching Award, 2015 & 2017, awarded twice per year by student vote
Margaret Bright and Herman Binder Fund Award for devotion to students in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society, 2012
Delta Omega Society, 2009
Teaching Assistant Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Student Association, 2007
Ruth L. Kirchstein National Research Service Pre-Doctoral Training Award, National Institute of Mental Health, 2005-2009
Sir Arthur Newsholme Scholarship for Doctoral Training, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, 2004-2008
Select Publications
Select frequently cited publications
German D, Genberg B, Sugarman O, Saloner B, Glick J, Sawyer A, Gribbin M, Flynn C. (2024). Xylazine exposure highly associated with overdose outcomes among people who inject drugs in Baltimore. Harm Reduction Journal, 21(18)
Aqil, A.R., Malik, M., Jacques, KA., Lee, K., Kennedy, CE., Parker, L., Mooney, G., German, D. (2021) “Engaging in Anti-Oppressive Public Health Teaching – Challenges and Recommendations.” Pedagogy in Health Promotion. 7(4).
German, D. & Latkin, C. (2016). Experiences with urban rats among low-income Baltimore City residents. Journal of Community Psychology, 44(2): 249-262.
German, D. & Latkin, C.A. (2012). Social stability and health: exploring multidimensional social disadvantage. Journal of Urban Health. 89(1):19-35. PMID: 22131164
German, D., Sifakis, F., Maulsby, C., Towe, V., Flynn, C.P., Latkin, C., Celentano, D.D., Hauck, H., & Holtgrave, D.R. (2011). Persistently high prevalence of HIV and unrecognized infection among men who have sex with men in Baltimore: the BESURE study. JAIDS, 57(1):77-87. PMID: 21297479
German, D., Davey, M.A., & Latkin, C.A. (2007). Residential transience and HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users. AIDS and Behavior, 11(6 Suppl): 21-30. PMID: 17486437