With a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology, a M.S. in Nutritional Sciences, and over 380 peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Gittelsohn is dedicated to the primary prevention of chronic diseases, particularly within underserved communities. He has conducted >20 innovative intervention studies aimed at transforming food environments and enhancing nutritional education, addressing obesity and diabetes in Indigenous populations, including Native American, First Nations, Inuit, and Pacific Islander communities, as well as in urban settings like Baltimore City.
Dr. Gittelsohn’s research integrates cultural information, educational and environmental approaches, and systems science methods to model the impacts of policy changes, driving significant improvements in dietary habits. He has led multiple intervention trials in various settings, including schools, corner stores, restaurants, churches and community organizations, with success in enhancing food purchasing and consumption behaviors. His recent endeavors include the development of digital applications to improve access to healthy foods, emphasizing sustainability and community engagement. Currently, Dr. Gittelsohn leads multiple grants, including initiatives to improve food access in collaboration with local food pantries, independently owned restaurants, and small retail stores.

2009-present Professor, Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University;
Affiliated faculty, Center for Adolescent Health Promotion and Disease Prevention;
Affiliated faculty, Center for American Indian Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.

2023-present Secondary Appointment, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University.

2000-2009 Associate Professor, Center for Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University.

1994-2000 Assistant Professor, Division of Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University.

1989-1994 Research Associate, Division of Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, School of Hygiene and Public Health, The Johns Hopkins University.

1. Gittelsohn, J, Dyckman, W*, Tan, ML*, Boggs, MK, Frick, KD, Alfred, J, Winch, PJ, Haberle, H, and Palafox, N. (2006) “Development and Implementation of a Food Store Intervention to Improve Diet in the Republic of the Marshall Islands,” Health Promotion Practice, Aug 2; [Epub ahead of print].
2. Curran S*, Gittelsohn J, Anliker JA, Ethelbah B, Blake K, Sharma S and Caballero B (2005) “Process evaluation of a store-based environmental obesity intervention on two American Indian reservations,” Health Education Research, 20(6):719-29.
3. Song HJ*, Gittelsohn J, Kim M, Suratkar S, Sharma S and Anliker JA, (2009) “A corner store intervention in a low-income urban community is associated with increased availability and sales of some healthy foods,” Public Health Nutrition, Apr 30:1-8. [Epub ahead of print].
4. Gittelsohn J, Kim EM, He S, Pardilla M. (2013) “A food-store based environmental intervention is associated with reduced BMI and improved psychosocial factors and food-related behaviors on the Navajo Nation,” Journal of Nutrition, Sep;143(9):1494-500. PMCID: PMC4083230
5. Lee-Kwan SH, Yong R, Bleich SN, Kwan N, Park JH, Lawrence R, Gittelsohn J. (2015) “Carry-out Restaurant Intervention Increases Purchases of Healthy Food,” J Hunger Environ Nutr, 10(4):456-466.
6. Budd N, Jeffries JK, Jones-Smith J, Kharmats A, McDermott AY, Gittelsohn J. (2017) “Store-directed price promotions and communications strategies improve healthier food supply and demand: impact results from a randomized controlled, Baltimore City store-intervention trial,” Public Health Nutr, 20(180:3349-3359.
7. Wensel C.R., Poirier L., Trude A., Alghamdi R., Trujillo A., Anderson Steeves E., Paige D., Gittelsohn J. (2018) “B’more Healthy Corner Stores for Moms and Kids: Identifying optimal behavioral economic strategies to increase WIC redemptions in small urban corner stores,” Int J Environ Res Public Health, 16(1). pii: E64. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16010064
8. Gittelsohn J, Mui Y, Adam A, Lin S, Kharmats A, Igusa T, Lee BY. (2015) “Incorporating systems science principles into the development of obesity prevention interventions: Principles, benefits and challenges,” Curr Obes Rep, 4(2):174-81.
9. Siyao Zhu, Cassandra Mitsinikos, Lisa Poirier, Takeru Igusa, and Joel Gittelsohn (2021) “Development of a System Dynamics Model to Guide Retail Food Store Policies in Baltimore City,” Nutrients, Aug 31;13(9):3055. doi: 10.3390/nu13093055.
10. Lewis EC, Williamson S, Xie Y, Poirier L, Oladimeji AT, Igusa T, Gittelsohn J. (2024) Design of a mobile app interface that engages community members in improving healthy food access within a local food system. Nutrients, Special Issue “Digital Transformations in Nutrition”. May 31;16(11):1723. doi: 10.3390/nu16111723. PMID: 38892656

2022   Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Silver Author Recognition Award
2014   President’s Translational Research Recognition Award, Johns Hopkins University
2012   Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Award, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
2005   Advising, Mentoring and Teaching Award, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University
2002   Best Paper of the Year, 2001-2002, Health Education and Behavior
1993   The Johns Hopkins University Teaching Quality Award
1991   The Johns Hopkins University Golden Apple Teaching Award