Tanjala Purnell, PhD, MPH

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine,

Assistant Professor

Tanjala S. Purnell, PhD MPH is an Assistant Professor of Transplant Surgery and Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Training Director at the Johns Hopkins Center to Eliminate Cardiovascular Health Disparities. A native of the Mississippi Delta, Dr. Purnell is a health services researcher and social epidemiologist whose work focuses on identifying and addressing patient/family, healthcare system, and community-level factors that contribute to health disparities for patients with chronic illnesses, particularly kidney disease and related conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension. Her work on NIH and PCORI-funded studies has involved the development of educational and behavioral interventions to reduce disparities in chronic disease management, access to transplantation, and shared treatment decision making for patients and their families. She has presented her research at national and international meetings and has received numerous awards and honors. She enjoys teaching and mentoring graduate students, medical students, surgical residents, and postdoctoral fellows who are interested in health equity research. Her community service activities include participating in an “Ask the Expert” community seminar series created by the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Office of Community Health in conjunction with pastors and lay health ministry leaders at local Baltimore churches to foster relationships and teach community members about mechanisms to reduce health disparities. She and her husband, Mr. Doyin Idowu, are active members of Friendship Baptist Church in Baltimore. She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the Tougaloo College National Alumni Association.

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