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Daniel E. Ford

Daniel E. Ford, MD

Internal Medicine

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Young Adult 18-25
  • Adult 26-64
  • Older Adult 65+

Languages

  • English

Gender

Male

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

About Daniel E. Ford

Professional Titles

  • Director, Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research
  • Senior Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Medicine

Johns Hopkins Physician

Logo for Johns Hopkins Physician

Background

Dr. Daniel Ford is a professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He holds joint appointments in psychiatry and behavioral sciences and, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, in health policy and management and in epidemiology. 

Dr. Ford serves as the director of the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and the senior associate dean for clinical and translational research at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. 

Widely regarded as a pioneer in research associated with the interrelationships between mental disorders and chronic medical conditions, Dr. Ford gained international acclaim for clinical studies documenting depression as an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease and for research describing the long-term health risks related to sleep disturbances. He was chosen by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to direct the evaluation of its $12 million Depression in Primary Care Initiative. He also has been the principal researcher on a large training grant to develop researchers in general internal medicine.

A leader in using the Internet for clinical research, Dr. Ford worked closely with Johns Hopkins personnel who developed e-IRB, an electronic process for submitting research proposals to the school of medicine’s Institutional Review Board, which oversees requests to launch clinical studies. His research interests include ways to improve the treatment of chronic diseases through information technology. He also advocates treating human research subjects as partners, ensuring that they receive sufficient thanks for their commitment and willingness to contribute to scientific progress.

Dr. Ford received his M.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1982. He arrived at Hopkins that year as a medical resident and, except for a brief period as a National Institutes of Health fellow, has been on the Johns Hopkins faculty ever since. He received his master’s degree in public health from the Bloomberg School in 1986. He has published more than 120 research papers and book chapters, and was associate editor of the Journal of General Internal Medicine and a member of the editorial board of General Hospital Psychiatry.

Find a Clinical Trial

View all trials by this principal investigator.

Recent News Articles and Media Coverage

  • Hopkins wins $70 million NIH grant; UM left out, Baltimore Sun, Oct 22, 2013

    The Immortal Henrietta Lacks, CBS News, March 15, 2010

Additional Academic Titles

Joint Appointment in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Research Interests

Coronary artery disease, Epidemiology and treatment of depression, Information technology, Internet health applications, Myocardial infarction, Physician health, Primary care research, Stroke, Tobacco use

Lab Website

Daniel Ford Lab

  • Research in the Daniel Ford Lab seeks to understand the relationships between depression and various chronic medical conditions. Recently, we've focused on depression and coronary artery disease as well as tactics for improving care for patients with medical comorbidity. Our team is also interested in exploring how information technology can be used to improve the care of patients with depression and tobacco abuse.

Research Summary

Dr. Ford’s research has focused on understanding the relationships between depression and chronic medical conditions, particularly coronary artery disease, and how to improve care for patients with medical comorbidity. He was one of the first investigators to publish data documenting depression as a risk factor for myocardial infarction and stroke. In the spirit of translation, he has also sustained an interest in how to utilize information technology (IT) to improve care of patients with depression and tobacco abuse. Moving these interventions into the commercial world has been part of this process. Dr. Ford has broad interests and is always willing to work with research teams and patient groups to learn more about the challenges they face and how we can address barriers as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Selected Publications

  • Ayers JW, Althouse BM, Allem JP, Rosenquist JN, Ford DE. “Seasonality in seeking mental health information on Google.” Am J Prev Med. 2013 May;44(5):520-5. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.01.012. PMID: 23597817

  • Cahoon EK, McGinty EE, Ford DE, Daumit GL. “Schizophrenia and potentially preventable hospitalizations in the United States: a retrospective cross-sectional study.” BMC Psychiatry. 2013 Jan 25;13:37. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-13-37. PMID: 23351438

  • Cole S, Reims K, Kershner L, McCombs HG, Little K, Ford DE. “Improving care for depression: performance measures, outcomes and insights from the Health Disparities Collaboratives.” J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2012 Aug;23(3 Suppl):154-73. doi: 10.1353/hpu.2012.0138. PMID: 22864495

  • Coley HL, Sadasivam RS, Williams JH, Volkman JE, Schoenberger YM, Kohler CL, Sobko H, Ray MN, Allison JJ, Ford DE, Gilbert GH, Houston TK; National Dental PBRN and QUITPRIMO Collaborative Group. “Crowdsourced peer- versus expert-written smoking-cessation messages.” Am J Prev Med. 2013 Nov;45(5):543-50. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.07.004. PMID: 24139766

  • Sadasivam RS, Allison JJ, Ray MN, Ford DE, Houston TK. “Using a resource effect study pre-pilot to inform a large randomized trial: the Decide2Quit.Org Web-assisted tobacco intervention.” AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2012;2012:789-98. Epub 2012 Nov 3. PMID: 23304353

  • Sadasivam RS, Hogan TP, Volkman JE, Smith BM, Coley HL, Williams JH, Delaughter K, Ray MN, Gilbert GH, Ford DE, Allison JJ, Houston TK; National Dental PBRN and QUITPRIMO Collaborative Groups. “Implementing point-of-care ‘e-referrals’ in 137 clinics to increase access to a quit smoking internet system: the Quit-Primo and National Dental PBRN HI-QUIT Studies.” Transl Behav Med. 2013 Dec;3(4):370-8. doi: 10.1007/s13142-013-0230-3. PMID: 24294325

  • Sadasivam RS, Kinney RL, Delaughter K, Rao SR, Williams JH, Coley HL, Ray MN, Gilbert GH, Allison JJ, Ford DE, Houston TK; National Dental PBRN Group; QUIT-PRIMO Collaborative Group. “Who participates in Web-assisted tobacco interventions? The QUIT-PRIMO and National Dental Practice-Based Research Network Hi-Quit studies.” J Med Internet Res. 2013 May 1;15(5):e77. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2385. PMID: 23635417

  • Shihab HM, Meoni LA, Chu AY, Wang NY, Ford DE, Liang KY, Gallo JJ, Klag MJ. “Body mass index and risk of incident hypertension over the life course: the Johns Hopkins Precursors Study.” Circulation. 2012 Dec 18;126(25):2983-9. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.117333. Epub 2012 Nov 14. PMID: 23151344

  • Van Voorhees BW, Hsiung RC, Marko-Holguin M, Houston TK, Fogel J, Lee R, Ford DE. “Internal versus external motivation in referral of primary care patients with depression to an internet support group: randomized controlled trial.” J Med Internet Res. 2013 Mar 12;15(3):e42. doi: 10.2196/jmir.2197. PMID: 23482332

Honors

David M. Levine Professor of Medicine, 1/1/05

Lectures & Presentations

  • Clinical Databases and Scholarship, Lecture, Junior Faculty Membership Program, Office of Faculty Development, Baltimore, MD, 6/15/16
  • Funds to Support Your Scholarly Work: Foundation, Corporate and Federal, Lecture, Junior Faculty Membership Program, Office of Faculty Development, Baltimore, MD, 6/15/16
  • Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research: A CTSA Program, Lecture, Clinical and Translational Science Awards, 1/1/08
  • Support for Clinical Academic Pursuits: CTSA, Clinical Trials, Clinical Research, Lecture, Clinical Orientation, Office of Faculty Development, 8/5/15

Professional Activities

Predoctoral Clinical Research Training Program, Oversight Committee Member

Locations

  1. Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D., Outpatient Center

Expertise

Education

  • Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Internal Medicine, 1988
  • Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Medicine, 1985
  • Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Medicine, 1984
  • Medical Education: Buffalo Niagara Medical Center, MD, 1982

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine: American Board of Internal Medicine, 1985

Insurance

Search plans
  • Aetna
  • CareFirst
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Geisinger Health Plan
  • HealthSmart/Accel
  • Johns Hopkins Health Plans
  • MultiPlan
  • Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
  • Point Comfort Underwriters
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

Ratings & Reviews

5 out of 5

36 ratings, 19 reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Search reviews
    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/12/2026

    He is an outstanding dr who listens well, attends to the whole person, demonstrates care, and is an excellent clinician.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/12/2026

    Daniel Ford has been my PCP for years. He is first rate.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/26/2026

    People friendly, patient and caring .

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/29/2026

    Excellent

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/29/2026

    Very knowledgable and professional. I felt like an important individual..

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/29/2026

    Dr. Ford explained my treatment plan clearly and makes me feel confident that I'm getting excellent care. He listened carefully and answered all of my questions.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/22/2026

    Dr.Ford provides great insights about my current conditions and tries to coordinate my care. Dr. Ford is always available for any urgent concerns.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/11/2025

    He is the best health care provider I have ever had. Outstanding.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/4/2025

    Personable, accommodating, respectful and easy to talk to.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/20/2025

    Dr Ford has been my dr for over 30 years. He is compassionate, kind, caring, and is an expert in his field. It is a great benefit to his patients that oversees all research at JHH. Outstanding physician.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/30/2025

    Excellent visit. Several questions resulted in useful information. Follow up regarding blood work much appreciated. Dr. Ford is a knowledgeable and caring physician.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/30/2025

    Excellent

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/7/2025

    A good doctor and happy to refer new patient to hom.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/7/2025

    Dr. Ford has always provided exemplary care, listens to my concerns, thoroughly answers my questions and devotes ample time to my care.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/31/2025

    Dr. Ford is the most skilled, compassionate and caring doctor I have ever had. He genuinely cares about my overall health.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/10/2025

    Dr Ford is the best!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/3/2025

    My provider is awesome!!!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/3/2025

    Knowledgeable in his practice. Discuss personal health related situations that gives an idea about my health prior to beginning the exam.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/5/2025

    Dr Ford and I met 1997 and when I ever saw him he has been the provider from beginning until (?) an because of the care he has shown me my daughter now see him and soon my granddaughter will be all so.