James B Potash

James B. Potash is an American psychiatrist, researcher, and academic leader. He is currently the Henry Phipps Professor and Director (chair) of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Early life and education

Potash graduated from Yale College in 1984 with a degree in English. After serving in the Peace Corps in Senegal, he pursued a career in medicine. He earned a master's degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University, focusing on epidemiology and international health, and his M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1993.

After completing an internship in internal medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Potash became a resident and later chief resident in psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital. His prolific research output includes over 215 publications, and distinguishing depression from sadness. In these columns, he provides clear explanations of the signs, symptoms, and treatments for depression to help the public better understand this common but often misunderstood condition.

Potash's other notable research contributions include:

Investigating the genetic basis of psychotic forms of bipolar disorder He has also helped establish four new Precision Medicine Centers of Excellence (PMCoE), aimed at identifying disease sub-types and targeting treatments—for Alzheimer's disease, psychosis, mood disorders, and schizoaffective disorders.

Potash has facilitated the creation of the Johns Hopkins Personalized Care in Psychiatry program in Baltimore and new psychiatric services at Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC, and Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland. In addition, he established a new track-based system within the Johns Hopkins psychiatric residency training program to allow trainees to grow in expertise and as leaders.

In addition to his research and leadership roles, Potash maintains an active clinical practice treating patients with depression and bipolar disorder. He has also held leadership positions in major professional organizations, including the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics, the American Psychopathological Association, the National Network of Depression Centers, and the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry.