About Us | AIforHOPE

AI for HOPE

Funded in 2024 through a Nexus Convening Grant, the AI for HOPE initiative unites experts from across Johns Hopkins University with external stakeholders. We aim to cultivate a better understanding of how ethical and responsible AI can be leveraged to address deaths of despair—including suicide, overdose, and alcohol-related illnesses.

Dr. Emily Haroz

Leading Professor

Dr. Emily Edmunds Haroz is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, with co-primary appointments in Mental Health and International Health. She is Co-Director of Research at the Center for Indigenous Health and specializes in implementation science, suicide prevention, and precision public health. Dr. Haroz leads multiple NIH-funded studies applying AI and machine learning to improve mental health care.

She directs the ELEVATE program and serves as Research Core Director for the CIRCLE Center, promoting culturally-centered behavioral health approaches. She also advises global and community-based suicide prevention initiatives, including the Red Cross, Navajo Nation, and Dartmouth’s Center for Technology and Behavioral Health.

Research Assistants

Graduate Student

Max Edelstein

Max Edelstein is a Graduate Research Assistant for AI for HOPE and a Master’s candidate in International Relations at Johns Hopkins SAIS, specializing in Technology & Innovation, National Security, and International Economics. He holds a B.A. with Honors in Economics and International Relations from Colgate University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He has research experience in Applied Econometrics, Artificial Intelligence, and public health policy. He has presented at major conferences, co-authored published papers, and is a former varsity soccer athlete.

Graduate Student

Anthony Li, MD

Anthony Li, MD, is a preventive medicine physician at Singapore’s National University Health System and an MPH candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A former member of Singapore’s National Healthcare AI Steering Committee, he helped develop healthcare AI guidelines for Singapore and Southeast Asia. With six years of experience in healthcare AI research, he specializes in translatable, equitable, and explainable AI. He has presented his work internationally and received Singapore’s Young Investigator Award in clinical research twice (2021, 2022).

Graduate Student

Evelyn Cox

Evelyn Cox is a Graduate Research Assistant for AI for HOPE and an MPH candidate at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She holds a B.A. in Biology and Sociology from Colgate University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. Her research focuses on psychiatric epidemiology, digital health, and behavioral science. She has presented at seven international conferences and has over three years of experience in health tech consulting, specializing in AI applications for diabetes self-management. A dedicated mental health advocate, she volunteers with NAMI Baltimore to support community mental health initiatives.

Board of Advisors

The AI for HOPE teams draws technical, health, and policy expertise from faculty across Johns Hopkins. Listed below are faculty advisors, partner schools, and associated policy experts.