Departmental Affiliations
Primary
Mariana Socal, MD, PhD '17, studies ways to make the US pharmaceutical market more competitive, delivering drugs of greater value for lower costs to the American people.
Contact Info
624 N. Broadway, Hampton House 301
Baltimore
Maryland
21205
US
Research Interests
Medicare; self-insured employers; drug formularies; PBMs; biosimilars; insulin; orphan drugs; FDA.
Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2017
MPP
Princeton University
2010
MSc
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
2008
MD
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
2000
Overview
Dr. Socal’s research focuses on improving pharmaceutical access and affordability. Specific topics include understanding biosimilar adoption, improving FDA regulation for follow-on products, and reducing spending on drugs that cost significantly more but have comparable clinical profiles to their competitors. Dr. Socal has testified before the U.S. Congress on drug pricing and the provisions established in Build Back Better and H.R.3. Dr. Socal also testified at the Food and Drug Administration on issues related to biopharmaceutical regulation, including insulins. Dr. Socal has advised several state initiatives to reduce drug spending, such as the California Generic Drugs Initiative. At Hopkins, Dr. Socal teaches courses on U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy and the U.S. Healthcare System. Dr. Socal is a physician trained in adult Neurology. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University and a PhD in Public Health/Health Systems from Johns Hopkins University.
Honors & Awards
2022 Golden Apple Award (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy and Intro to the U.S. Health Care System) JHSPH Student Assembly
2021 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2020 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2019 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2016 David and Elinor Bodian Scholarship Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2016 Henry K. and Lola Beye Scholarship in International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2015 Teaching-As-Research Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Center for Educational Resources
2015 Gordis Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
2013 Gordis Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
2009 Research Fellowship, Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil
2008 Research Fellowship, Princeton University Grand Challenges Initiative and the Ford Foundation
2021 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2020 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2019 Excellence in Teaching (U.S. Pharmaceutical Policy) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2016 David and Elinor Bodian Scholarship Award, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2016 Henry K. and Lola Beye Scholarship in International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2015 Teaching-As-Research Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Center for Educational Resources
2015 Gordis Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
2013 Gordis Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins Krieger School of Arts and Sciences
2009 Research Fellowship, Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Brazil
2008 Research Fellowship, Princeton University Grand Challenges Initiative and the Ford Foundation
Select Publications
Selected Publications
- Socal MP, Greene JA. Interchangeable Insulins - New Pathways for Safe, Effective, Affordable Diabetes Therapy. N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 12;382(11):981-983.
- Socal MP, Bai G, Anderson GF. Factors Associated With Prescriptions for Branded Medications in the Medicare Part D Program. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 Mar 1;4(3):e210483. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.0483.
- Socal MP, Anderson GF. The Role of Advance Purchasing Commitments in Government Drug Price Negotiations: Lessons From the COVID-19 Response. Am J Public Health. 2021 Apr;111(4):652-657. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2020.306109.
- Socal MP, Anderson GF Older Americans' Preferences Between Lower Drug Prices and Prescription Drug Plan Choice, 2019. Am J Public Health. 2020 Mar;110(3):354-356.
- Socal MP, Sharfstein JM, Greene JA. The Pandemic and the Supply Chain: Gaps in Pharmaceutical Production and Distribution. Am J Public Health. 2021 Apr;111(4):635-639.