James Bennett Potash, James Potash, MD, MPH

Dr. Potash has been the Henry Phipps Professor, Director of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Psychiatrist-in-Chief, at Johns Hopkins since 2017. Before that he was Chair and Department Executive Officer of the University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry for six years. Dr. Potash graduated from Yale College. Following graduation, he served in the Peace Corps in the West African country of Senegal. He completed his master’s degree in public health at Johns Hopkins, and then went on to medical school at Hopkins, medical internship at Hopkins Bayview, and a year working as a general practitioner in another West African country, Benin. He returned to do his psychiatry residency at Hopkins. He became the Mood Disorders Center research director before moving to Iowa. Dr. Potash’s work has focused on investigation of the genetic and epigenetic basis of depression and bipolar disorder. These efforts have resulted in over 250 publications. Dr. Potash served as an officer of the International Society for Psychiatric Genetics and now is President for the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry. He has been a member of the Council on Research and is currently Chair of the Council on Healthcare Systems and Financing of the APA. In this latter role, he led a 2025 paper on The Future of the Psychiatrist. Dr. Potash is an active clinician who sees patients with depression and bipolar disorder. He does this in the inpatient and outpatient setting, and also in the mood disorders consultation clinic. Dr. Potash has been the Henry Phipps Professor, Director of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Psychiatrist-in-Chief, at Johns Hopkins since 2017. Before that he was Chair and Department Executive Officer of the University of Iowa Department of Psychiatry for six years. Dr. Potash graduated from Yale College. Following graduation, he served in the Peace Corps in the West African country of Senegal. He completed his master’s degree in public health at Johns Hopkins, and then went on to medical school at Hopkins, medical internship at Hopkins Bayview, and a year working as a general practitioner in another West African country, Benin. He returned to do his psychiatry residency at Hopkins. He became the Mood Disorders Center research director before moving to Iowa. Dr. Potash’s work has focused on investigation of the genetic and epigenetic basis of depression and bipolar disorder. These efforts have resulted in over 250 publications. Dr. Potash served as an officer of the International Society for Psychiatric Genetics and now is President for the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry. He has been a member of the Council on Research and is currently Chair of the Council on Healthcare Systems and Financing of the APA. In this latter role, he led a 2025 paper on The Future of the Psychiatrist. Dr. Potash is an active clinician who sees patients with depression and bipolar disorder. He does this in the inpatient and outpatient setting, and also in the mood disorders consultation clinic.
Financial relationships
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Type of financial relationship:There are no financial relationships to disclose.Date added:10/13/2026Date updated:10/13/2026
**Disclaimer**
This Continuing Medical Education (CME) Learning Management System, Ethos, includes individuals designated as 'faculty' for CME purposes. Please note that the term 'faculty' refers solely to their role as a contributor/planner within a CME activity and does not imply any formal affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW). The display of names and credentials is intended for educational purposes only and does not necessarily indicate a professional or academic relationship with UTSW. Participants are encouraged to verify the affiliations and credentials of faculty members independently if further clarification is needed.

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