Dr. Joshua Barocas is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and an infectious diseases physician at Denver Health. He also holds an appointment as Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health. His work sits at the intersection of infectious diseases, substance use, and health equity, with a focus on improving outcomes for marginalized populations affected by overdose, HIV, hepatitis C, and injection-related infections.

Dr. Barocas leads the Social Determinants of Health and Disparities Modeling Unit at CU and is internationally recognized for advancing the use of simulation modeling and health economics to inform policy and clinical decision-making. He is principal investigator on multiple NIH-funded studies, including the REDUCE and iHOUSE models, which project the long-term health outcomes of people who inject drugs and people experiencing homelessness. His research has directly influenced U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and local, state, and federal policy responses to the overdose and homelessness crises.

In addition to his research, Dr. Barocas has served as an infectious diseases consultant for Boston Health Care for the Homeless, an advisor to the Denver Mayor’s Office on homelessness, and a member of the CDC’s Board of Scientific Counselors for Infectious Diseases. He is Associate Editor of the International Journal of Drug Policy and has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, including influential work in JAMA, The Lancet Public Health, and Nature.

A committed mentor and educator, Dr. Barocas has trained the next generation of physician-scientists and public health leaders. His contributions have been recognized with awards including the AAMC Herbert W. Nickens Faculty Fellowship and the University of Colorado Distinguished Achievement in Research Award.