Dr. Sidney Hankerson, MD, MBA

Medical Director

Dr. Hankerson is an Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Community Engagement in the Department of
Psychiatry at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also Director of Mental Health Equity Research
in the Institute for Health Equity Research at Mount Sinai. His research focuses on reducing racial/ethnic
disparities in mental health treatment. He is a nationally recognized expert at engaging faith-based
organizations in mental health services research.
The National Academy of Medicine selected Dr. Hankerson as one of 10 physicians in the U.S. for its Emerging
Leaders in Health and Medicine Program in 2021. New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio recently appointed Dr.
Hankerson as Chair of the Community Services Board of the New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene. Dr. Hankerson has presented his study results at the White House, United Nations, National Institute
of Mental Health (NIMH), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Gracie
Mansion (NYC Mayor’s Office), and numerous national academic conferences. He was an inaugural member of
the American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Council of Faith and Community Partnerships and served on the
APA Council of Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities.
Dr. Hankerson completed a dual MD/MBA program from Emory University, where he was Medical School Class
President for two years. He completed his psychiatry residency at Emory and was named Chief Resident of
Psychiatry at Grady Memorial Hospital. He then completed a NIMH T32 post-doctoral research fellowship at
Columbia University Medical Center and was on faculty at Columbia for 12 years before transitioning to his
current leadership roles at Mount Sinai.