John Blevins, Th.D., M.Div.

Biography

Dr. John Blevins joined the SPS in December 2022 as an Adjunct Professor of the Practice in the Faith and Health Equity program.  Dr. Blevins has worked at the intersection of faith and public health for over 30 years in clinical, congregational, community, and academic contexts.  His work began as a chaplain to adults and children living with HIV in Chicago in 1992. In 1994, he moved to Atlanta where he completed a chaplaincy residency before working in the outpatient HIV program of Atlanta’s public health system where he coordinated patient education.  He also coordinated a training program at the Emory University School of Medicine that taught HIV clinical providers across the southeastern United States how to work with patients with severe and persistent mental illness and chaotic patterns of drug and alcohol use.  Dr. Blevins completed his doctoral studies in theology and cultural studies while at Emory, where he joined the faculty at the Candler School of Theology in 2006.  Since 2009, he has been on the faculty at the Rollins School of Publci Health at Emory where he coordinates the Interfaith Health Program and works on various global health projects in maternal and child health, HIV, and sexual and reproductive health that are carried out in collaboration with religious leaders and faith communities.