Dr. Ethel D. Weld, MD, PhD, is a physician-scientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine whose work focuses on infectious diseases, clinical pharmacology, HIV treatment, and innovative approaches to drug delivery. Her career combines patient-oriented research with an important goal: developing treatments that can be easier for patients to use and sustain.
Weld is an internist-pediatrician with specialized training in clinical pharmacology and infectious diseases. She earned her medical degree from the University of Chicago and completed fellowship training at Johns Hopkins. She joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2016 and is now an associate professor.
Her research focuses on improving treatment options for people living with HIV, HIV and tuberculosis co-infection, and children affected by drug-resistant tuberculosis. A major area of interest is developing therapies that do not necessarily require patients to take medication every day.
This work is important because adherence can be one of the biggest challenges in long-term treatment. Weld has therefore investigated long-acting and alternative drug-delivery strategies, including injectable antiretroviral therapies and other approaches designed to make treatment more practical for patients.
Her work has remained particularly active in 2026. She was selected as a Johns Hopkins Center for Innovative Medicine Next Generation Scholar, recognizing her contributions to research, education, and clinical medicine.
She has also contributed to current discussions surrounding long-acting HIV treatments. In 2026, Weld was involved in research examining priorities, efficacy, safety considerations, and emerging technologies for long-acting therapies in maternal health.
Her expertise has also led to an active role in medical education. A 2026 Johns Hopkins HIV medicine course includes Weld teaching a module on treatment optimization and long-acting injectables.
Weld’s expertise extends to national HIV policy and clinical guidance as well. She is listed as a member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services panel responsible for guidelines concerning antiretroviral therapy and medical management of children living with HIV.
What makes Dr. Weld’s work particularly notable is its focus on making medical treatments fit patients’ real lives. Her research recognizes that an effective therapy must not only work scientifically but also be practical, acceptable, and easier to maintain.
Through research into long-acting therapies, infectious diseases, clinical pharmacology, and patient-centered treatment strategies, Dr. Ethel D. Weld is helping advance the future of HIV care. Her combination of clinical expertise, research leadership, and commitment to innovative treatment approaches makes her a compelling physician to feature as a medical mover and shaker.
