Joseph Berman

Joseph I. Berman, MD, MPH, of Frederick, Maryland, passed away on Saturday, December 23rd, 2023, at the age of 88. He is survived by his partner, Johanna Zimmerly; his children, Susan (Larry) Gordon, David (Karen) Berman, and Daniel Berman; his sister, Sylvia Belkin; grandchildren, Elizabeth Gordon, Sarah (Aubrey) Batten, Jeremy Gordon, Abigail Berman and Samuel (Elizabeth) Berman. He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie Freedman Berman and his parents, Morris and Lottie Berman.

Joe was born on July 27, 1935 in Boston, and was the first of two children born to Morris and Lottie Berman. A graduate from the Boston Latin School, Joe went on to obtain his Bachelor of Arts at Clark University, his medical degree at Tufts University, his Master's in Public Health from John Hopkins University and a Master's in Liberal Arts in 2005 from Johns Hopkins University.

Upon completion of his medical internship and residency in Baltimore, Joe and his wife Marjorie remained in Baltimore and raised three children. From 1963 – 1965, Joe and Marjorie were stationed in Toul, France, where Joe was a physician in the Army. Following his Army posting, Joe began his career in Baltimore and began working at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore where he eventually served as the Chief of Community Medicine and the Director of Emergency and Ambulatory Services, while also serving as the Medical Director at the Levindale Hebrew Home and Hospital.

In 1980, Joe followed his work at Sinai with a position as the Deputy Secretary for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, with an emphasis on local health services and health regulation. Numerous jobs followed, including Vice President for Medical Affairs at Wyman Park (MD), President of FreeState Health Plan (MD), and Chief Medical Officer at Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield (OH).

Throughout his career, Joe strove to help those in need. In 2000 he assumed the position of Medical Director for The Office of Health Care Quality (MD). In this role, Joe was responsible for review of quality of care complaints in Maryland HMOs, hospitals, and nursing homes. He also led the effort to enact regulations for Medical Directors and for infection control in long term care facilities. Joe's final job as a physician was at the Frederick Memorial Wound Center, treating patients.

Joe came from modest means, and was a life-long supporter of the underprivileged. He was very passionate about public health, and traveled the world treating people in underdeveloped countries while helping build medical systems to assist those in need. He traveled on medical missions throughout his career, into his late 70's, to Brazil, Uganda, Kenya, The Gambia, India, and Haiti.

Joe had an adventurous spirit, boundless curiosity, and was never idle. He was a voracious reader, and loved learning, gardening, running, sailing, cross country skiing, and whitewater rafting. He was actively involved in Frederick politics where he led the effort to prevent Citizens Montevue from being sold, and with local theater where he helped bring Shakespeare events to the local community. He was a docent at the Civil War Medical Museum in Frederick where he proudly donned his Civil War Medical uniform and gave tours and speeches about the medical problems soldiers encountered during the war.

A memorial service will be held at Temple Isaiah in Fulton, MD at 1:00pm on Friday December 29, 2023. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be sent to the American Jewish World Service, The Dementia Society, Inc. or the Social Action Fund at Temple Isaiah.