Maria Oliva-Hemker, MD

Description

Dr. Maria Oliva-Hemker is the inaugural Stermer Family Professor of Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Professor of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She specializes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and a wide range of pediatric gastrointestinal conditions.  From 2008-2025, Dr. Oliva led the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. Under her leadership, the division tripled in faculty size, significantly expanded its clinical services and strengthened its research and education programs. In 2021 Dr. Oliva was named Vice Dean for Faculty where she leads an office that supports approximately 5000 full- and part-time faculty in the School of Medicine. Dr. Oliva earned her medical degree from Johns Hopkins, where she also completed her pediatrics residency and a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology before joining the faculty. She is the founder of the Hopkins Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Center which has provided comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment for thousands of children and teens with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis from across the United States and around the world. An active clinical researcher, Dr. Oliva-Hemker has contributed hundreds of publications and presentations, including invited talks to national and international audiences. She has held leadership roles in organizations including the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Sub-board of Pediatric Gastroenterology of the American Board of Pediatrics, the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation Board of Trustees and the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. She is also editor-in-chief of the book Your Child with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Family Guide for Caregiving (Johns Hopkins University Press). Respected by colleagues for her clinical expertise, Dr. Oliva provides second opinions for patients across the U.S. and abroad. She sees patients in clinic, performs endoscopic procedures and cares for hospitalized patients on the pediatric gastroenterology inpatient and consult services, while teaching medical students, residents and fellows. She has been recognized as a “Top Doctor” by multiple regional and national organizations, including a cover feature in Baltimore Magazine’s 2013 Top Doctors issue. Her many honors include the Murray Davidson Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics which recognizes an outstanding clinician, educator and scientist who has made a significant contribution to the field of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition.