Dr. Lauren E. Berninger

Dr. Lauren Berninger is an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and associate program director for the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Program. Dr. Berninger received her undergraduate degree in political science from Bucknell University and her medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed internal medicine residency training at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, where she also served as chief resident. Dr. Berninger is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship Training Program. Dr. Berninger's professional interests lie at the intersection of palliative medicine and clinical ethics. She holds a master's degree in bioethics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health and is an active member of the Johns Hopkins Hospital ethics committee. Dr. Berninger is committed to medical education with a focus on advanced communication skills and complex-symptom management for patients with serious and life-limiting illnesses. She co-directs the medical school's TIME Palliative Care and End-of-Life Course and is dedicated to the clinical teaching of learners at all levels of training. Dr. Berninger embraces a humanistic, patient, and family-centered approach to care and is the recipient of the 2023 Clinical Excellence Award for best consulting physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Selected Publications Youssef SW, Berninger LE, Doberman DJ. Evaluation of Required End-Of-Life (EOL) Ethics Content in the Ten Residency Programs Offering Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. Published online April 2, 2025. McGeehan CB, Berninger LE. Autonomous by Extension: Balancing Patient Autonomy and Vulnerability in Surrogate Decision-making. AACN Adv Crit Care. 2024 Sep 15;35(3):228-237. Berninger, LE, Corey Tapper Opioid Rotation: Considerations, Controversy, and Clinical Practice #440. J Pall Med 2022. Wang, Eric, Berninger, LE, Olga Komargodski, Thomas Smith. Painful Diabetic Neuropathy: Spinal Cord Stimulation, Peripheral Nerve Stimulation, Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and Scrambler Therapy: A Narrative Review. Pain Physician. 2022 Nov;25(8): E1163-E1173. Wang EJ, Berninger LE, Pantelyat AY, Hunsberger JB, Smith TJ. Scrambler Therapy for the Treatment of Multiple System Atrophy-Parkinsonian Subtype Pain: A Case Report. A A Pract. 2022 Jan 18;16(1):e01560. Berninger LE, Smith TJ, Scrambler therapy for incident pain in bone metastases. J Osteopathic Med. 2021; 121 (6) 539-542. Courses & Syllabi Co-director: TIME Palliative Care and End of Life Course.

Her clinical expertise encompasses Chronic Pain.

Dr. Berninger is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine. She is actively involved in clinical research, co-authoring 7 peer reviewed articles.