Ms. Johnson has been with NCI for one year and is working with colleagues within the Office of Education and Special Initiatives (OESI) to provide new direction to and strengthen the science and evidence base within NCI's educational programs and materials. Prior to arriving at NCI, Ms. Johnson directed efforts funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in support of activities of state health agencies in the areas of health promotion and chronic disease prevention. As the Program Director for the Association for State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health Education, she provided oversight for several initiatives, including, but not limited to, minority health and reducing health disparities, global surveillance of health risk behaviors, broadening states' capacity for social marketing, and capacity building for health promotion and public health education. Ms. Johnson's previous experiences include work at the national and local levels to translate health information through materials, messages, and interventions in order to reach the most vulnerable populations. Such efforts have been implemented through the Lombardi Cancer Center in Washington, DC, American Association for Health Education, American Public Health Association, and partnership efforts with community-based organizations.
At NCI, Ms. Johnson serves as Acting Director of the OESI and provides oversight for the development of materials for patients, their families, and caregivers. A major focus for the current fiscal year is palliative care. The Branches of OESI are working collaboratively to ensure that issues related to palliative care across the cancer continuum are addressed within NCI's products, materials, and programs.
