Pamela Jo Johnson

Special Assistant to the Dean

Staff

Deans Office, Health and Human Sciences

Dr. Pamela Jo Johnson

Pamela Jo Johnson, MPH, PhD, FACE is a professor of public health and Special Assistant to the Dean in the College of Health & Human Sciences. In this role, she works with the Dean on College initiatives and priorities, drawing on more than 20 years of experience in public health, health services research, healthcare delivery systems, and higher education.

Dr. Johnson has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as Chair of the NDSU Department of Public Health for the past seven years. As a health services epidemiologist, she studied disparities in access, use, and delivery of health services including complementary and alternative medicine. Her work has focused on improving population health and wellbeing through research, program development, community and healthcare partnerships, and the translation of evidence into practice. She has extensive experience working across disciplines and with healthcare delivery, public health organizations, community partners, and other stakeholders.

As Special Assistant to the Dean, Dr. Johnson will work closely with Dean Conner on new College initiatives as well as continue to support the development of the new School of Health Systems & Innovation. She looks forward to bringing people and ideas together, supporting collaborative initiatives, and helping move important work from ideas to implementation.

Education

  • 2004-2005, Post-Doctoral Fellowship, Health Services Research/Survey Research, University of Minnesota
  • 2004, Doctor of Philosophy, Epidemiology, University of Minnesota
  • 1999, Master of Public Health, Community Health Education, University of Minnesota
  • 1995, Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, University of Minnesota

Publications

Selected Publications (of 64)
h-index = 32; i-10 index = 56

Complete list: Google Scholar

  1. Jou J, *Hicks A, Johnson PJ. (2025). Mental health and employment outcomes in working-age U.S. adults, 2010-2019. Occupational Medicine, 75(6): 304–312.
  2. *Leininger B, Johnson PJ, Bronfort G, Kuntz K, Enns E, Hodges J, Evans R. (2024). How well do participants in clinical trials represent the U.S. population with chronic neck or back pain? BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25(1):414.
  3. Jou J, Upchurch D, Johnson PJ. (2023). Delayed and forgone care in US adults living with family members with serious health needs. Families, Systems, & Health, 41(3), 320–331.
  4. Johnson PJ, Jou J Upchurch D. (2022). Unmet healthcare needs among midlife adults with mental distress and multiple chronic conditions. Aging and Mental Health, 26(4):775-783.
  5. Johnson PJ, Jou J Upchurch D. (2020). Psychological distress and access to care among midlife women. Journal of Aging and Health, 32(5-6):317-327.
  6. Johnson PJ, Jou J Upchurch D. (2019). Healthcare disparities among US women of reproductive age by level of psychological distress. Journal of Women’s Health, 28(9):1286-1294.
  7. Johnson PJ, Jou J, Rockwood TH, Upchurch D. (2019). Perceived benefit of using complementary and alternative medicine by race/ethnicity in midlife and older adults in the US. Journal of Aging and Health, 31(8):1376-1397.
  8. Johnson PJ, O’Brien M, Orionzi D, Trahan L, Rockwood T. (2019). A pilot in community-based diabetes self-management support for patients at an urban primary care clinic. Diabetes Spectrum, 32(2):157-163.
  9. Rhee TG, Evans R, McAlpine D, Johnson PJ. (2017). Racial/ethnic differences in the use of complementary and alternative medicine in US adults with moderate mental distress: results from National Health Interview Survey. J of Primary Care & Community Health, 8(2):43-54.
  10. Johnson PJ, Jou J, Rhee G, Rockwood TH, Upchurch D. (2016). Complementary health approaches for health and wellness in midlife and older US adults. Maturitas, 89:36-42.
  11. Johnson PJ, Kozhimannil KB, Jou J, Ghildayal N, Rockwood TH. (2016). Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among women of reproductive age in the United States. Women’s Health Issues, 26(1):40-47.
  12. Johnson PJ, Ghildayal N, Rockwood TH, Everson-Rose SA. (2014). Differences in diabetes self-care activities by race/ethnicity and insulin use. The Diabetes Educator, 40(6):767-777.
  13. Gjerdingen D, McGovern P, Attanasio L, Johnson PJ, Kozhimannil KB. (2014). Maternal depressive symptoms, employment, and social support. JABFM, 7(1):87-96.
  14. Johnson PJ, Blewett LA, Call KT, Davern ME. (2010). American Indian/Alaska Native uninsurance disparities: A comparison of 3 surveys. American Journal of Public Health, 100(10):1972-79.
  15. Johnson PJ, Carlson KF, Hearst MO. (2010). Healthcare disparities for American Indian veterans in the United States: A population-based study. Medical Care, 48(6):563-569.
  16. Johnson PJ, Call KT, Blewett LA.(2010). The importance of geographic data aggregation in assessing disparities in American Indian prenatal care. American Journal of Public Health, 100(1):122-128.
  17. Johnson PJ, Oakes JM, Anderton DL. (2008). Neighborhood poverty and American Indian infant death: are the effects identifiable? Annals ofEpidemiology, 18(7):552-559.