Rear Admiral Dr. Joyce M. Johnson
Rear Admiral (Ret.), U.S. Public Health Service
watch - A Lecture by Rear Admiral Dr. Joyce M. Johnson »
Biography
Upon being appointed chief medical officer and surgeon general for the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) in 1997, Dr. Joyce M. Johnson became the first woman in history to hold such a post. She is also the first woman to attain flag rank on active duty with the USCG. Dr. Johnson formerly held positions within the Food and Drug Administration and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as well as within the Veterans Administration, the National Institute of Mental Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Currently, Dr. Johnson is the Vice President of Health Sciences in the Health and Life Sciences Division of Battelle Memorial Institute, the world’s largest non-profit research and development organization.Dr. Johnson has periodically acted as a medical volunteer with the group DOCARE International, with whom she has worked in four countries. She is an Addiction Specialist and Food Service Executive. Along with her medical degree, Dr. Johnson has a master’s degree in Hospital and Health Administration, as well as a number of honorary degrees in a multitude of disciplines.
Dr. Johnson is also she composes the ‘Ask the Doctor’ column for the Military Officer magazine, and has also edited the book, “The Ship’s Medical Chest and Medical Aid at Sea.”
