TRAILBLAZER

Chris Johnson is a Staff Physician at Allina Health & an expert in the opioid and heroin epidemic

A widely recognised expert on the opioid and heroin epidemic , Johnson has spoken publicly on the topic , advising healthcare professionals on ways to manage their patient care and answering questions from those working outside of the sector . He has also listened to those who have suffered with addiction , and heard the stories of family members who have been affected by or lost those they love to the disease .

Johnson has called for the medical industry to radically reform for the sake of patient safety . As such , he has spoken at FDA Advisory Committees and legal task forces , as well as with workers ' compensation professionals , law enforcement organisations and patient advocacy groups – supporting the wide range of people seeking change amid this destructive crisis .

A varied education for a career in medicine From 1988 to 1992 , Johnson studied Political Science and Foreign Affairs at the University of Virginia . Later , at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine , Johnson studied healthcare between 1996 and 2000 , going on to become a Doctor of Medicine . Then , from 2000 to 2003 , Johnson undertook an Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Hennepin County Medical Center .

This was then followed up by 12 years working as a staff physician at Methodist Hospital Emergency Center in Greater Minneapolis . “ In addition to achieving competence in managing such a wide array of patient problems , the Emergency Department experience helped me understand that part of my ongoing role as a physician is to be an advocate for the patient ,” said Johnson of his time there .

14 January 2023