Kimberly Sherell Johnson
· Brenda E. Armstrong, M. D. Distinguished ProfessorDuke University · Business Administration
Active 1979–2026
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About
Kimberly Sherell Johnson is a distinguished professor in the Department of Medicine, specializing in Geriatrics and Palliative Care at Duke University. She has held the position of Professor of Medicine since 2020 and is a senior fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development since 2002. Her research focuses on issues related to aging, serious illness, and end-of-life care, with particular attention to disparities in clinical care and decision-making processes among diverse populations. Johnson is actively involved in advancing palliative care science, as evidenced by her role as Principal Investigator in NIH-funded research projects, including the ASCENT Consortium aimed at supporting palliative care research across the lifespan. She has contributed to the academic community through her publications on medical decision-making, advance care planning, and disparities in healthcare, and she is a member of the Duke Cancer Institute. Her work emphasizes improving patient-centered care and addressing disparities in clinical decision-making for seriously ill and aging populations.
Research topics
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Political Science
- Internal medicine
- Psychology
- Virology
- Intensive care medicine
- Gerontology
- Medical emergency
Selected publications
Actualizing Better Health And Health Care For Older Adults
Health Affairs · 2021 · 278 citations
Senior authorCorrespondingBy 2030 more people in the United States will be older than age sixty-five than younger than age five. Our health care system is unprepared for the complexity of caring for a heterogenous population of older adults-a problem that has been magnified by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Here, as part of the National Academy of Medicine's Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 initiative, we identify six vital directions to improve the care and quality of l…
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2021 · 107 citations
Abstract Background Presently a median of 37.5% of the U.S. skilled nursing facility (SNF) workforce has been vaccinated for COVID‐19. It is essential to understand vaccine hesitancy among SNF workers to inform vaccine campaigns going forward. Objective To describe the concerns raised among healthcare workers and staff from SNFs during town hall meetings. Design Sixty‐three SNFs from four corporations were invited to send Opinion Leaders, outspoken staff from nursing, nurse aid, dietary, houseke…
JAMA Network Open · 2022 · 33 citations
Importance: Palliative care consultations in intensive care units (ICUs) are increasingly prompted by clinical characteristics associated with mortality or resource utilization. However, it is not known whether these triggers reflect actual palliative care needs. Objective: To compare unmet needs by clinical palliative care trigger status (present vs absent). Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study was conducted in 6 adult medical and surgical ICUs in academic and commun…
Evaluation of Reporting of Race and Ethnicity in Hospice and Palliative Care Research
Journal of Palliative Medicine · 2025-05-26 · 3 citations
article1st authorCorrespondingThe disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on marginalized communities due to structural racism has led to an increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical literature. To assess pre-pandemic racial and ethnic representation among subjects in palliative care research, we examined the reporting of race and ethnicity in research presented at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association State of the Science (SOS) ple…
Annals of the American Thoracic Society · 2025-06-06 · 2 citations
articleAbstract Rationale Lifetime trauma is common and may affect interactions with the healthcare system. Objectives To measure the prevalence of lifetime trauma and its association with family–clinician interpersonal outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in nine ICUs in one urban and one suburban–rural health system. Participants were Black or White surrogate decision makers for mechanically ventilated patients. Independent variables were the number…
Recent grants
Implementing best practice in palliative care
NIH · $2.5M · 2013–2018
NIH · $1.0M · 2016
Duke Center for REsearch to AdvanCe Healthcare Equity (REACH EQUITY)
NIH · $17.5M · 2017–2024
Frequent coauthors
- 63 shared
Maren K. Olsen
Durham VA Medical Center
- 58 shared
Leoh Leon
University of Central Florida
- 49 shared
Latha Ganti
- 49 shared
Dipal Shah
- 49 shared
Helene Koumans
Florida College
- 46 shared
Karen E. Steinhauser
Duke University
- 42 shared
Susan N. Hastings
Durham VA Health Care System
- 40 shared
Heather E. Whitson
Duke University
Awards & honors
- Duke Awards 32 New Distinguished Professorships for 2024
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