Ronn Johnson, PhD

Research summary

Dr. Ronn Johnson is a clinical health and transplant psychologist whose research focuses on prevention-oriented behavioral interventions that improve adherence, resilience, and clinical outcomes among medically complex and historically underserved organ transplant patients. His work examines how psychosocial risk factors such as substance instability, untreated mental health conditions, structural inequities, and weak social support affect transplant readiness and long-term outcomes, and how early behavioral microinterventions can mitigate these risks before complications emerge.

His research integrates prevention science, cultural safety, and interprofessional care models to develop practical tools for transplant teams, including psychosocial risk assessments, self-efficacy–based adherence strategies, and culturally responsive interventions for Indigenous, First Nations, and Métis patients. The goal is to translate prevention theory into actionable clinical frameworks that improve patient outcomes while strengthening equity in complex medical systems.

Research themes

Dr. Ronn Johnson’s research program focuses on advancing equitable, culturally responsive clinical health psychology practices within organ transplantation. His work integrates behavioral medicine, transplant psychology, and interprofessional care models to improve outcomes for diverse and historically underserved patient populations. His primary research interests include:

1. Alternative addiction care models in transplantation
   Developing and evaluating culturally responsive addiction care models for Indigenous, First Nations, and Métis transplant candidates and recipients. This work examines how alternative treatment approaches, community partnerships, and culturally grounded recovery frameworks influence transplant candidacy decisions, adherence, and long-term graft outcomes.
    
2. Ethical and legal issues in transplant psychology
   Examining complex ethical, forensic, and legal challenges that arise in the provision of clinical health psychological services to diverse transplant candidates and recipients. This research addresses distributive justice, decision-making capacity, risk stratification, informed consent, and culturally sensitive psychosocial assessment within transplant systems.
    
3. Microinterventions and interprofessional care in transplant settings
   Evaluating the clinical effectiveness of brief, targeted behavioral microinterventions such as teach-back communication, self-advocacy training, mindfulness-based coping, addiction stabilization strategies, and self-efficacy enhancement delivered through interprofessional transplant care teams. This line of research investigates how structured microinterventions can improve adherence, psychological resilience, and patient engagement across diverse transplant populations.

Keywords

• addictions
• diverse patients
• organ transplantation

Research groups

Leader, Transplant Psychology

Research affiliations

Co-applicant, McGill University

Dr. Ronn Johnson is a clinical health psychologist whose professional career has centered on advancing integrated behavioral health, prevention science, and culturally responsive care within academic medicine and complex healthcare systems. His work spans clinical service, program development, teaching, and professional leadership.

Across these roles, he has focused on strengthening collaboration between psychology and other health professions while addressing the needs of diverse and medically vulnerable populations. His career has involved building new clinical programs, mentoring trainees and early-career professionals, and contributing to national professional organizations committed to advancing psychology in healthcare settings.

Dr. Johnson has received numerous recognitions that reflect contributions across scholarship, teaching, service, and leadership. These include the Distinguished Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award from the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers, the Excellence in Scholarly Activity Award from the Department of Family & Community Medicine at Creighton University, and the CommonSpirit Health Physician Enterprise Vision Award. He has also been recognized for excellence in clinical supervision through the Golden Couch Award from the Department of Psychiatry and for community engagement through the Social Innovation Challenge Award and the American Counseling Association Service Recognition.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Johnson received multiple first-place and other presentation awards from the American Academy for the Advancement of Science – Pacific Division for graduate research in psychology, as well as service recognition from the American Board of Professional Psychology and the Southern California American Indian Resource Center. Additional honors include the Dave Baker Alumni Award from Southern Nazarene University, the Outstanding Teaching Award in Clinical Mental Health from the University of San Diego School of Education and Leadership, and the Best Strategic Partnership Award from the National Association of Service and Conservation Corps. These recognitions reflect a longstanding commitment to advancing psychology through clinical innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and service to professional and community organizations.

Education

• PhD Oklahoma State University
• MA, Chapman University
• M. Ed. University of Central Oklahoma
• MA, Southern Nazerene University

Awards

Distinguished Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award – Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers

Excellence in Scholarly Activity Award – Department of Family & Community Medicine, Creighton University

CommonSpirit Health Physician Enterprise Vision Award

Golden Couch Award – Department of Psychiatry (recognized as psychotherapy supervisor)

Social Innovation Challenge Awardee

American Counseling Association Service Recognition

American Academy for the Advancement of Science – Pacific Division – Psychology – Graduate Student Presentation Award (1st Place), Las Vegas, NV

American Board of Professional Psychology Service Recognition

American Academy for the Advancement of Science – Pacific Division – Psychology – Graduate Student Presentation Awards (1st and 2nd Place), Boise, ID

Service Award – Southern California American Indian Resource Center (SCAIR)

Dave Baker Alumni Award – Southern Nazarene University

American Academy for the Advancement of Science – Pacific Division – Psychology – Graduate Student Presentation Awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place), San Diego, CA

Outstanding Teaching Award, Clinical Mental Health – University of San Diego, School of Education and Leadership

Best Strategic Partnership Award – National Association of Service and Conservation Corps (NASCC) Annual Forum, Washington, DC

Irvine Fellow – University of San Diego