Claire Johnson, DC, MSEd, PhD, DACBSP, FICC was first introduced to chiropractic at 17 years old when she had her first adjustment. While she was pursuing her bachelor’s degree at the University of California in San Diego, her interest in becoming a chiropractor grew as she realized she enjoyed helping people become more functional.
“One of the main events that confirmed my career path was when I had a health problem that no health provider was able to figure out except for a chiropractor,” Dr. Johnson said. “It was very powerful to be healed by someone just using his hands.”
In 1991, she earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Southern California University of Health Sciences. She went on to obtain a diplomate of the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians in 1997, a master’s degree in health professions education from the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California’s Department of Medical Education in 2000, and a doctorate in public health (epidemiology) from Walden University in 2016.
“I really enjoy learning and feel most comfortable when I am being challenged to solve problems or create products,” Dr. Johnson said. “All of my degrees have given me different perspectives that have allowed me to grow as a practitioner and instructor.”
Dr. Johnson recently joined Logan University as an adjunct faculty member, teaching the public health course for Logan’s Master of Science in Chiropractic Pediatrics (MS-CP) program. Passionate about educating health care professionals, she is also a professor at the National University of Health Sciences and serves as the editor in chief for three scientific, peer reviewed journals: Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, and Journal of Chiropractic Humanities.
As a practicing chiropractor, she provides per diem care for Scripps Health Inpatient Providers Medical Group in an interdisciplinary, on-site wellness center at the Qualcomm Health Center in San Diego, California. Involved in numerous professional chiropractic organizations, Dr. Johnson is the chair of the Public Health Committee of the World Federation of Chiropractic (WFC) where she recently led the development of several public health position statements. Dr. Johnson also founded the Chiropractic Educators Research Forum, an international entity that increases scholarship and research capacity for chiropractic educators. Her personal research interests lie in health promotion and injury prevention.
“Teaching has been rewarding because I enjoy seeing positive change,” Dr. Johnson said. “There is no other pediatric program like the MS-CP at Logan, and I am excited to be sharing my point of view with these students. I view my role as a mentor as one of the most cherished contributions to the future of our profession.”