On May 19, 2025 the School of Pharmacy welcomed their new Assistant Professor, Dr. D. Chad Johnson, who specializes in social and administrative sciences. These last few months he's been getting settled in and we wanted to catch up with him and learn more about who he is, his interests and what brought him to °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ.
Q. Tell us a little about your background, both personally and professionally prior to becoming a faculty member here at °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ School of Pharmacy.
A. Although I consider myself a Portlander, having moved here in the early 2000's, much of my identity is rooted in my childhood where I spent my time exploring the woodlands, lakes and rivers surrounding my small, rural Midwestern community. Similarly, much of my early career was spent exploring different areas of healthcare, beginning in college as a student athletic trainer and expanding to include roles as a clinical and public health research coordinator, a health systems researcher, nursing school, non-profit leadership, and health workforce planning and development, all before joining °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ School of Pharmacy. Those early explorations exposed me to the shortcomings of our healthcare system, which led me to pursue a degree in public health with a focus on health management and policy, followed by a doctoral degree in health systems and policy. My scholarly work examines the system- and community-level structures of healthcare that influence the overall health and well-being of our community.
Q. What about °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ led you to wanting to join our team?
A. Of all the reasons I am excited to be part of the °ÅÀÖÊÓƵ School of Pharmacy (SOP), foremost is the opportunity to be part of a community that actively seeks to innovate the education and training of health professionals. SOP was the first in the Pacific Northwest to offer an accelerated three-year PharmD pathway and, most recently, became the first accredited PharmD Program in the United States that offers an extended five-year PharmD pathway, designed to provide more flexibility and access for students. This spirit of modernization extends to my own full-time appointment as a non-pharmacist. SOP's leadership sees value in students being taught by a non-pharmacist expert in the social and administrative sciences (SAS) as preparation for practice within a complex and dynamic healthcare landscape.
Q. As you enter the beginning of the 25/26 academic year, what excites you the most about the upcoming School year?
A. There is a particular sense of delight in witnessing the moment when a spark of passion ignites in someone during a learning activity. In my past work with health workforce pathway exploration programs, I observed this spark emerge in high school students as they learned about a health profession and could suddenly envision themselves in that future role. I look forward to seeing similar sparks ignite in my students during lectures, such as those on SWOT analysis, epidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, and value-based payment models, as well as utilizing this knowledge in the future as a practicing pharmacist.
Q. Tell us some fun facts about yourself personally! What's your favorite movie and why?
A. Shaun of the Dead is one of my favorites because it is so well-written, entertaining, and holds many applicable lessons for modern daily life, such as the perils of comfort and the importance of flexible planning.
Q. What was the title of the last book you read?
A. "Notes on Complexity: A Scientific Theory of Connection, Consciousness, and Being" by Neil Theise.
Q. What are some of your favorite hobbies?
A. Reading, walking among the trees at Forest Park, and learning new things.
Q. What would you say is your favorite color?
A. Definitely the darker hues of blue.
Q. Last, but not least, what is your favorite animal?
A. My dog is by far, my favorite animal!
- Written by Amber H. Hieb, BA | Senior Manager of Administrative Operations | School of Pharmacy