With over three decades of progressive leadership in emergency medical services, critical care transport, and health-system strategy, Steve Johnson is a DNP-prepared clinician, educator, and healthcare executive committed to advancing high-quality, community-centered healthcare.

His career spans service as Chief Flight Paramedic with UNC Carolina AirCare, Flight Nurse with Duke LifeFlight, Director of Government Affairs for a national air medical aviation company, board member with the Association of Air Medical Services, and Board Chair of the North Carolina Paramedic Association.

He has driven statewide and national initiatives involving academic medical centers, neurosciences program development, telehealth expansion, and community risk reduction.

As an educator, he has taught at the university and community college levels -including his current full-time position as faculty and Emergency Medical Care Distance Program Director at Western Carolina – and has served as an instructor for the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

His scholarly work focuses on fall prevention among older adults, systems-based practice, and innovative, community-paramedicine-driven models of care. Drawing on deep operational, clinical, and policy expertise, he brings a collaborative, systems-oriented approach to improving population health and preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.