Karen C. Johnson facts for kids

Karen C. Johnson is a smart doctor and researcher who helps people stay healthy. She works at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC). She leads the Department of Preventive Medicine there. Dr. Johnson has been part of at least five big health studies around the world. She is known as one of the world's most-cited scientists. This means her work is often used and referenced by other scientists.

About Karen C. Johnson

Karen Lynn Chandler was born in Memphis, Tennessee. She grew up in Memphis. She went to Lambuth University and earned her first college degree in 1978. Later, she became a doctor at the University of Tennessee in 1985. She also earned a special degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. In 1990, she started working at the UTHSC. She has been there ever since. Dr. Johnson has two children, Caitlin and Justin.

Important Health Studies

Dr. Johnson has helped raise a lot of money for important health studies. She has brought in about $40 million for five big research projects. These studies help us learn how to keep people healthy.

Women's Health Initiative

One of her projects is called the Women's Health Initiative. It started in 1993. This study looks at diseases that affect women. More than 160,000 women have been part of this study. One finding was that women who drink two or more diet soft drinks every day might have a higher risk of heart problems. This is compared to women who drink them rarely or not at all.

SPRINT Trial

Another important study Dr. Johnson worked on was the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). This study finished in 2015. It found that taking steps to lower blood pressure can greatly reduce health risks. It showed that controlling blood pressure levels is very important.

Look AHEAD Study

Dr. Johnson also leads the Look AHEAD Study. This study started in 2001. It is for people with type 2 diabetes. The study checks if losing weight and being more active can prevent heart attacks. It also looks at other heart problems. The study paused in 2012 because early results were not as expected. But changes were made, and the study continued in 2014.

TARGIT Study

In 2012, Dr. Johnson started a study called TARGIT. This stands for "Treating Adults at Risk for Weight Gain with Interactive Technology." The study used iPod apps to help people stop smoking. It also tried to prevent them from gaining weight when they quit. The study finished in 2017. It found that using technology for this program did not prevent long-term weight gain.

D2d Trial

In 2014, she began working on the D2d Trial. This study looked at vitamin D and type 2 diabetes. The goal was to see if taking vitamin D could lower the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. The study ended in 2020. It did not find strong proof that vitamin D intake lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes.

The Quit Forever App

In 2011, the UTHSC released an iPhone app. It is called "Quit Forever." This app helps people stop smoking for good. It gives them methods and instructions to quit. Dr. Johnson said the app helps share what they know about health. It uses social media and technology to reach many people. The app also teaches about the dangers of smoking. This includes both first-hand and second-hand smoke.

Dr. Johnson's Career

Dr. Johnson started working at UTHSC in 1990. From 2010 to 2014, she was the temporary head of the Department of Preventive Medicine. She was named one of the most important scientific publishers in the world. In 2019, she became the official chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at UTHSC.

Awards and Recognition

In 2014, Dr. Johnson received a special award. It was the Kathryn Sullivan Bowld Endowment Fund Professorship in Women's Health. She got this award from the College of Medicine at UTHSC. She was honored for her great research. She also has a national reputation. She is known for working well with others on projects.