Natalie Johnson, DHA

Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs
Advisor, Gold Humanism Honor Society, Paul B. Underwood Chapter
College of Medicine

Dr. Natalie Gamble Johnson is the Associate Dean for Diversity Affairs for the College of Medicine. As the Associate Dean for Diversity, her passion is to increase and enhance diversity among medical students, faculty, residents and staff. The Association of American Medical Colleges reports that MUSC is in the 97th percentile for graduating African-American students.

The work of Dr. Johnson and her colleagues has led to national presentations which broadly discussed the steps to diversifying the physician workforce. She co-authored an article entitled “Improving diversity through strategic planning: a 10-year experience at the Medical University of South Carolina.”   

She also serves as a representative on the national level for the Association of American Medical Colleges as the liaison for the Committee of Student Diversity Affairs and the Committee on Student Affairs.

Dr. Johnson received her bachelor of science degree in Psychology from the College of Charleston, her master of arts degree in Clinical Counseling from Webster University, and her Doctorate of Health Administration degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Her doctoral defense is entitled “The Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Two Pipeline Programs for Matriculation and Retention of Minority Students in a Medical School Program.”

Prior to working for the College of Medicine Dean’s Office, Dr. Johnson worked at the MUSC  Institute of Psychiatry as a research coordinator for adolescents with substance use and psychiatric disorders. She has co-authored several publications in the field of adolescent substance use.

Dr. Johnson was the 2020 recipient of the MUSC Earl B. Higgins Achievement in Diversity Award, and the 2021 recipient of the Community Service Award for Physical and Mental Health, awarded by the North Charleston Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Incorporated.

Dr. Johnson also currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Executive Board for Greg Mathis Charter High School.