2024 Distinguished Teacher-Educator

Nicole Johnson, MSc, MD, FRCPC

Dr. Nicole Johnson is a pediatric rheumatologist practicing at the Alberta Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Associate Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Calgary. She provides excellent clinical care with a strong focus on education for students through to faculty members.

Dr. Johnson has conducted several media appearances advocating for children and youth with rheumatic diseases. She has provided pediatric rheumatology presentations for national and international medical associations. For 10 years, she directed pediatric rheumatology electives for the University of Calgary. She was a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Pediatric Rheumatology examiner. Many of her Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) summer students have been inspired to pursue rheumatology as a career. She is the Evaluation Coordinator for Pediatric Clerkship for Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) and a member of the Student Academic Review Committee for the CSM and has a new position as Associate Director for MD admissions for the CSM. She has received many awards for teaching and education including the 2023 Department of Pediatrics CARE award for Education. Internationally, she is a co-lead for the Collaborative for Professionalism and Faculty Development for the Counsel on Medical Education in Pediatrics.

She has been engaged in anti-Black racism advocacy work. She holds the positions of Co-Curriculum Lead for Post Graduate Medical Education for Racial Equity in Healthcare at the CSM, Chair for the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force for the Canadian Rheumatology Association and Board Executive and Physician Lead for the medical student mentor program for the Black Physicians’ Association of Alberta. Her contributions to inspiring women and girls in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics was recognized by the Calgary Black Achievement Award for STEM from the Calgary Black Chambers in 2021. In 2023 she received the inaugural award for Mentorship from the Black Physicians of Canada.