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Kirk Johnson
Assistant Professor, Justice Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Office:
- Dickson Hall
- Email:
- johnsonki@montclair.edu
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Dr. Kirk A Johnson (he/him/his) is an Assistant Professor of Justice Studies and Medical Humanities. He received his BA in Religious Studies from Seton Hall University, Masters of Divinity (MDiv) from Drew Theological School, and his Doctorate in Medical Humanities (DMH) from Drew University. He is a member of the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities. He serves as a member of the Atlantic Health Systems Bioethics Committee, former Assistant Director of the Medical Humanities program at Drew University, and fellow emeritus of The American Heart Association’s Multicultural Initiatives Leadership Fellowship Program.
Dr. Johnson has published articles in peer-reviewed journals and upcoming contributions to numerous books. His recent books are "The Anti-Racism Resource Guide Volume One: Supporting Black Businesses and Economics" (Peculiar Capital, 2020) and “Medical Stigmata: Race, Medicine, and the Pursuit of Theological Liberation” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2018). He is the co-host of the "Bioethics in the Margins" podcast series. He is an ordained clergy in the United Church of Christ (UCC) where he serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the UCC's Central Atlantic Conference, Secretary of the UCC Central Atlantic Conference’s New Jersey Association, a member of the Summit Interfaith Council Anti-Racism Committee, and creator of the “Race Talk: Origins” and “Race Talk: Systems” courses.
Courses Offered at MSU:
JUST 205 Perspectives on Justice Studies
JUST 209 Environmental Crime
JUST 314 Environmental Justice
JUST 398 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Seminar
JUST 403 Seminar on Gender & Crime
JUST 497 Senior Seminar & Internship
MEDH 101 Introduction to Medical Humanities
MEDH 491 Medical Humanities Capstone
RELG 221 Religion and Culture
RELG 100 Religions of the World
RELG 232 Body and Soul
RELG 386/HONP 301 Religion and Race
PUBLICATIONS
“Student Nurses’ Perceptions of the Root Causes of Health Care Disparities” Journal of Nursing Education and Practice. January 2026, Vol. 16, No. 1.
“Viral Reflections: Fear and Biological Misappropriations Toward Asians and Pacific Islanders.” Journal of Language, Literature, and Interdisciplinary Studies. June 2024, Volume 100, Issue 2
“Prayer: A Helpful Aid in Recovery from Depression.” Journal of Religion and Health. December 2018, Volume 57, Issue 6, 2290–2300.
“A Black Theological Response to Race-Based Medicine: Reconciliation in Minority Communities.” Journal of Religion and Health (June 2017): Volume 56, Issue 3, 1096–1110.
Other Scholarly Publications
“Food Deserts: Health Disparities & Health Solutions” Synapsis: A Health Humanities Journal (March 2024) https://medicalhealthhumanities.com/2024/03/11/food-deserts-health-disparities-health-solutions/
“Inclusive Approaches to Redevelop Medical Textbooks” Synapsis: A Health Humanities Journal (November 2023)
https://medicalhealthhumanities.com/2023/11/29/inclusive-approaches-to-redevelop-medical-textbooks/
“Equitable Representation in Medical Textbooks” Synapsis: A Health Humanities Journal (October 2023)
https://medicalhealthhumanities.com/2023/10/16/equitable-representation-in-medical-textbooks/
“Historical Sketch: Breaking Down Racial Barriers” PFO: Healthcare Professionalism Education, Assessment, Remediation & Research. (September 2023) Volume 6, Issue 10
“Exploring Social Determinants of Health: COVID-19 Vaccine Challenges and Solutions in Communities of Color.” Review & Expositor.119, no. 1-2 (2022): 41-49.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/00346373221133749
Books
The Anti-Racism Resource Guide Volume One: Supporting Black Businesses and Economics. Peculiar Capital, December 2020. ISBN: 979-8577188269
Medical Stigmata: Race, Medicine, and the Pursuit of Theological Liberation. Palgrave Macmillan, October 2019. ISBN: 978-981-13-2991-3
Book Chapters
“Race-Based Medicine (Race-Based Therapeutics).” Palgrave Encyclopedia of Health Humanities. Palgrave Macmillan. December 27, 2025. 1st ed. 2026 (ISBN: 978-3031326035)
“Who Do We Serve? Who Do We Protect? Abolitionist Approaches to Medicine and Health
Care, and What Academic Librarianship Needs to Know.” Intersections in Healing
Academic Libraries and the Health Humanities. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, May 2024. (ISBN: 978-1-5381-7132-5)
“Racial Equity: A pedagogical approach.” Transforming Health Care Education:Applied Lessons Leading to a Deeper Moral Reflection. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, March 2020.
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“Implementing Racial Equity Training in Medical School Curriculum.” Transforming Health Care Education:Applied Lessons Leading to a Deeper Moral Reflection. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, March 2020.
Specialization
Religion and Medicine
Ethics/Bioethics
Race and Medicine
Health Disparities
Physician-Patient Relationship