Kimberly S. Johnson, MD, MHS, Brenda E. Armstrong, MD Distinguished Professor of Medicine, has been selected by the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine to receive the 2026 State of the Science in Palliative Care Research Mentoring Award for her groundbreaking contributions to palliative care research and mentorship.
Dr. Johnson’s particular focus is on advancing equity in serious illness care.
For more than two decades, she has conducted high-impact research examining disparities in palliative and end-of-life care, generating over $60 million in continuous funding and producing more than 100 peer-reviewed publications that have been cited over 11,000 times.
Her early work, including a landmark study on the influence of spiritual beliefs on treatment preferences among African Americans, remains foundational in the field.
Equally impactful is Dr. Johnson’s mentorship. She has guided over 25 early-career investigators across disciplines and institutions, supporting mentees in securing K Awards, R01s, and leadership roles. Her approach combines authenticity, generosity, and rigor — providing hands-on guidance in research methods, grant writing, and manuscript development, while fostering resilience and independence.
Through her mentorship, she has created a multiplier effect, cultivating a generation of scholars dedicated to advancing patient-centered care.
Dr. Johnson’s national leadership further underscores her influence. As Director of Duke’s REACH Equity Center, Associate Director of the Pepper Center Research Education Core, and co-Director of the Duke CTSA KL2 program, she has built infrastructure supporting over 60 early-career investigators, promoting excellence in palliative care research.
She also leads initiatives to improve serious illness care for African Americans through CAPC and the trans-NIH ASCENT consortium. A visionary researcher, educator, and mentor, Dr. Johnson exemplifies the integration of scholarship, and mentorship, shaping both the field of palliative care and the next generation of leaders.
The mentoring award recognizes prominent senior scientists in palliative and hospice care who have demonstrated a sustained, high-impact program of research that has promoted the development of other researchers in the area, visionary leadership on a national level to advance early career palliative care scientists, and inspirational mentorship.
AHPM is the professional organization for physicians specializing in hospice and palliative medicine, nurses, and other healthcare providers. Since 1988, the Academy has dedicated itself to advancing hospice and palliative medicine and improving the care of patients with serious illness.