Susan Johnson, Ph.D. is the Director of Health Promotion at the Medical University of
South Carolina. She is also founder and CEO of Vimcity, LLC, a well-being consulting
firm, S3LF, a community-based worksite well-being app, and co-founder and director of
the South Carolina Healthy Business Challenge. Prior to joining MUSC, Dr. Johnson
held faculty appointments at Duke University, Charleston Southern University and the
Citadel. In her current position, she provides leadership of a comprehensive and
collaborative approach to promoting health to students, employees, patients, and the
external community and holds a faculty appointment in the College of Health
Professions. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North
Carolina, Charlotte, master’s degree from The Citadel and Ph.D. from the University of
South Carolina.
Dr. Johnson has a demonstrated ability to reach across sectors and population groups
to facilitate coordinated actions among education, industry, and government. Among
these efforts, her work to advance employee, student, patient, and community well-
being has been impressive. Her legislative work at both the local and state level paved
the way for state institutions to develop tobacco-free campuses, helped create a smoke-
free medical district in Charleston, and guided businesses in South Carolina to create
healthy workplaces. Through her work with MUSC and the South Carolina Healthy
Business Challenge she continues to promote healthy environments in all sectors using
resources that exist in each community.
Dr. Johnson dedicates her time and talents to community organizations and projects
related to well-being, sustainability, and conservation. She currently serves on the board
of trustees for the Bee Cause, the MUSC Arboretum, Lowcountry Land Trust and the
South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. She also serves as an appointed member of
Trident Technical College Hospitality, Tourism and Culinary Arts Advisory Board,
Citadel School of Science and Mathematics Advisory Council, Lowcountry Land Trust
Business Leadership Council, Carolinas Heat Health Coalition, Sustain SC Corporate
Membership Network, City of Charleston Wellness Advisory Committee, Town of Mount
Pleasant Green Commission and SC7 Expedition team.
Dr. Johnson has conducted numerous presentations and speaking engagements at the
local, state, and national level. Her work has been recognized through multiple
prevention awards and publications, including Smoke Free Lowcountry Coalition’s
Smoke Free Advocate of the Year, Charleston Regional Business Journal’s Influential
Women in Business and Healthcare Heroes, Prevention Partners Agent of Change and
the Joseph P. Riley Health & Wellness Award. She is a graduate of the MUSC
Advanced Leadership Program and the Sustainability Leadership Program, serves on
the alumni committee for both programs and is a current Sustainability Fellow through
the Shi Institute at Furman University and Sustain SC.
Dr. Johnson resides in Mount Pleasant and in her spare time she enjoys running, hiking,
kayaking and travel, especially to Savannah and Nashville to visit her two daughters in
college.
