Karen Christine Johnson, PhD, CCC-A

Dr. Karen Johnson, Ph.D., CCC-A, is a Clinical Professor of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (Clinician Educator, Part-Time) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She is a licensed audiologist with extensive expertise in pediatric hearing loss, cochlear implants, and early intervention strategies for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

At USC, Dr. Johnson teaches several graduate-level courses, including OHNS 402: The Dynamic Profession of Audiology, OHNS 503: Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and OHNS 511: Aural (Re)habilitation. Her research interests focus on early childhood language and literacy development, particularly in children with hearing impairments.

Dr. Johnson is the principal investigator of the “Come Read with Me” program, an innovative, grant-funded summer intervention aimed at enhancing literacy skills among deaf and hard-of-hearing children from bilingual (Spanish-English) homes. The program also provides training for parents and educators to support children’s reading and writing development.

Her scholarly work includes numerous publications on pediatric audiology, cognitive outcomes in children with hearing loss, and the impact of early hearing interventions. Dr. Johnson has also led several NIH-funded studies on topics such as smoking cessation, cardiovascular risk, and diabetes management.

#Courses

OHNS 402, The Dynamic Profession of Audiology (Spring Semester)
OHNS 503, Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders (Y1, Fall Semester)
OHNS 505, Audiology for Speech-Language Pathologists (Y1, Spring Semester)
OHNS 511, Aural (Re)habilitation (Y1, Summer Semester)
OHNS 518, Research/Capstone (Y2, Fall and Spring Semesters)

• Managing Obesity by Leveraging Health Information Technology to Lower Cancer Risk
  NIH · R01CA267643 · Jan 14, 2022 – Dec 31, 2026 · Role: Principal Investigator
• Intensive Lifestyle Intervention, Metabolomics, and Risk of Frailty Fracture in Overweight or Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
  NIH · R01AG068232 · Sep 30, 2021 – May 31, 2026 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
• Targeted Approaches to Weight Control for Young Adults Grant with RCU Proposal
  NIH · U01HL096628 · Aug 17, 2009 – May 31, 2015 · Role: Principal Investigator
• A Clinical Trial of Two Medications on Smoking Cessation
  NIH · R01HL066025 · Jan 7, 2002 – Dec 31, 2007 · Role: Principal Investigator
• The Use of Sibutramine in Smoking Cessation
  NIH · R01HL068049 · Sep 1, 2001 – Aug 31, 2008 · Role: Principal Investigator
• 07/16 Action for Health in Diabetes Extension Study Research Project
  NIH · U01DK057078 · Sep 30, 1999 – Jan 31, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
• TREATING NICOTINE ADDICTION IN PREGNANCY
  NIH · R01DA010527 · Sep 29, 1997 – Aug 31, 2001 · Role: Principal Investigator
• NORPLANT EFFECT ON CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN YOUNG WOMEN
  NIH · R01HD029478 · May 1, 1994 – Apr 30, 1999 · Role: Principal Investigator
• VANGUARD CENTER FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH INITIATIVE
  NIH/WHI · N01WH032118 · Apr 13, 1993 – Sep 14, 2005 · Role: Principal Investigator

• Peters, Anne
• Stanczyk, Frank
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• Haiman, Christopher