Johnny is an Indigenous Chamorro from the island of Saipan, located in the United States (US) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). He received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Chaminade University of Honolulu and holds a Master of Public Health from Eastern Washington University, specializing in public health leadership and epidemiology. Johnny has worked in immunological and xenobiotic exposure/toxicities research settings aimed at addressing chronic conditions at the cellular and molecular level, with additional research work focused on public health initiatives aimed at population-level preventative health strategies. Previous work included the assessment of healthcare data gaps in the CNMI that highlighted chronic disease healthcare burdens and disparities in communities, recommending policy approaches. His research interests include climate and health resiliency strategies that reduce the impacts of climate change on Pacific communities and developing policies related to health, food, and economic security. Johnny previously served as a Data and Policy Analyst for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity in the Office of Indigenous Knowledge and Innovation at the University of Hawai’i. His work involved landscape assessments of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Indigenous innovations across the United States to identify gaps that may exist (i.e., research, policy, funding, education) and work toward scaling and advancing these innovations to improve NHPI health outcomes and increase health equity. He currently works as a Junior Epidemiologist for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program in the Northern Mariana Islands.
Listed skills include Event Planning, Library Reference, Coordinating Meetings, Presentations, and 20 others.
