Speaker's Profile

As Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for the Behavioral Health Division of Universal Health Services, Karen Johnson is responsible for the management and oversight of clinical operations and regulatory practices for over 220 behavioral health facilities across the United States and Puerto Rico. She interfaces with accrediting organizations and leads the clinical staff in the development and implementation of best practices to ensure that quality and safety are primary initiatives in each organization.

Ms. Johnson represents the company on the Health Systems Corporate Liaison group with The Joint Commission, the Federation of American Hospitals and the Quality Committee of the National Association of Behavioral Healthcare (NABH).  She serves on the Executive Committee of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention leading the implementation of Zero Suicide in UHS facilities while also serving on the Transforming Health Systems component of the Alliance. Ms. Johnson is a frequent speaker on behavioral health topics on various industry platforms.

Ms. Johnson has held corporate-level leadership positions in Clinical Services since 1999. Prior to that, she served as hospital administrator in freestanding psychiatric facilities.

Ms. Johnson holds a Bachelor degree in Music Therapy from the University of Wisconsin and a Master of Social Work from the Loyola University of Chicago.  She resides in the Chicago area.

One of the nation’s largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since its inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, UHS today has annual revenue exceeding $11.4 billion. In 2020, UHS was again recognized as one of theWorld’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #281 on the Fortune 500; and listed #330 in Forbes ranking of U.S.’ Largest Public Companies. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has more than 90,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates 26 acute care hospitals, 328 behavioral health facilities, 42 outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 37 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.  For more information, please visit www.uhsinc.com.