TEAM – D.E.C.I.D.E. LAB

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Dr_ Kalisha Bonds Johnson Branding Session- 03

Photo by Belle Rogue Photography at Emory University

Kalisha Bonds Johnson PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC

Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson is an Assistant Professor at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from The University of Tennessee at Martin with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007. She graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2012 from Vanderbilt University, specializing as a Family Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Bonds Johnson graduated with a PhD from Oregon Health & Science University in 2019. Most recently, she completed her postdoctoral training (or training after completing a PhD) at Emory University from 2019-2021. During her career trajectory, she has been funded through several mechanisms, including the National Institutes of Health, SAMHSA in partnership with the American Nurses Association through their Minority Fellowship Program, the Jonas Foundation as a Veterans Health Care Scholar, and Emory University’s Goizueta Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Dr. Bonds Johnson hopes to improve the quality of life, health outcomes, and decision-making processes for Black American persons with changes in their thinking and their families by answering important questions through the development of culturally tailored programs.

When Dr. Bonds Johnson is not conducting research or writing, she spends her time with her husband, Eric Johnson, their son, Noah, and their dog, Tink. They celebrate their wedding anniversary in September. Dr. Bonds Johnson attributes her love for older adults and interest in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia caregiving to her grandmother who raised her, Jessie Bonds. The work from this lab is dedicated to her grandmother.

CURRENT MEMBERS

Jess Arciniegas

Hello! I am a student at Emory University majoring in nursing. I am so excited to enter this field because of the diverse people I will meet every day. I joined the DECIDE Research lab to further my understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and learn to communicate better with potential future patients. Dr. Bonds Johnson is a beautiful person and scientist inside and out. I cannot wait to see her project and research grow. I am honored to be a part of her team!

Daum Chung

Hello. My name is Daum Chung, and I am from South Korea. I completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s nursing degrees at Hanyang University and worked as a nurse for three years at a regional emergency medical center in Korea. My advisor, Dr. Bonds Johnson, is an outstanding researcher and mentor whose positivity and enthusiasm make working with her truly enjoyable. I’m excited about our future research projects together and am honored to be part of the DECIDE Lab team. I look forward to contributing to meaningful work with such a dedicated group.

Faith Mason

Hello! I am a Junior at Emory University majoring in nursing. I am very excited to work within the D.E.C.I.D.E lab and honored to be a part of the potential change being created within the lab. I joined the D.E.C.I.D.E Research Lab to learn more about and gain better understanding of the circumstances at hand impacting Black American dementia patients. I cannot wait to see the interventions that can be created!

Hilario Morales

Hi, I’m Hilario Morales, a first-generation nursing student honored to be mentored by Dr. Kalisha Bonds Johnson and to contribute to her visionary leadership and work addressing dementia caregiving and health equity in Black families. Completing my final senior practicum in the ICU has sharpened my awareness of systemic disparities, fueling a growing commitment to research, policy, and ethics that uplift caregiving practices and advance compassionate, community-centered change for families.

Olachi Unaka

COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

The Community Advisory Board affiliated with the DECIDE Research Lab consists of persons living with changes in their thinking along with their family members. Changes in thinking include mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Additional members include older adults with an interest in supporting the work coming from this lab, physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists. The goal of the Community Advisory Board is for members to provide their insights and lived experience to enrich the programs and research projects that come from the DECIDE Research Lab while gaining additional skills related to conducting research (e.g., idea generation, participant recruitment, data analysis, and dissemination).