Marla B. Johnson, EdD, is a Senior Program Implementation Specialist in the Schuylkill Treatment and Recovery Support Program (STARS) and the UPMC Minority SUD/HIV Initiative Program (UMSHIP). Dr. Johnson helps lead efforts in the STARS program to improve coordination of care among Schuylkill County providers, and to enhance the capacity of Schuylkill County's SUD/BH systems to address risk factors and social determinants of health (SDOH) affecting individuals with SUD/BH. As part of the UMSHIP team, she helps implement a status-neutral, evidence-based, culturally responsive, and recovery-focused HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B/C prevention and intervention program for racial/ethnic, medically underserved individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) and their partners, especially among those entering two University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Western Behavioral Institute’s (WBI) Addiction Medicine Units (AMU)—inpatient withdrawal management units, also known as detoxification facilities. Before joining Pitt, Marla spent over 20 years working with non-profits, HIV/AIDS advocacy, as the founder of the first faith-based AIDS organization, teaching in religious and secular settings, and serving as a co-occurring therapist. Additionally, Marla has experience in training, evaluating, and managing initiatives related to substance use disorders and community programs. She is also an educational and beauty consultant, artist, and ordained minister.
