Nicole Johnson

Nominated Miss America 1999, is an international diabetes advocate. She travels extensively promoting awareness, prevention, and intensive management of the condition she has shared for over sixteen years. Nicole works as a corporate and government affairs consultant for patient groups and diabetes companies, including Animas Corporation, AmMed Direct, Johnson and Johnson Diabetes Institute and Wellness Wireless.

Nicole is the Telly award-winning television journalist and an avid writer. Her articles on living with diabetes have appeared in Guideposts Magazine, Diabetes Forecast, Diabetes Health, USA Today and on various websites related to diabetes. She has written four books including her autobiography, Living with Diabetes. Nicole has recently been appointed the Executive Director for the “Bringing Science Home” initiative at the University of South Florida supported by The Patterson Foundation. This multi-million dollar award aims to transform chronic disease education and care.

She continues to serve on numerous health related advisory boards including the Florida Governor’s Diabetes Advisory Council and the Tampa Bay chapters of the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Nicole is also a past national board member for the American Diabetes Association and an appointee to the National Institutes of Health Council of Public Representatives.

Over the last ten years, Nicole has helped raise over $26 million for diabetes research and programs. She is passionate about promoting public participation and understanding of research. Often she and her daughter speak about their experiences in diabetes research. In 2008, Nicole received the Charles H. Best Medal for Distinguished Service in the Cause of Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association, as well as being named a Legacy Laureate for the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

Nicole holds Master’s degrees in Journalism and Public Health and is currently seeking her Doctor of Public Health degree from the University of South Florida.