Ms. Johnston provides strategic oversight of human resources, workforce development, education and labor management for East Alabama Health’s more than 4,000 employees, aligning people strategy with the system’s mission and long-term workforce sustainability. She leads enterprise human capital initiatives that strengthen recruitment, retention and organizational culture while proactively forecasting workforce needs in an increasingly competitive labor market. A core focus of Ms. Johnston’s work is expanding workforce pipelines through partnerships with local academic institutions, aligning education programs with regional demand, and increasing access through scholarships and organization-sponsored seats in high-need programs, including nursing. Her people-first, performance-driven approach has supported East Alabama Health’s positioning as an employer of choice in the region, reinforced by the system’s recognition on Forbes’ 2023 “America’s Best-in-State Employers for Alabama” and Newsweek’s 2025 “Best-In-State Hospitals” list.
