Anna Johansson, PhD

Dr. Anna Johansson is an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and the Director of Social Science Research in the Division of Translational Research. Dr. Johansson's doctorate is in Sociology with emphasis in social psychology, complex organizations and social research methods. She brings theory and methodology from the social sciences to bear on a range of programs in the areas of medical education, simulation training, and team-based clinical quality improvement. Dr. Johansson works with the Shapiro Institute for Education and Research as the Assistant Director of Educational Research, and with Critical Care Quality in the Department of Medicine to advance research in the areas of medical team decision making and performance. Her current research activities involve the "translation" of theory and methods emanating from basic social science research in group decision making to examine, using novel behavioral measures, the extent to which a specific mechanism - the formation of social hierarchies - creates barriers to effective information exchange and team decision making in the ICU. Social hierarchies form in teams based on factors ranging from the diverse characteristics of individual team members to the culture of an organization and even a profession, all of which are relevant to healthcare teams in an academic medical center. Her long term goal is to develop and test educational interventions employing simulation and bedside training designed improve the quality of medical team decision making, and ultimately the quality and safety of patient care. Formerly the Director of IRB Operations at BIDMC, Dr. Johansson continues to serve the IRB as Vice Chair and is a resource to faculty with regard to IRB related questions. She played a key role in assisting Dr. Freedman with developing the scientific review process for human research protocols at BIDMC and continues to manage that process.