Royal Caribbean announced it has created a new role to manage the cruise line's health protocols, hiring Dr. Calvin Johnson as its first Global Health Officer.
The new role will oversee and put into action new policies and recommendations related to all health initiatives, including the COVID-19 policies that are forthcoming.
Dr. Johnson will be Royal Caribbean's new Chief Medical Officer and will be responsible for the cruise line global health and wellness policy, manage its public health and clinical practice, and determine the strategic plans and operations of its global healthcare organization.
In addition, Dr. Johnson will coordinate with the Healthy Sail Panel group of health experts to put into place the new policies and protocols they recommend.
Dr. Johnson has a strong background in protecting public health through service delivery innovation, policy development and analysis, and leadership training and development. He has successfully led significant response efforts during active infectious disease outbreaks and was responsible for ensuring all aspects of patient care while overseeing a clinical operation with 1,300 caregivers and more than 300,000 individuals.
Dr. Johnson, most recently Principal at Altre Strategic Solutions Group, is the former Chief Medical Officer for Corizon Health, then the largest provider of correctional health care in the United States, and for Temple University Health System. He served as Secretary of Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2003-2008 and was Medical Director for the New York City Department of Health from 1998-1999. He earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a BS in Chemistry from Morehouse College.
“Royal Caribbean Group is committed to going beyond requirements to truly innovative solutions,” said Johnson. “I am excited to join the industry leader, who is clearly establishing the way forward in managing public health initiatives and protecting health and safety. The Healthy Sail Panel is doing critical work to help us develop enhanced standards, and achieve readiness for the return to service, and I am looking forward to being involved in that work.”
“Calvin will add critical expertise in our mission to elevate the quality of care,” said Jennifer Love, Royal Caribbean Group Senior Vice President, Safety, Security, Environment, Medical & Public Health. “His appointment is testament to our commitment to transforming healthcare for those we serve.”
Matt Hochberg
Matt loves to cruise, and started Cruise.Blog as a place to share different cruise experiences, advice, and what to know before going on a cruise.
He lives in Florida with his wife and two daughters, where he can be found on any given day trying to convince his wife they "need" to book another cruise.
