Dr. Erik S. Johnson, OTD, MS, OTR/L
As an army occupational therapist for more than 15 years, Major Erik Johnson was instrumental in the evaluation and care for service members who had sustained devastating physical, cognitive and mental health injuries during combat operations. He was awarded the prestigious Bronze Star Medal for his work with brain injuries while deployed to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2011. Known for his compassion and innovative approaches to treatment, Major Johnson led from the front throughout his military career including positions as the Officer in Charge for OT at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence Brain Injury Center, the chief of OT Amputee Care at Walter Reed National Military Center and the Chief of OT at the Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center.
Transitioning from his esteemed military career of two decades, Dr. Johnson now teaches assistive technology and universal design at Tarleton State University. Erik also serves as the Chief Medical Officer for Warfighter Engaged and specializes in the use of technology as a therapeutic medium for rehabilitation. He has used video games as a treatment tool for over 15 years and looks for opportunities to advance practice by incorporating them into the mix of traditional approaches.
He also serves as a consultant to the gaming industry for accessible hardware and making content that is more accessible for all gamers regardless of physical, mental, or cognitive deficits. He was on the team that worked with Microsoft to develop the Xbox adaptive controller and more recently worked with 343 Industries on their latest instalment of the Halo franchise to ensure proper representation of amputees in the game.
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