Healer. Advocate. Visionary Leader in Pediatric Palliative Care.
Dr. Khaliah Johnson is a Stanford-educated pediatrician and palliative care specialist whose work bridges the worlds of medicine, advocacy, and healing. More than her credentials, Dr. Khaliah is a compassionate healer whose approach transcends traditional clinical boundaries.
Rooted in the values of love, healing, connection, faith, and family, she empowers families and practitioners to embrace both holistic and evidence-based approaches to wellness – particularly in underserved communities. Her work is dedicated to breaking generational cycles and addressing the deeper emotional and spiritual dimensions of care.
As a Cambia Health Foundation Sojourns Scholar, Dr. Khaliah leads transformative efforts to address racism and bias in pediatric serious illness care, advocating for equity during healthcare’s most vulnerable moments. Her commitment also reaches globally through We Are Wendo, the nonprofit she founded in rural Kenya to uplift women and girls.
Outside of clinical spaces, Dr. Khaliah brings her gifts of insight, inspiration, and joy to speaking engagements, community gatherings, and thought leadership. She is especially passionate about creating spaces where professional women of color can thrive fully – in career, health, and spirit.
A devoted mother, Dr. Khaliah lives by the belief that healing happens in all spaces – whether at the bedside, around the table, or in shared moments of humanity. Through her E3 philosophy – Educate. Encourage. Empower. – she helps others honor the whole person across life’s transitions.
Dr. Khaliah Johnson
Love fuels every aspect of Dr. Khaliah’s work – grounding her in compassion, dignity, and genuine care for others.
Healing means nurturing the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – especially in moments of illness, grief, or transition.
True healing happens through authentic relationships. Dr. Khaliah builds trust and community wherever she serves.
Faith guides her purpose, anchoring her service in hope, grace, and resilience through life’s challenges.
Family is central to her identity, shaping how she leads, heals, and supports others with care and intention.
MD, Stanford University School of Medicine
BS in Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University
Residency, General Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Fellowship, Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelph
American Board of Pediatrics (2010)
American Board of Pediatrics, Hospice & Palliative Medicine (2012)
Founder & Executive Director, We Are Wendo (Kenya-based nonprofit for women and girls)
Former Consultant, United Nations Population Fund (Eritrea)
Regular speaker at national and international medical conferences
Advocate for equity, anti-racism, and holistic care in serious illness
David M. Kamsler Award for Compassionate Pediatric Care, Johns Hopkins Hospital
Emory Pediatrics Outstanding Faculty Award (2017)
Inaugural Ira Adams-Chapman Humanitarian Award (2020)
National Doctors’ Day Recognition, Emory School of Medicine (2025)
20+ peer-reviewed journal articles
Contributor to Pediatrics, JAMA, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Annals of Family Medicine, and Health Affairs
Author of opinion pieces and blogs on grief, equity, and healing