Researcher brings novel epidemiological research methods to Libin Institute

The newest member of the Libin Cardiovascular Institute, epidemiologist Dr. Amy Johnston, PhD, has a unique focus on women’s cardiovascular and reproductive health.  

An assistant professor in the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Cumming School of Medicine, Johnston is passionate about developing novel epidemiological methods to address clinical questions, generating robust and actionable evidence through knowledge synthesis, and promoting equity, diversity, inclusivity and accessibility in research. 

Johnston believes that individuals are more than the sum of their parts. She advocates for the use of research methods that examine the interplay of factors—such as cultural and socioeconomic influences—rather than studying them in isolation when assessing risks like cardiovascular disease in people with a history of hypertension in pregnancy.  

“My goal is to look at patterns of inequity by exploring how intersecting factors, such as an individual’s education level and their cultural identity, contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease,” she says.  

Johnston has numerous interests when it comes to cardiovascular health risk, including hypertension in pregnancy, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and health system inequities. 

She is currently investigating whether males and females with female-predominant chronic diseases receive equitable care and how outcomes may differ by sex, with the goal of uncovering inequities in health-care delivery. 

Another of Johnston’s projects aims to examine how overlapping social and structural factors shape disparities in the management of cardiovascular diseases in pregnant women.  

According to Johnston, this work is novel because traditional epidemiological models often treat these factors as confounders to be controlled for or examine their effects in isolation. Examining their combined influence provides a more nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to cardiovascular disease risk. However, she notes that this approach introduces both conceptual and analytical challenges to studies.   

But despite these challenges, Johnston says the work is critical.  

“Not long ago, researchers said ‘studying women is too hard’ because of hormonal fluctuations, but that’s exactly why we need to study women,” says Johnston. “For me, it’s about taking small steps in the right direction to really understand the whole picture, as opposed to taking a narrow approach when looking at potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease.”  

Career Journey 

Johnston, who grew up in rural New Brunswick, holds an MSc in Health Services Research and a Master of Biomedical Technology, both from the University of Calgary. She completed her PhD in Epidemiology at the University of Ottawa before returning to Calgary as a postdoctoral associate in the Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology under the supervision of Dr. Amy Metcalfe.  

She was recruited to the University of Calgary in February 2025.  

Personal interactions with women inspired Johnston to study and advocate for women’s cardiovascular and reproductive health.   

“Women who I am close to have told me they weren’t listened to when they expressed concern about their heart health,” she says. “One close family member even ended up having a quadruple bypass after years of not being listened to when she said something was wrong with her heart.”  

Johnston is determined to improve outcomes for women by bringing different voices to the table. She is also looking to bring her expertise in methods and women’s health to research collaborations. 

If you are interested in working with Johnston, email her at amyd.johnston@ucalgary.ca. Visit her website here.