John Paulson, DO, PhD

Interim Dean of the College of Health Professions and Chair of Primary Care at KCU-Joplin

John Paulson, DO, PhD, FAAFP, serves as interim dean of the College of Health Professions and chair of primary care at KCU-Joplin. He is also chief medical officer for ACCESS Family Care, a federally qualified health center serving southwest Missouri, and serves as faculty for KCU-GME Consortium’s family medicine residency at Freeman Health System.

Paulson earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and PhD in Biomedical Sciences, with an emphasis in pharmacology and physiology from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. He completed his family medicine residency at Cox Family Medicine Residency in Springfield, Missouri.

Before joining KCU, Paulson served as associate chief medical informatics officer for Freeman Health System. He has dedicated his career to advancing patient care, physician education and community health through clinical practice, academic leadership and service.

A Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Paulson is a past president of the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians and the Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri, where he continues to serve on the board of directors. He also completed the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship and the American Academy of Family Physicians Leading Physician Wellness Certificate Program.