Meet Ronald West: New Board Member
- October 02, 2025
The Chris “CJ” Johnson Foundation Board Members welcomes Ronald West to our board. Ron brings decades of leadership, advocacy, and service to the Chris “CJ” Johnson Foundation, fueled by both his professional expertise and his deeply personal journey as a caregiver and father.
A Licensed Master Social Worker, Ron has long been a dedicated advocate in the brain injury community. He served for many years as a Board Member and past Secretary of the Brain Injury Association of Michigan and continues to serve on several advisory councils, including the Ohio State University Ohio Valley Center for Brain Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation and the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan Southeastern Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury System Advisory Board. He also served as Chairman and Board Member of the Michigan Disability Rights Coalition. His professional career includes leadership roles such as Director of Operations, Midwest Region, for Becton Healthcare Resources; Director at the Children’s Center of Wayne County; Manager of Case Management at AmeriHealth Mercy; and Program Director at the Michigan Department of Mental Health.
In October 2022, Ron’s world changed when his daughter Julia was diagnosed with renal medullary carcinoma (RMC). From that moment, he became her strongest advocate. He was instrumental in securing insurance approval for Julia to receive treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Though Ron lived in Detroit, Michigan, and Julia in Fishers, Indiana, the miles between them never stopped him from being at her side—faithfully attending her appointments in both Indiana and Texas.
Julia fought courageously, but in August 2024 she lost her battle with RMC. Her passing profoundly deepened Ron’s commitment to raising awareness and supporting others impacted by this disease. In her honor, he has become an active voice in the RMC community, participating in support groups and co-founding Forever Connected: Beyond the Battle, a grief support group for families who have lost loved ones to RMC, where he serves as a devoted moderator.
Today, Ron continues his advocacy through the Chris “CJ” Johnson Foundation, bringing his professional background, personal experience, and unwavering compassion to the fight against RMC.