Dr. Marie-Louise T. Johnson

Johnson's wife is Dr. Marie-Louise Johnson, 76, a dermatologist who operates a practice in Kingston, N.Y.But if you want her to be your dermatologist, you'll have to wait more than a year for a new patient appointment.

Her husband, a respected cardiologist, consultant, and authority on public health himself, explains why he thinks patients continually seek her out: "She's well-known for being a very compassionate person.She is surrounded by affection from residents, patients, and coworkers.She transmits a deep concern for the general welfare of the person," he said.

Life beyond a thriving practice

Johnson's patient practice only tells part of the story of her life as a physician.Her reach extends beyond direct contact with her patients into all facets of medicine including research and education, as well as a few she invented herself when she saw the need.Johnson is what might be understated in corporate-speak as a "self-starter."

Her curriculum vitae documents an impressive string of teaching assignments at Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell and New York University, among other prestigious institutions and hospitals.It also catalogs her more quantifiable accomplishments, including President of the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation, service on the Institute of National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine Committee on Defense Women's Health Research, and President of the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine, just to pick a few from a long list.

What you don't see on paper is how many of her accomplishments have been firsts: First woman President of the American Dermatological Association.First woman elected to the Institute of Medicine within the National Academy of Sciences.First dermatologist to travel to Japan associated with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission.

The assignment in Japan involved examining atomic blast survivors for the effects the radiation had on their health.It was one of many roles in which Johnson took the reins by establishing guidelines and training other physicians.She also designed and implemented the dermatology component of the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the largest-ever comprehensive study of American health, in the early 1970s.The fact that the survey even contained a dermatology component was also her doing.

"Whatever I'm doing is working."

Today, Johnson keeps office hours three days a week and spends the other two keeping up with her academic responsibilities.A couple of times a month, she travels to Yale to do rounds and present cases.

She concedes that there are some her age who "would be thinking about putting their toys up on the shelf," but the bottom line is that there is too much interesting work to be done, so retirement does not appeal to her.It must be the work that keeps her going, because it certainly isn't some carbo-loaded, energy-packing diet.She starts her day with a pot of tea, and eats nothing the rest of the day until supper at home in the evening.

"A mother might say, 'My daughter should eat breakfast.Tell her she should eat breakfast.' and I have to say 'If I did, I would be a hypocrite,'" she said."Whatever I'm doing is working.I don't want to look too closely."

Johnson is currently working on an "interesting and worthwhile" project, one that just might allow her to feel good enough about the quality of care her patients are receiving to cut back on her office hours a bit.Working in phases, she is establishing a skin center where she plans for area patients to receive the same care they would if they traveled the 100 miles or so to New York or New Haven.

Johnson's wife is Dr. Marie-Louise Johnson, 76, a dermatologist who operates a practice in Kingston, N.Y.But if you want her to be your dermatologist, you'll have to wait more than a year for a new patient appointment.

Her husband, a respected cardiologist, consultant, and authority on public health himself, explains why he thinks patients continually seek her out: "She's well-known for being a very compassionate person.She is surrounded by affection from residents, patients, and coworkers.She transmits a deep concern for the general welfare of the person," he said.

Life beyond a thriving practice

Johnson's patient practice only tells part of the story of her life as a physician.Her reach extends beyond direct contact with her patients into all facets of medicine including research and education, as well as a few she invented herself when she saw the need.Johnson is what might be understated in corporate-speak as a "self-starter."

Her curriculum vitae documents an impressive string of teaching assignments at Yale, Dartmouth, Cornell and New York University, among other prestigious institutions and hospitals.It also catalogs her more quantifiable accomplishments, including President of the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation, service on the Institute of National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine Committee on Defense Women's Health Research, and President of the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine, just to pick a few from a long list.

What you don't see on paper is how many of her accomplishments have been firsts: First woman President of the American Dermatological Association.First woman elected to the Institute of Medicine within the National Academy of Sciences.First dermatologist to travel to Japan associated with the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission.

The assignment in Japan involved examining atomic blast survivors for the effects the radiation had on their health.It was one of many roles in which Johnson took the reins by establishing guidelines and training other physicians.She also designed and implemented the dermatology component of the Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the largest-ever comprehensive study of American health, in the early 1970s.The fact that the survey even contained a dermatology component was also her doing.

"Whatever I'm doing is working."Today, Johnson keeps office hours three days a week and spends the other two keeping up with her academic responsibilities.A couple of times a month, she travels to Yale to do rounds and present cases.

She concedes that there are some her age who "would be thinking about putting their toys up on the shelf," but the bottom line is that there is too much interesting work to be done, so retirement does not appeal to her.It must be the work that keeps her going, because it certainly isn't some carbo-loaded, energy-packing diet.She starts her day with a pot of tea, and eats nothing the rest of the day until supper at home in the evening.

"A mother might say, 'My daughter should eat breakfast.Tell her she should eat breakfast.' and I have to say 'If I did, I would be a hypocrite,'" she said."Whatever I'm doing is working.I don't want to look too closely."

Johnson is currently working on an "interesting and worthwhile" project, one that just might allow her to feel good enough about the quality of care her patients are receiving to cut back on her office hours a bit.Working in phases, she is establishing a skin center where she plans for area patients to receive the same care they would if they traveled the 100 miles or so to New York or New Haven.

More recently in 2000, Dr. Marie-Louise Johnson became the first woman president of the society.

Sharing the Healing Touch In addition to treating patients, dermatologist Marie-Louise Johnson and family physician David Mesches have established programs to train other doctors in their much-needed specialties.

Dr. Marie-Louise Johnson, ADA President

Marie-Louise T. Johnson , M.D. , Ph.D. , named 1997 Dermatology Foundation Clark W. Finnerud awardeePress 98 Finnerud Award

dfpress.gif ( 14859 bytes )March 10 , 1998
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MARIE-LOUISE T. JOHNSON , M.D. , PH.D. , NAMED 1997 DERMATOLOGY FOUNDATION CLARK W. FINNERUD AWARDEE.

Marie-Louise T. Johnson , M.D. , Ph.D. , of High Falls , NY , has been selected as the 1997 recipient of the Dermatology Foundation's Clark W. Finnerud Award.

The Award is named for the late Clark W. Finnerud , M.D. , a member of the faculty at Chicago's Rush-Presbyterian-St.Luke's Medical Center for 47 years.Dr. Finnerud's generous financial support helped launch the Dermatology Foundation in 1964 , and the Trustees created the Award in 1971 to honor his many contributions to the specialty as a clinician/educator.

Dr. Johnson has had a distinguished academic , writing and research career for more than three decades.She began as an instructor at the Yale University School of Medicine , Department of Medicine , during her residency and , in 1980 , was named a Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Yale.

From 1964 to 1967 , Dr. Johnson served as dermatology chief , medical services , for the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission , Hiroshima and Nagasaki , Japan and lectured at the Hiroshima University School of Medicine.She is an active member of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and has served as a delegate to annual Congresses of the group.

Dr. Johnson was chief of the dermatology service at New York's Bellevue Hospital from 1967 to 1970 and 1974 to 1980 , Associate Professor at Dartmouth from 1971 to 1974 , and a Professor of Dermatology at New York University School of Medicine from 1976 to 1980.In 1981 she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine , the first dermatologist to be so honored.

Marie-Louise has a deep humanitarian commitment that is apparent in her activities on behalf of patients and the specialty and her commitment to teaching both the next generation of dermatologists and today's practitioners.
...
Dr. Johnson received her undergraduate degree from Manhattanville College , New York , and her Ph.D. in Microbiology and M.D. from Yale University.She is the author or co-author of 35 articles and technical reports in the field of dermatology as well as more than a dozen textbook chapters dealing with diseases of the skin.

Dr. Johnson served as a Trustee of the Dermatology Foundation in 1972-75 and as Chairman of the Foundation's Medical and Scientific Committee in 1974-75.She has been a member of the Foundation Leaders Society since 1990.Since 1989 , she has been the Designated Trustee of the American Academy of Dermatology on the Foundation's Board.

She serves as Chair of the Allied Health Care/Patient Advocate Liaison Committee and a member of the Communications Council of the American Academy of Dermatology.A member of the American Dermatological Association Board from 1986 to 1992 , Dr. Johnson was Vice President of ADA in 1991-92.

Since 1993 , Dr. Johnson has served as President of the Association of Yale Alumni in Medicine and is a former member of the Association of Yale Alumni Board of Governors.She is also the current President and a director of the Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation and , in 1993 , received the Rose Hirschler Award of the Women's Dermatologic Society.

Dr. Johnson will receive her Award at the Dermatology Foundation's Annual Meeting on Saturday , February 28 , 1998 in Orlando.

The Dermatology Foundation was created in 1964 by a group of concerned dermatologists in order to advance patient care through research.The nonprofit organization raises funds from members of the specialty and the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry to support a broad-based program of research investigations , clinical and scientific publications and Continuing Medical Education programs for today's dermatologists.The Foundation is second only to the federal government as a source of funding for dermatologic research that addresses the practice concerns of the entire specialty.

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