Richard T. Johnson, a name synonymous with groundbreaking research in neurovirology and a pillar of Johns Hopkins Neurology, passed away at The Johns Hopkins Hospital on Sunday due to pneumonia. He was 84 years old. Up until his final weeks, Dr. Johnson remained actively engaged, sharing his vast knowledge through lectures at medical institutions both nationally and internationally.
For nearly three decades, from 1969 to 1997, Dr. Johnson was a distinguished faculty member of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. During this time, he held the esteemed position of Director of the Department of Neurology from 1988 to 1997. His expertise also extended to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he held a joint appointment in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Johnson’s legacy is deeply intertwined with the mentorship of over 55 postdoctoral fellows in diverse fields including virology, neurology, immunology, and neurovirology. Remarkably, at least ten of his mentees have gone on to lead their own departments, extending his influence globally to medical schools in Australia, Germany, Iran, Peru, and Thailand.
Dr. Justin McArthur, the current director of Johns Hopkins’ Department of Neurology, aptly describes Dr. Johnson’s profound impact: “He influenced literally hundreds, if not thousands, of medical students, undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows through his charismatic and spell-binding lectures, and through direct mentoring.” Dr. McArthur further highlights Dr. Johnson’s reputation as a “mentor’s mentor,” emphasizing his exceptional insight, unwavering perseverance, and infectious enthusiasm that inspired his trainees.
Born in Colorado, Richard T. Johnson’s academic journey began at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he earned his bachelor’s degree with honors in 1953. He continued his education at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver, graduating with a medical degree in 1956. To support his education, this talented individual also taught ballroom dancing, showcasing a diverse range of skills and passions.
His postgraduate training commenced with an internship in medicine at Stanford University Hospitals in San Francisco. A pivotal point in his career was his role as a clinical pathologist in the Department of Virus Diseases at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. It was here that Dr. Johnson’s fascination with the origins of viral diseases and their impact on the central nervous system took root. He subsequently completed a residency and fellowship in neurology and neuropathology at Massachusetts General Hospital, further solidifying his expertise in these critical areas.
Following additional teaching and research engagements in Great Britain and Australia, Dr. Johnson joined the Department of Neurology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1964. In 1969, Johns Hopkins University beckoned, recruiting him to collaborate with Guy McKhann of Stanford in establishing the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology, a department that would become a leading force in the field under their combined leadership.
Dr. McKhann, a Yale medical school alumnus and former pediatric resident at Hopkins, recounts the selection process for the first director of Johns Hopkins Neurology. He notes that the search committee, led by Vernon Mountcastle, a renowned figure in neuroscience, ultimately narrowed the choices to Dr. Johnson and himself. “It was Vernon’s idea to get us both,” McKhann explains, “so we both arrived at Johns Hopkins and spent the rest of our careers here. I took over running the department, and Dick built up the research side.”
“Dick, known as RTJ, was focused on infections of the nervous system, particularly viral infections. He essentially invented the field of neurovirology,” McKhann emphasizes, underscoring Johnson’s pioneering contributions. Dr. Johnson’s research extended to critical areas such as early studies of AIDS, kuru, mad cow disease, and various forms of encephalitis, demonstrating his commitment to understanding and combating complex neurological conditions.
Beyond his research acumen, Dr. McKhann highlights Dr. Johnson’s exceptional clinical skills. Patients from across the globe sought his expertise for diagnosing and treating perplexing infections of the nervous system. Furthermore, Dr. Johnson established the multiple sclerosis clinic at Johns Hopkins, further expanding the institution’s neurological services.
Dr. Johnson cultivated a multidisciplinary laboratory group dedicated to investigating viruses associated with a wide spectrum of chronic neurological diseases. His dedication to global health led him to establish laboratories overseas for infectious disease research and education, earning him the affectionate moniker “the Pan-Am Professor” in reference to the former international airline, Pan American, due to his extensive travels. Dr. McArthur fondly remembers Dr. Johnson as a captivating storyteller who enriched scientific meetings with “tales of his travels, and of the pioneers of neurology and neurosurgery at Mass General or Hopkins,” often sharing these stories with his fellows.
Succeeding Dr. McKhann as director of the Department of Neurology in 1988, Dr. Johnson continued to elevate the department’s reputation for excellence. During his directorship, he significantly expanded the faculty from 40 to over 100 and introduced innovative programs, including neurointensive care and epilepsy monitoring, solidifying Johns Hopkins Neurology’s position at the forefront of neurological care and research.
His dedication to education was recognized with two clinical teaching awards. Dr. Johnson’s prolific research output includes over 300 peer-reviewed articles in esteemed professional journals and book chapters, along with editing ten books. Notably, he authored Viral Infections of the Nervous System in 1982, a seminal text in the field.
Dr. Johnson’s pioneering contributions were recognized through numerous national and international accolades, often as the inaugural recipient. These include the first Association of British Neurologists Multiple Sclerosis Medal in 1986, the first Soriano Award from the World Federation of Neurology in 1993, and the first Pioneer Award from the International Society of Neurovirology in 1999. Even after his formal retirement in 1997, Dr. Johnson remained active, serving as director of the National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore and as editor of Annals of Neurology.
Dr. Janice Clements, currently the vice dean for the faculty at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and a professor in multiple departments, was among Dr. Johnson’s distinguished protégés. Joining his lab as a fellow in 1975, she credits his Monday morning research discussions with providing the foundational framework for her impactful research career, which has included significant discoveries related to HIV.
“Richard Johnson’s research has had an enormous impact on how viral infections are studied,” states Clements, emphasizing his lasting influence. “His research was novel and had a major influence on academic medicine and the treatment of virus infections of the brain. One of the first patients with HIV was diagnosed by Dr. Johnson because the disease had caused neurological disease.”
Dr. Clements further notes, “Dr. Johnson mentored many generations of virologists, neurologists, immunologists, and neurovirologists who now lead research and patient care in these disciplines into the next millennium.” Reflecting on her personal experience, she adds, “Personally, Dick’s mentoring provided me with the opportunities and unique expertise in viral infections on the brain that has allowed me to become a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.”
Richard T. Johnson is survived by his wife, Sylvia Eggleston Wehr, and his children: Carlton Johnson, Erica Meadows, Matthew Johnson, and Nathan Johnson, along with stepdaughters Elizabeth Drigotas, Anne Broadus, and Elaine Doherty. He is also survived by five grandchildren and six step-grandchildren. His first wife, Frances Wilcox Johnson, predeceased him in 2008 after over 50 years of marriage.
In remembrance of Dr. Johnson’s remarkable life and contributions to Johns Hopkins Neurology and the broader field of neurovirology, the family suggests memorial donations be made to the Richard T. Johnson Fund at the Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine. Donations can be made via mail to 750 East Pratt Street, 17th floor, Baltimore MD 21202 or through their secure online tribute form, continuing his legacy of advancing medical knowledge and patient care at Johns Hopkins.
A memorial service will be held on December 4th at 11 a.m. at the Church of the Redeemer in Baltimore, providing an opportunity to celebrate the life and achievements of this extraordinary individual who left an indelible mark on Johns Hopkins Neurology and the world of medicine.
