The Department of Medicine Division of General Internal Medicine addresses complex health care issues such as the management of multiple chronic conditions, the aging of the population, health disparities in access and outcomes, and public health and outcomes research. The division includes three sections: the VA Primary Care and Quality; the Emory Primary Care Clinic; and Grady General Medicine and Geriatrics.
Read our interview with division director Ted Johnson, MD, MPH to learn about his path to a career in medicine, his experience as a faculty member at Emory, and more!
Why did you decide to pursue a career in medicine?
As best I can tell, I’m the first person in my family to become a physician. In high school, I was discerning between becoming a teacher and a physician. My high school teachers helped me make that choice; I always wondered, were they encouraging me to become a physician, or stopping me from choosing to be a teacher?
What led you to join the Department of Medicine?
I chose the Emory Department of Medicine because of the outstanding environment and mentorship.
Can you share more about your experience and specialty area(s)?
I’ve always been interested in attending to the needs of the whole person, including their role in their family, neighborhood, and society. I do have a particular interest in healthy aging. I feel that if we can make our primary care, ambulatory clinics, and hospitals safe for older adults that they would be safer for all.
What is the highlight of your career at Emory thus far?
I love the opportunities to engage in clinical research. I also particularly enjoy working with our talented junior faculty. After being at Emory for 23 years, some of these colleagues are not junior anymore!
What do you like most about living in Atlanta?
I love that Atlanta is an international city, but also has smaller neighborhoods with strong identities.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I’m a Southern California beach kid. I miss the ocean, so I definitely enjoy getting to Georgia’s lakes or coast.
If you didn’t pursue a career in medicine, what other profession would you have chosen?
I would have been a public school teacher!
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
My parents were a particular inspiration to me. Both had severe physical impairments. My dad had paraplegia from polio as a young child and my mother was born with only one arm. They were very focused on fully participating in life and in their community, and worked to overcome both physical barriers and how they were perceived.
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