Ted Johnson, MD, MPH, receives 2023 Larry Zaroff Man of Good Conscience Award

Congratulations to Ted Johnson, MD, MPH, Division Director of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, for being named the recipient of the 2023 Larry Zaroff Man of Good Conscience Award. The Larry Zaroff Man of Good Conscience Award is presented annually to a man who has been a champion and supporter of women in medicine. Dr. Johnson was nominated by Dr. Jada Bussey-Jones for his “unflagging support of women in medicine and active advancement of women to leadership positions throughout his career.”

The Emory University School of Medicine leadership team assembled or influenced by Dr. Johnson gives a clear picture of his dedication to the advancement of women in medicine. The positions he created have initiated opportunities for an impressive list of women at Emory. In seven instances, he mentored female colleagues who were then well-positioned for leaderships roles he vacated; these roles included Manager of the Atlanta VA Geriatric and Extended Care Service Line, Program Lead for Emory Primary Care, Atlanta Site Director of the Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), Division Director for Geriatrics and Gerontology, and National VA nursing home call lead. In addition, Dr. Johnson created 12 roles which he then either handed off to or encouraged application for; these include Division Directors (Palliative Medicine, Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Student Health), Vice Chairs (Research, Faculty Development, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), Associate Division leaders (VA Primary Care and The Emory Clinic Primary Care), Medical Directors, Education leads, and Chair of The Emory Clinic/Emory Specialty Associates Compensation Advisory Committee. Sixteen Emory faculty have held these 12 roles, 11 of whom were women, a member of a demographic traditionally underrepresented in medicine, or both.

Dr. Johnson’s actions have demonstrated his recognition of the importance of diversity in improving patient care and his understanding that women physicians add a tremendous amount of strength to the field of medicine. Dr. Johnson has also volunteered his time to mentor over 100 junior and mid-career emerging leaders in the field of aging, who are almost all women, from institutions across the U.S. over the past six years through the Tideswell Emerging Leaders in Aging program.

The award presentation will take place during AMWA’s 108^th Annual Meeting “Thriving. Leading. Transforming” on Saturday, March 25, 11:30 a.m.–noon at the DoubleTree Center City in Philadelphia.