Most of Dr. Johnson's academic effort is directed toward teaching medical students and undergraduate students. He is one of the main lecturers in Human Microscopic Anatomy (ANAT 213) and teaches in the laboratory sessions for this course. He is the author of the Departmental Microscopic Anatomy Laboratory Manual and is responsible for annual changes, updates, and corrections. He also gives a substantial number of lectures on embryology in the Gross Anatomy (ANAT 210) course. Finally, he teaches a course called Human Embryology (ANAT 130) to undergraduates, giving most lectures and running two laboratory sessions for this course.
Dr. Johnson is an active writer and editor. He recently completed, in collaboration with Dr. Frank Slaby and Dr. Ronald Bohn of the Department, a third edition of Anatomy: Review for USMLE, Step 1, ed. 3 (ISBN 1-888308-17-6, J & S Publishing Company, Inc., ©2006). He also just finished editing a third edition of How to Excel in Medical School (published in 2006) and co-authored with Louis De Palma, M.D. Pathology: Review for USMLE, Step 1, ed. 2 (ISBN 1-888308-19-2, J & S Publishing Company, Inc., ©2007). Currently, he is writing a book tentatively called My Back Yard: Biodiversity in Suburbia. This book describes and discusses the natural history of an ordinary suburban habitat and will be richly illustrated with the author’s own photographs taken from Nature.
Dr. Johnson is an active member of the Medical School Admissions Committee, conducting personal interviews with applicants (twice monthly) and working with Diane P. McQuail reviewing hundreds of completed dossiers for admission decisions. Dr. Johnson performs various important administrative assignments within the Department. He has been the chair of the Departmental Search Committee for new faculty positions and chair of the Departmental APT Committee.