Richard T. Johnson, "Inventor" of Neurovirology, Dies at 84

To the Johns Hopkins Medicine community

Dear Colleagues:             

It is with profound sadness that we report the death of Richard T. Johnson, an internationally renowned Johns Hopkins neurologist who is credited with inventing the field of neurovirology—the study of viruses that infect the nervous system. Active up until the last weeks of his life, giving lectures at medical centers around the nation and overseas, Richard, or "RTJ," as he was known by colleagues and friends, served The Johns Hopkins Hospital with distinction for more than a quarter century. 

A member of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine faculty from 1969 to 1997, RTJ was director of the Department of Neurology from 1988 until 1997. He also had a joint appointment in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and served on the faculties of medical schools in Australia, Germany, Iran, Peru and Thailand. 

RTJ influenced hundreds, if not thousands, of medical students, undergraduates and postdoctoral fellows through his charismatic and spell-binding lectures, as well as through direct mentoring. His insight, perseverance and tireless enthusiasm for his trainees made him a "mentor's mentor," with many of his mentees advancing to become heads of their own departments.
               
A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, he was recruited from Case Western Reserve Hospital in 1969 to join Guy McKhann, then a neurologist at Stanford, to found Johns Hopkins' Department of Neurology. He also was the founder of the multiple sclerosis clinic at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

RTJ focused his research on infections of the nervous system, particularly viral infections, and he developed a multidisciplinary laboratory group to study viruses linked to a wide variety of chronic neurological diseases. He traveled widely overseas, establishing laboratories to study infectious diseases and teach.
  
RTJ succeeded Guy McKhann as director of the Department of Neurology in 1988. As director, he continued its path to excellence, expanded the faculty from 40 to more than 100, and established new programs, including neurointensive care and epilepsy monitoring.

He twice won awards for clinical teaching and was an exceptionally prolific researcher, publishing more than 300 professional journal articles and book chapters. He was the editor of 10 books and the lone author of Viral Infections of the Nervous System. RTJ received numerous national and international awards throughout his career, including 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. After a trial retirement in 1997, he served as director of the National Neuroscience Institute of Singapore and as editor of Annals of Neurology.

We extend our sincere condolences to RTJ's wife, Sylvia Eggleston Wehr, associate dean for external affairs for Johns Hopkins' Sheridan Libraries, his daughter, Erica Johnson Turrie and sons Carlton, Matthew and Nathan.

A memorial service for RTJ will be held on Friday, December 4, at 11 a.m. at Church of the Redeemer—5603 North Charles Street, Baltimore, 21210. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made via mail to the Richard T. Johnson Fund, c/o Fund for Johns Hopkins Medicine, 750 East Pratt Street, 17th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21202; by phone at 410-361-6548; or through their secure on-line tribute form.

Sincerely,

Paul B. Rothman, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine