David Johnson, M.D.

David Johnson, M.D.

  • R. Ellwood Jones, M.D. Distinguished Professorship in Clinical Education
  • Internal Medicine - Hematology/Oncology
  • Medical Oncology
  • Thoracic Oncology

Biography

David H. Johnson, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of its Division of Hematology and Oncology. He specializes in thoracic oncology and holds the R. Ellwood Jones, M.D. Distinguished Professorship in Clinical Education.

Dr. Johnson earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia and performed his residency in internal medicine at the University of South Alabama. He then completed advanced training in medical oncology through a fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2010 and served as the Donald W. Seldin Distinguished Chair of Internal Medicine until 2020.

Dr. Johnson’s career has been largely devoted to the development of new treatments for lung cancers. He played a major role in the development of several therapeutic agents, including paclitaxel (Taxol), bevacizumab (Avastin), and erlotinib (Tarceva), all of which are now FDA-approved for the treatment of lung cancer. He also played a role in the clinical development of the neutropenia drug G-CSF, culminating in its FDA approval.

His investigations have resulted in more than 450 publications in peer-reviewed journals and more than 50 book chapters and monographs. He is an editor of the textbooks Lung Cancer, Principles & Practice and Textbook of Uncommon Cancer, and he has served on numerous journal editorial boards and cancer center scientific advisory boards.

He is a past Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Board of Directors and of the ABIM Medical Oncology Subspecialty Board. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and served a term as President, where he helped advance the organization’s quality of care activity known as the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative and was instrumental in establishing ASCO’s Cancer Survivorship Program. He is a Master of the American College of Physicians, an Elected Member of the Association of American Physicians, and a member of several other professional societies.

Dr. Johnson also served on the Food and Drug Administration’s Oncology Drug Advisory Committee, as Chair of the Thoracic Committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, and on the Board of Directors of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and the LiveSTRONG Foundation.

He has received numerous honors and awards, including the 2019 Giants of Cancer Care Award.

Personal Note

When he’s not at work, Dr. Johnson enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, reading (especially biographies, medical history, and U.S. history), painting occasionally (watercolors), and “bird looking.” He says, “Bird looking is different than bird watching. Bird watching infers a deeper knowledge and understanding of birds. I just like looking at them.”

Education & Training
  • Medical School - Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University (1972-1976)
  • Internship - Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (1976-1976), Internal Medicine
  • Residency - University of South Alabama Medical Center (1977-1979), Internal Medicine
  • Fellowship - Vanderbilt University Medical Center (1981-1983), Hematology Oncology
Professional Associations & Affiliations
  • American Association for Cancer Research
  • American College of Physicians
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • Association of American Physicians
  • Association of Professors of Medicine
  • International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
  • Association of Subspecialty Professors
  • Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
  • Southern Medical Association
Honors & Awards
  • Distinguished Teaching Professor 2022, UT Southwestern Academy of Teachers
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society 2022
  • Top 1% of Lung Neoplasms Scholars 2021, Expertscape
  • Giants of Cancer Care Award 2019
Books & Publications
  • Books
    • CDS: Oncology
      Gerber D, Johnson DH (2013)
    • Textbook of Uncommon Cancer (4th ed.)
      Raghavan D, Blanke C, Johnson DH, Moots PL, Reaman G, Rose P, Sekeres M (2012), New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc.
    • Lung Cancer, Principles & Practice (4th ed.)
      Pass HI, Carbone DP, Johnson DH, Minna JD, Scagliotti G, Turrisi AT (2010), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Textbook of Uncommon Cancer (3rd ed.)
      Raghavan D, Brecher ML, Johnson DH, Meropol NJ, Moots PL, Rose P (2006), New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc.
    • Lung Cancer, Principles & Practice (3rd ed.)
      Pass HI, Carbone DP, Johnson DH, Minna JD, Turrisi AT (2005), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
      Laskin JJ, Sandler AB, Johnson DH (2005), Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co.
    • Lung Cancer
      Johnson DH (2003), Philadelphia, Current Medicine, Inc.
    • Lung Cancer, Principles & Practice (2nd ed.)
      Pass HI, Mitchell J, Johnson DH, Turrisi AT, Minna JD (2000), Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven Publishers
    • Textbook of Uncommon Cancer (2nd ed.)
      Raghavan D, Brecher ML, Johnson DH, Meropol NJ, Moots PL, Thigpen JT (1999), New York, John Wiley & Sons Inc.
    • American Society of Clinical Oncology 35th Annual Meetings Summary
      Johnson DH (1999), Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven
    • Taxanes in Lung Cancer
      Johnson DH, Kalstersky J (1998), New York, Marcel-Dekker, Inc.
    • Lung Cancer
      Johnson DH (1997), Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co.
    • Lung Cancer, Principles & Practice (1st ed.)
      Pass HI, Mitchell J, Johnson DH, Turrisi AT (1995), Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven Publishers
    • Lung Cancer
      Johnson BE, Johnson DH (1994), New York, Wiley-Liss
    • Small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis, treatment, and natural history in Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders (6th ed.)
      Dowell JE, Drapkin BJ, Gerber DE, Johnson DH (2023), New York, McGraw-Hill
    • Superior vena cava syndrome in Abeloff's Clinical Oncology (6th ed.)
      Gupta A, Kim DN, Kalva S, Reznik S, Johnson DH (2019), Philadelphia, Elsevier
    • Neoplasms of the lung in Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine (19th ed.)
      Horn L, Lovly C, Johnson DH (2015), New York, McGraw-Hill
    • Small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis, treatment, & natural history in Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders (5th ed.)
      Dowell JE, Gerber DE, Johnson DH (2015), New York, McGraw-Hill
    • Neoplasms of the lung in Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (18th ed.)
      Horn L, Pao W, Johnson DH (2010), New York, McGraw-Hill
    • Chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer: Principles and Practice (4th ed.)
      Horn L, Gridelli C, Langer C, Johnson DH (2010), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Superior vena cava syndrome in Clinical Oncology (4th ed.)
      Johnson DH, Laskin J, Cmelak AJ, Meranze SG, Roberts JR (2008), Philadelphia, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone
    • Cancer of the lung: NSCLC and SCLC in Clinical Oncology (4th ed.)
      Johnson DH, Blot WJ, Carbone DP, Gonzalez A, Hallahan D, Massion PP, Putnam JB, Sandler AB (2008), Philadelphia, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone
    • Small cell lung cancer: diagnosis, treatment and natural history in Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders (4th ed.)
      Palka K, Johnson DH (2007), Philadelphia, McGraw-Hill
    • Advancements in oncology in The Art and Science of Oncology
      Johnson DH (2007), Boston, Aspatore
    • Receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in Lung Cancer: Principles & Practice (3rd ed.)
      Laskin J, Johnson DH (2005), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy in locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer: Principles & Practice (3rd ed.)
      Corum L, Laskin J, Turrisi AT, Johnson DH (2005), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Current management strategies in intracranial breast cancer in Intracranial Metastases: Current Management Strategies
      Moulder S, Johnson DH, Toms SA (2004), Malden, MA, Blackwell Futura
    • Superior vena cava syndrome in Clinical Oncology (3rd ed.)
      Laskin J, Cmelak AJ, Roberts J, Meranze SG, Johnson DH (2004), Philadelphia, Elsevier Churchill Livingstone
    • Combined modality treatment for locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer. Principles and Practice (2nd ed.)
      Johnson DH, Turrisi AT (2000), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer. Principles and Practice (2nd ed.)
      DeVore RF, Johnson DH (2000), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
    • Superior vena cava syndrome in Clinical Oncology (2nd ed.)
      Cmelak AJ, Roberts J, Meranze SG, Johnson DH (2000), New York, Churchill Livingstone
    • Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast in Textbook of Uncommon Cancer (2nd ed.)
      Nicholson BP, Kasami M, Page DP, Johnson DH (1999), Chichester, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
    • Metaplastic breast carcinoma in Textbook of Uncommon Cancer (2nd ed.)
      Nicholson BP, Borowsky AD, Johnson DH (1999), Chichester, John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
    • Treatment strategies for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in Phase III Chemotherapy Trials in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A 1999 Perspective
      Johnson DH (1999), Dallas, Physicians' Education Resource
    • Lung cancer in Oncology MKSAP (2nd ed.)
      Johnson DH (1999), Philadelphia, American College of Physicians
    • Cisplatin plus doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide in metastatic or recurrent thymoma: Final results of an intergroup trial in Classic Papers and Current Comments: Highlights of Lung Cancer Research
      Loehrer PJ Sr., Kim K, Aisner SC, Livingston R, Einhorn LH, Johnson D, Blum R (1997), Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders
    • Small cell lung cancer: diagnosis, treatment, and natural history in Fishman's Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders (3rd ed.)
      Johnson DH, Blanke CD (1997), Philadelphia, McGraw-Hill
    • Superior vena cava syndrome in Clinical Oncology
      Murray M, Stewart J, Johnson DH (1995), New York, Churchill Livingstone
    • Combined modality therapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer, Principles & Practice
      Johnson DH, Turrisi AT, Pass HI (1995), Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven Press
    • Treatment of small cell lung cancer in Thoracic Oncology (2nd ed.)
      Johnson DH, Eisert DR (1995), Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co.
    • Mesothelioma in Current Therapy in Hematology-Oncology
      Johnson D, Johnson DH (1995), Philadelphia, B.C. Decker Inc.
    • Chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer, Principles & Practice
      DeVore RF, Johnson DH (1995), Philadelphia, Lippincott-Raven Press
    • Chemotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer
      Paul D, Johnson DH (1994), New York, Wiley-Liss
    • Colony-stimulating factors in Lung Cancer
      Waites TM, Johnson DH (1993), London, Blackwell Scientific Publication Inc.
    • Causes, clinical consequences, and treatment of neutropenia in Filgrastim (r-metHuG-CSF) in Clinical Practice
      Waites T, Johnson DH (1993), New York, Marcel Dekker Inc.
    • Chemoradiotherapy in limited small cell lung cancer in Chemoradiation: An Integrated Approach to Cancer Treatment
      Turrisi AT, Johnson DH, Comis R (1993), Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger
    • Biomarkers of small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer Differentiation
      Johnson DH, Greco FA (1992), New York, Marcel Dekker Inc.
    • Primary lung cancer in Conn's Current Therapy
      Johnson DH (1992), Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders Co.
    • Chronic oral etoposide in the treatment of lung cancer in Lung Cancer Differentiation
      Hainsworth JD, Johnson DH, Greco FA (1992), New York, Marcel Dekker Inc.
    • Gastric lymphomas, sarcomas, and carcinoids in Surgery of the Stomach, Duodenum, and Small Intestine
      Adkins RB, Johnson DH, Gray GF (1992), Boston, Blackwell Scientific Publication
    • Chemotherapy in lung cancer in Current Therapy in Hematology-Oncology-4
      DeVore RF, Johnson DH (1991), Philadelphia, B.C. Decker Inc.
    • Chronic daily administration of oral etoposide: rationale and preliminary results of phase II trials in VP-16: New Approaches
      Hainsworth JD, Johnson DH, Greco FA (1990), Tokyo, Professional Postgraduate Series
    • Rationale for aggressive chemotherapy in elderly patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
      Greer JP, Johnson DH (1990), New York, LP Communications
    • Treatment of small cell lung cancer: an update of the Southeastern Cancer Study Group experience in Treatment and Prevention of Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
      Johnson DH, Einhorn LH, Birch R, Perez CA, Greco FA (1989), London, Royal Society of Medicine Services Limited
    • Intensive induction chemotherapy with etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and cisplatin for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer in Treatment and Prevention of Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
      Johnson DH, Einhorn LH, Birch R, Perez CA, Greco FA (1989), London, Royal Society of Medicine Services Limited
    • Intensive induction therapy in small cell lung cancer in Small Cell Lung Cancer: Current Treatment and Future Directions
      Johnson DH (1989), New York, LP Communications
    • Testicular tumors in Current Therapy in Endocrinology and Metabolism-3
      Johnson DH, Greco FA (1988), New York, B.C. Decker Inc.
    • Biomarkers in small cell lung cancer in Lung Cancer: A Comprehensive Textbook
      Johnson DH, Greco FA (1988), New York, Grune & Stratton
    • Nephrotoxicity associated with antineoplastic therapy in Renal Complications of Neoplasia
      Hainsworth JD, Johnson DH, Porter LL (1986), New York, Praeger Press
  • Publications
Research
  • Developmental therapeutics
  • Lung cancer therapeutics

Clinical Focus

  • Medical Oncology
  • Thoracic Oncology
  • Lung Cancer Therapeutics

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