Author Biography
Dr. Michael D. Johnson spent most of his youth in the fields and forests of rural Washington, observing nature. He earned his B.S. degree in zoology from Washington State University and then moved east to earn a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Michigan. After completing a Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School he joined the faculty of West Virginia University, where he remained for most of his career. In 2001, Dr. Johnson moved to the Middle East, where he served first as the founding dean of Oman Medical College in the Sultanate of Oman and then as associate dean for premedical education at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. In both positions, he directed the premedical education of students from more than 25 countries. He returned to the United States in 2011 to focus on his writing. Dr. Johnson received several teaching awards during his career, including the West Virginia University Foundation Outstanding Teacher award and the Distinguished Teacher Award of the School of Medicine. He is a member of the American Physiological Society, the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society, the National Association of Biology Teachers, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Whether teaching undergraduates or medical students, Dr. Johnson has always had a keen interest in instilling in students an appreciation of science. He seeks to show students how the advancement of scientific knowledge sometimes raises unforeseen ethical, political, economic, and social issues for all of us to discuss and solve. Through this book, he encourages students to become scientifically literate so that they will feel comfortable making responsible choices as consumers of science. You can contact Dr. Johnson at mdj5412@gmail.com with comments or questions about this book.
