Cynda Ann Johnson

President and Dean

M.D., University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine; M.B.A., University of Missouri at Kansas City

Cynda Ann Johnson, M.D., M.B.A. was selected Founding Dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in January 2008. She received a B.A. in German (honors) and biology from Stanford University and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa honorary society. She received her M.D. degree from the UCLA School of Medicine followed by residency training in family medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center and a teaching fellowship at the University of North Carolina. She served as residency director at KU and, while serving as interim Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, completed her MBA at the University of Missouri at Kansas City. She also served as Professor and Head of the Department of Family Medicine in the College of Medicine, Professor of the Department of Community and Behavioral Medicine in the College of Public Health and Director of the Family Care Center for the University of Iowa. Dr. Johnson joined East Carolina University in 2003 as Dean of the Brody School of Medicine and, in 2006, was appointed Senior Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical and Translational Research in the Division of Research and Graduate Studies. While serving in this role, she led the development of the ECU Center for Health Disparities Research. She is past president of the American Board of Family Practice (now Family Medicine) and the American Board of Medical Specialties. Dr. Johnson was a busy clinician for 30 years focusing on maternal and child health including obstetrics and outpatient gynecology. Academically, she has a special interest in chronic kidney disease and international medicine. As a medical educator, she has been involved in LCME reaccreditation at three institutions, including oversight of the process at ECU.

Video: Cynda Ann Johnson, M.D., M.B.A., President & Founding Dean

Podcast: Cynda Johnson, founding dean and president of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Length: 06:32

Podcast: Cynda Johnson describes the application process

Length: 03:35

Podcast: Dean Cynda Johnson talks about her excitement for the opening of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Length: 00:16

Podcast: Dean Cynda Johnson describes the unique problem-based learning curriculum

Length: 00:25

Research

Research Interests

• Careers of women in medicine
• Women’s health
• International medicine

Current Research

• Medical education

Publications

• Johnson, Cynda Ann.  Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (Would that be PMS?) Home Study Audio:  AAFP Home Study Self Assessment program,  April 2003.
• Uhlig K, Johnson CA, Levey AS.  New Guidelines Spell Out Approach to Chronic Kidney Disease.  Patient Care.  37(7):38-52, July 2003.
• Johnson, Cynda Ann.  Benign Breast Disease in the Woman:  Is Reassurance Risky? Home Study Audio:  AAFP Home Study Self Assessment program, August, 2003.
• Johnson CA.  Premenstrual stress involves three syndromes.  University of Iowa Virtual Hospital (digital health sciences library), http://www.vh.org, September 2003.
• K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease Work Group.  American Journal of Kidney Diseases 42(4), Suppl 3, October 2003.
• Johnson, Cynda Ann.  Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.  Home Study Audio: AAFP Home Study Self-Assessment Program, February 2004.
• K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hypertension and Antihypertensive Agents in Chronic Kidney Disease Work Group.  Clinical Practice Guidelines on Hypertension and Antihypertensive Agents in Chronic Kidney Disease.  American Journal of Kidney Diseases 43(5), Suppl 1, May 2004.
• Johnson, Cynda Ann. Vaginitis. Home Study Audio:  AAFP Home Study Self-Assessment Program, May 2004.
• Johnson CA.  Creating Practice guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease:  An Insider’s View.  Am Fam Physicians.  70(5):823-828, September 2004.
• Johnson CA, Levey A, Coresh J, Levin A, Lau J, Eknoyan G.  Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults:  Part I.  Definition, Disease Stages, Evaluation, Treatment, and Risk Factors.  Am Fam Physicians.  70(5):869-876, September 2004.
• Johnson CA, Levey AS, Coresh J, Levin A, Lau J, Eknoyan G.  Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults:  Part II.  Glomerular Filtration Rate, Proteinuria and Other Markers.  Am Fam Physician.  70(6):1091-1097, September 2004.
• Rosenbaum ME, Ferguson KJ, Kreiter CD, Johnson CA.  Using a Peer Evaluation System to Assess Faculty Performance and Competence.  Fam Med. 37(6):429-33, 2005.
• Johnson CA:  A Conversation with Cynda Johnson, MD, MBA.  Women’s Health in Primary Care. 8(9):437-440, October 2005.
• AAMC:  Faculty Vitae, Winter 2006; Perspectives: How do Women in Medicine (WIM) programs complement other faculty development programs in medical schools?  What value do these gender specific activities bring to the institution? http://www.aamc.org/members/facultydev/facultyvitae/winter06/perspectives.htm.
• K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines and Clinical Practice Recommendations for Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease.  American Journal of Kidney Diseases 47(5), Suppl 3, May 2006.
• Johnson, CA.  Shaping the Future of Academic Health Centers (Letter).  Ann Fam Med  4:S2-11, 2006.
• Johnson CA, Johnson BE.  Family Medicine Practice in Rural Any-Country.  Fam Med.  40(1):55-56, January 2008.
• Bolin, Jr, P, Hames, M, Johnson, CA.  The Role of Nephrologists in Coordinating Care with Primary Care Practitioners.  N C Med J.  69(3):219-220, May/June 2008.
• Johnson CA.  The Chronic Kidney Disease Primary Care Practice.  N C Med J. 69(3):221-223, May/June 2008.
• Johnson, CA, Hoggard, JG. The Importance of Early Referral in CKD Care: Opportunities for Collaboration Between the Primary Care Physician or Internist and Nephrologist. Video, GAJE/Baxter and Osprey Communications, July 2008.

Additional Information

Honors/awards/recognitions

• Phi Beta Kappa
• Mead Johnson Award for Graduate Education in Family Practice, 1979-80
• Jayhawker M.D. Award (student award for best clinical faculty), 1985
• East Carolina University Best Doctor’s 2006, “Business North Carolina” 25th Anniversary
• North Carolina Academy of Family Practice Presidential Service Award, 2006