|
By KENDALL MORGAN A good day for Denise Johnson, MD, surgeon at Stanford Hospital & Clinics and assistant professor of surgery at the School of Medicine, means an operation went well, she removed all the cancer and has good news for the family. On a bad day, however, she might cry with a patient whose cancer has progressed despite treatment. Johnson handles either situation with compassion, setting an example that women can succeed in medicine despite obstacles. "For women, and especially women of color, there has been a lack of role models," Johnson said. "Women have been pushed away from labor-intensive fields like surgery." But that never stopped her. "I lead by example," she said. Johnson grew up in urban Chicago, attending segregated public schools that lacked the money for up-to-date books and equipment. Her parents, however, had big ambitions for their children. When Johnson was in the 8th grade, she and her brother were taken on a visit to a medical school by their father.
Johnson’s mind was made up that day: she would become a doctor. She graduated from high school in 1972, the valedictorian of her class, entered a six-year medical program at Northwestern University and received her medical degree from Washington University in 1978. After more than a decade of residency, fellowships and research training, Johnson joined Stanford in 1991. A passion for medicine Whether it’s patient care or clinical research, Johnson revels in the fast pace of medicine. But in her mind, patients count most. She chose to focus on cancer surgery because she likes the ongoing patient-doctor relationship involved. Of course, dealing with death is difficult, she said, but patients need someone to help them through the tough times. "I want to improve, not just replicate medicine," Johnson said. "That’s been the joy of being at Stanford," she added, noting the talented, multidisciplinary group working toward better treatments, particularly in breast and melanoma cancers. In her current research, Johnson is engaged in clinical trials for gene therapies that can boost the body’s ability to ward off cancer. In the past, she has conducted research on PET scans as a less invasive method for cancer detection. Johnson is attempting to ensure that everyone — especially women in the "Medigap" who work but have no benefits — gain access to the latest in quality care. She took evidence that PET scans were an effective means to detect cancer to Washington, delivering testimony that helped extend Medicare coverage to new detection methods for lung cancer and melanoma. Teaching is a focus No matter how full Johnson's plate, she's always ready with encouragement for students. She has been recognized for excellence in teaching and mentoring, receiving the St. Clair Drake Teaching Award in 1998 and the Franklin G. Ebaugh Jr. Award for Advising Medical Students in 1999. And just last week in Nashville, Tenn., she accepted the Women of Color Health Science and Technology Award for Medical Leadership in Education. "I’m always honored and surprised when I get awards for teaching," Johnson said. "I remember how it felt to be a medical student. I was so happy when someone took the time to teach." Most of her teaching happens informally in the operating room or in small group discussions. She covers the gamut of subjects from basic science to how to speak to patients. She is there every step of the way, guiding junior residents through their first surgeries. For Johnson, learning to perform surgery is like learning to dance: she’s the skilled instructor, leading the residents through every movement until they’re prepared to set off on their own. "It takes patience," she said. Perhaps her affection for mentoring is related to an event toward the end of her own surgical training. In her last year as an oncology fellow, Johnson was scheduled to operate on a patient with colon cancer. The patient and his daughter took one look at her and asked for another surgeon. "They thought I was too young and they didn’t want an African American surgeon," she explained. A nurse informed the chairman of the department and he confronted the problem head-on. He told the patient that Johnson was a competent surgeon and if she wasn’t acceptable, he should choose another hospital. "He showed exceptional leadership," Johnson said. "From then on, everyone in the department knew that a patient could not deny a doctor on the basis of sex or color. I thought that was so brave." For the record, Johnson performed a successful surgery, and every year since, the patient has sent her a Christmas card.
|
Stanford Report, April 17, 2002
