On October 27, 2018, William Johnson, MD was presented the J. Kipp Charlton Physician of Excellence Award at the 15th Annual CopaBall, themed “Imagine Our Future”.
Dr. Johnson serves as Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and is Medical Director of Perioperative Services for Maricopa Integrated Health System, where he has practiced for 30 years.
Dr. Johnson had a ten year mathematics and teaching career before venturing into medicine in 1978. He graduated from George Washington University Medical School in 1982 and completed his anesthesiology residency at The University of Maryland.
Dr. Johnson came to Arizona in 1986 and worked three years at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center and began “moonlighting” at Maricopa Medical Center in 1988. He was offered a faculty position there in 1989 and, as Dr. Johnson says, “the rest is history”.
Dr. Johnson enjoys the fit of anesthesiology because of its technology focus, but as important, because of the ability it allows him to interact with families. He feels it was natural to specialize in pediatric anesthesiology because he enjoys having fun with the kids, wearing funny things, teasing them and making them smile. And he is appreciative when parents thank him for how he cared for their child; he says “to me, that’s a high”.
Dr. Kote Chundu, CEO of District Medical Group, stated “As a physician and anesthesiologist, Bill is superb. But, he is also a compassionate human being. His calm, quiet leadership, especially in stressful times, makes him truly deserving of this honor.”
Photo courtesy of Maricopa Health Foundation YouTube
MIHS President and CEO Steve Purves added, “Dr. Bill Johnson is a strong, steady leader who is well respected, not just at MIHS, but across the state and nation. We are fortunate to have him at MIHS and proud he is being recognized.”
Dr. Johnson and his wife, Leanor, are proud parents of three sons, all who have completed college and have successful careers. When asked about his legacy, Dr. Johnson said, “I’d like to be remembered by my patients and colleagues as someone who had fun delivering excellent care, and by my family as a loving father, a husband in love with his wife, and as a man who did the very best he could to provide for them.”
The Caruso Society is proud to recognize one of our members, Dr. William Johnson, as the 2018 J. Kipp Charlton Physician of Excellence Award Winner.