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Of The Day!
Time Clients!
- 1968 DVM University of Illinois
- 1981 Diplomat ABVP
- Specialty Canine & Feline
- (American Board of Veterinary Practitioners) - 1982 Diplomat ACVIM
- Specialty Internal Medicine
- (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
Dr. Johnson received his BS and DVM degrees from the University of Illinois, completing in 6 years what is normally an 8 year ordeal. Deciding to practice in the Chicago suburbs, he joined Dr. Storm and they built the North Shore Veterinary Clinic in Skokie. Always craving new knowledge and experience, Dr. J (as we call him) has attended numerous seminars and classes, as well as spending time at Purdue University vet school. Long before anyone taught veterinary echocardiogram technique, Dr. J religiously sat in at Cook County Hospital to learn as they began performing these procedures in people. He received his certification in Internal Medicine (ACVIM) and Companion Animal Medicine (ABVP). Seeking a further challenge, Dr. J attended courses and discussion at Lutheran General Hospital in Cardiology.
Dr. J has given lectures at many veterinary associations, including Chicago, Milwaukee, and the Northern Illinois veterinary associations, as well as nationally at the ACVIM convention in Washington DC. He has published several articles in veterinary journals. Dr. J has participated in research projects in cardiology, gastroenterology, arthritis studies, and coagulation testing. Two of the studies were for major pharmaceutical companies and were submitted to the FDA. Dr. J was the first to use calcium channel blockers successfully in dogs. Calcium channel blockers are now used for many disorders in cats and dogs. He has also implanted over a dozen pacemakers into dogs. So revolutionary was this at the time that he made the local and national news on several occasions.
Dr. Johnson is married and has two grown children as well as a number of pets. He has been active in his community with Boy Scouts, helping edit the Dog Care Merit Badge, serving as a First Aid Merit Badge councilor, and Weblos leader. He has been recognized for outstanding service to youth by the Evanston Optimist club and also active teaching children and adult classes in his local church. He enjoys tennis and the out of doors. In the fall of '99 he and his wife were camping and kayaking with the Orcas (killer whales) off Vancouver Island in the Pacific ocean. He also loves to foray into the Canadian wilderness to uncover the largest aquatic life therein. As one can see, he was quite successful last time.
Dr. Johnson has worked with Guardian Angel Basset Rescue for a great many years. He has helped their rescue dogs through a great many problems, some simple and some complex. In return for his service, GABR awarded him with "Professional Of The Year" for 2005 in April. Dr. Johnson regaled his audience with a story of one of the most unique foster basset hounds he treated: Jake (whose story made our Summer 2003 newsletter.)
Dr. Johnson continues to treat and care for these wonderful floppy-eared hounds.
The call of veterinary medicine never ceases. During a recent foray into the Canadian wilderness, Dr. Johnson found his skills required once again. One of his co-fishermen found a seagull tangled in a cord near the lake shore. For many years, Dr. Johnson used to have a wildlife liscense to care and treat wild animals. (He has since decided to specialize in other directions and no longer provides medical care for wildlife.)
Very quickly, he obtained help and set out to free the entangled bird. With a pair of leather gloves as his only protection, he attended to the poor creature. However, the seagull did not understand the help as offered. It repeatedly snapped at his hands and wrists until offered a bright orange cushion. It bit down and hung on for all its worth. Despite the bird's lack of appreciation, Dr. J patiently and gently removed the 40 plus coils around its legs and set it free. The "grateful" seabird swam off without so much as a squak of thanks.
Dr. Johnson is a member of the following associations:
- ACVIM (American College Of Veterinary Internal Medicine)
- ABVP (American Board Of Veterinary Practitioners)
- AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association)
- AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association)
- ISVMA (Illinois Veterinary Medical Association)
- CVMA (Chicago Veterinary Medical Association)
