Charles and Alice Hohenberg Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Professor of Medicine, Physiology & Bio-physics

Senior Associate Chief of Staff for Critical Care Services

Medical Director, Medical Intensive Care Unit

Medical Director, Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Medical Director, Bronchoscopy, Pulmonary

Function Testing and Arterial Blood Gas Laboratory, Kirklin Clinic

Division of Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine
1720 2nd Avenue So, THT-422
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL 35294

Board Certifications

1983, American Board of Internal Medicine

1988, American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Diseases
1989, 1999, 2009 American Board of Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine

Medical School:  Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, M.D., Alpha Omega Alpha, 1980

Internship:  Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, 1980 - 1981

Residency:  Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX, 1981 - 1983

Chief Medical Resident, Internal Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX (July 1984 - June 1985)

Fellowship:  Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas (Third year research at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio), Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, TX (July 1985 - June 1988)

Military Service:

Twenty years in the United State Army (May, 1980-September, 2000), retiring as a colonel from the medical corps.

Contact Information

Campus Address:

 THT 422

Academic Office location:

 LHR 406-A

Office Phone:

 (205) 975-0787

Office Fax (Academic):

 (205) 975-0671

TKC Clinic Phone:

 (205) 801-7545

TKC Clinic Fax:

 (205) 802-8231

Email Address:

  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Beeper #:

 8582

Office Assistant:   
Janice Bernauer                               
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.                                   
Ph: (205) 934-0313
Fax: (205) 975-0671

Brief Bio

Dr. Johnson received his formal medical training at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (BA -1976, MD, 1980). He completed his residency in internal medicine and his fellowship in pulmonary and critical care at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas and. remained there on the faculty. Dr. Johnson's leadership abilities were quickly noted and he held numerous leadership positions including Director of the MICU, Director of the Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship Program, Director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and Assistant Chief of the Department of Medicine. Dr. Johnson retired from the military medical corps in September 2000.  He joined the pulmonary division faculty at the University of Alabama in Birmingham in October 2000 as Associate Professor of Medicine.  In 2002 he was named the Director of Pulmonary Rehabilitation. In 2003, he took on the role of Associate Director of the Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship. In 2004, he was promoted to Professor of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics. In 2005, he became Director of the MICU and became the first Charles and Alice Hohenberg Professor of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. In 2006, Dr. Johnson received the UAB President's Award for Excellence in Teaching for the School of Medicine and became the Associate Chief of Staff for Critical Care Services. In 2008, Dr. Johnson was named Best Basic Science Professor by the graduating medical school class.  In 2007 he assumed the role of Interim Division Director and then transitioned to Clinical Division Director in July 2009 upon the arrival of Dr. Victor J. Thannickal.

Clinical Interests 

Mechanical Ventilation, Dyspnea, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Academic & Research Interests

Mechanical Ventilation, Dyspnea, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Key Publications

Johnson JE. Which exercise test should be used for patients with symptomatic COPD? Chest 126: 668-70, 2004.

Johnson JE, Gavin DJ, Adams-Dramiga S: Effect of training with heliox and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on exercise ability in patients with severe COPD.  Chest 122: 464-72, 2002.

Morris MJ, Grbach VX, Deal LE, Boyd SYN, Morgan JA, Johnson JE:  Evaluation of exertional dyspnea in the active daily patient:  the diagnostic approach and the utility of clinical testing.  Military Medicine 167:281-8, 2002.

Johnson JE, Peacock MD, Hayes HA, Morris MJ, Anders GT, Blanton HM: Forced expiratory flow is reduced by 100% oxygen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  South Med J 88:443-9, 1995.

Berdine GG, Johnson JE, Dale D, Lehr JL: Inspiratory flow rate and dead space in dogs.  J Appl Physiol 68:1228-32, 1990.