College of Medicine – Tucson welcomes new chair of anesthesiology

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson appointed Ken B. Johnson, MD, as the new chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, effective May 1.

“We are all very excited to welcome Dr. Johnson to the College of Medicine – Tucson as our new anesthesiology chair,” said Michael M.I. Abecassis, MD, MBA, the Inaugural Humberto and Czarina Lopez Endowed Dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson. “His past achievements align perfectly with our tripartite mission, and I am confident he will greatly benefit our students and trainees, procedural faculty and, ultimately, our patients.”

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Johnson joins the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson from the University of Utah, where he was a professor of anesthesiology and the vice chair for research. Johnson organized and served as co-director of the anesthesia department’s simulation center, which provides training opportunities to medical students, residents, fellows and clinical faculty. At the University of Utah, he was a member of his department’s cardiac, obstetric and trauma anesthesia teams.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed as chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, a nationally respected institution recognized for its commitment to excellence in patient care, education and innovation,” Johnson said. “This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead alongside dedicated clinician-educators in developing cutting-edge training programs for our students and trainees. I am also eager to partner with the department and college’s outstanding investigators to strengthen our research mission through mentorship and collaboration.”

Johnson’s research interests include pharmacogenomics, medical device development, patient monitoring and advancing quality measures through big data analysis. He has received funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation and industry organizations. He is the co-principal investigator in a multicenter study exploring genetic and epigenetic biomarkers in chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain.

Johnson will serve in a clinical role at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson in addition to his duties at the College of Medicine – Tucson. 

“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Johnson,” said Richard Orlandi, MD, CEO of Banner – University Medical Group. “His clinical expertise and commitment to academic medicine align with our mission to enhance the health of our community. As Banner – University Medicine continues to grow, his leadership and experience will help shape the future of health care in Southern Arizona.”

Johnson’s clinical interests and expertise are in regional anesthesia and acute pain management, processed electroencephalogram monitoring, and neuromuscular blockade monitoring. 

“I look forward to collaborating with our exceptional clinical faculty, residents, CRNAs and staff to enhance and expand access to high-quality anesthetic care at Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and across Southern Arizona,” Johnson said.

Johnson earned his medical degree and a Master of Science in bioengineering from Tulane University after earning a bachelor’s in the same field from the University of California, Berkeley. Johnson became a faculty member at the University of Utah after completing his residency in anesthesiology there in 1999.