As a licensed pharmacist and certified teacher, Richard Dean Johnson, PharmD, PhD, has always been intrigued by pharmaceutical sciences, medical research, and academia. Commencing his career soon after receiving his doctoral degree, he worked with Allergan as the section head of research and development in 1965, holding the role for two years. From there, he served Syntex Laboratories Inc. as the director of regulatory affairs and Marion Laboratories Inc. as the managing director, vice president of licensing, vice president of corporate development, and vice president of business alliances. Subsequently, he served Marion Merrell Dow Inc. as the corporate vice president for two years prior to his retirement in 1991. Since then, he has acted as owner and principal of K.C. BioPharma LLC in Kansas City, MO, where he has contributed much in the way of pharmaceuticals.
During his tenure, Dr. Johnson has made major contributions to American medicine, such as aiding in the development of diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker and antihypertensive drug, and sucralfate, an antacid used to treat ulcers. He has contributed myriad articles to professional journals and authored the book “A Study of Physical and Chemical Properties of Solutions by Thermal Electric Methods” in 1965. Alongside his primary appointments, he has found success as an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City since 1995, having formerly been with multiple companies as a medical analyst and on their boards of directors. Civically involved as well, Dr. Johnson has sat on the dean’s research council of the School of Pharmacy at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, having also held the title of president emeritus of the Pharmacy Foundation at the university since 1998.
In recognition of his exceptional contributions to pharmaceutical science, Dr. Johnson has garnered several accolades. Named to the FBI Citizens’ Academy in Kansas City since 2007, he was also named to the Taft Union Hall of Fame and maintained a fellowship with the American Institute of Chemists. A past fellow of the American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education, he is also a frequent grantee of the National Institutes of Health and Public Health Service, having further won the 50 Year Emeritus Award from the American Chemical Society. Likewise, he was also presented with the 50 Year Recognition Award from the California State Board of Pharmacy and has been highlighted in multiple Who’s Who publications.
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