Frank B. Johnson (pathologist) facts for kids

Frank Bacchus Johnson (1919–2005) was an important African American scientist. He was a chemical pathologist, which means he studied diseases by looking at chemical changes in the body's tissues. He made big contributions to medicine in the 20th century.

Early Life and Education

Frank B. Johnson was born on February 1, 1919, in Washington, D.C. He went to the University of Michigan and earned a degree in Chemistry. Later, he studied medicine at Howard University, becoming a doctor in 1944.

After medical school, he joined the United States Army Medical Corps. Sadly, he faced discrimination because of his race. He was told his services were not needed and was discharged from the military.

Johnson then completed an internship in internal medicine and pathology. This was at the Jersey City Medical Center in New Jersey. He returned to Howard University to work at Freedman's Hospital from 1946 to 1948. After that, he received a special fellowship. This allowed him to study medical science at the University of Illinois, Chicago. He worked with the Atomic Energy Commission.

Career at the AFIP

In 1952, Johnson joined the United States Army Reserve as a Captain. He was sent to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) for a short time. While there, he fixed a special machine called a freeze-drying apparatus. This machine was very important for research.

The director of AFIP, General Elbert DeCoursey, was impressed. He asked Johnson to stay, and this short assignment became his long career.

Advancing Medical Research

Johnson helped the AFIP get its first electron microscopes. These powerful tools let scientists see tiny details inside cells. He also helped acquire ultracentrifuges, which are machines that separate tiny particles. These new tools greatly improved how pathologists could study diseases.

In 1974, Johnson became the chairman of the Chemical Pathology Department. Five years later, he was promoted to the Senior Executive Service. He also helped create the Former Prisoners of War Registry. This project collected medical samples from veterans. The goal was to study how being a prisoner of war affected their health as they got older.

In 2001, Johnson played a role in a very important investigation. He helped identify materials in the anthrax spores. These spores were sent to the U.S. Capital and other places. He retired from his work in 2004.

Major Contributions

One of Johnson's biggest contributions was in histochemistry. This field uses chemicals to identify different substances in tissue samples. He taught the AFIP Histochemistry Pathology course for 30 years, from 1954 to 1984. This course was very important because similar courses were not taught in most medical schools. His work helped define and grow the field of histochemistry.

Johnson also worked with another scientist, Isadore Dublin. Together, they described a mild form of jaundice. This condition is now known as Dubin–Johnson syndrome.

Images for kids

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  Frank B. Johnson (bottom right) with other staff members of the Histochemistry Branch of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in 1954 at the Army Medical Museum building in Washington, DC. (NMHM NCP 17338)