June 4, 2026

 

Dear colleagues:

 

I am writing to share that Ted Johnson, MD, MPH, will be stepping down from his roles as Chair of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and Director, Emory Academic Internal Medicine Center on September 18, 2026. Dr. Johnson has accepted the role of Regional Medical Officer for the Southeast US Region of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This new position, based in Atlanta, is a testament to his deep commitment to public health and his extensive expertise in health care policy and delivery, and we are incredibly proud of this next step for him.

 

Dr. Johnson has served with distinction as chair for nearly 12 years, during which he was instrumental in advancing the department's mission, fostering innovative research, and nurturing the next generation of medical professionals. Under his leadership, the department doubled its grant funding, increased publications by 400%, added a division (Palliative Medicine), and tripled the number of faculty.

 

He also made significant contributions as the Division Director for Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, General Medicine and Geriatrics, and General Internal Medicine in the Department of Medicine. Dr. Johnson also served as a VA staff physician and a founding member of the Birmingham/Atlanta VA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center. Throughout his time at Emory, Dr. Johnson has championed primary care, serving as a valued colleague and mentor, including providing leadership for HRSA Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Programs, the Emory Primary Care Consortium, Georgia Memory Net, and the Kathelen and Dan Amos Medical Student Loan Forgiveness Program.

 

Plans for leadership transitions, including a national search, are forthcoming.

 

My best,

 

Sandra

 

Sandra L. Wong, MD, MS 

Dean, Emory University School of Medicine 

Chief Academic Officer, Emory Healthcare