During an presentation April 30 the Ohio Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (Ohio ACOFP) gave State Rep. Dr. Terry Johnson its annual Family Physician of the Year award, at the annual Ohio Osteopathic Symposium.

"I was very surprised with the announcement of the award. I'm not used to being called out like that, interesting enough this is an award I've nominated others for in the past," Johnson said.

According Ohio ACOFP, Johnson is the first osteopathic physician to serve in the Ohio General Assembly and believed to be the first Ohio physician to be elected to a state office since the 1930s.

"Johnson is a true ambassador for osteopathic medicine," said Dr. Ioanna Z. Giatis, Ohio ACOFP president.  "He is highly regarded by his patients, by his community and by his peers at the Ohio Statehouse."

Johnson has held many titles throughout this career: family practice residency director at Southern Ohio Medical Center; clinical associate professor for Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, assistant dean for the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education; and Scioto County coroner. Johnson is a more than 20-year veteran of the Army National Guard and he has been deployed three times in the Global War on Terror, twice to Iraq.  He serves as a colonel in the National Guard; senior Army flight surgeon; past commander of the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment; and is currently Joint Forces and Army State Surgeon for the Ohio Guard, giving him ultimate responsibility for all medical operations in the Ohio Guard, both Army and Air Force.  He has also led humanitarian medical missions to Panama and Ecuador.

"Johnson is a true ambassador for osteopathic medicine. He is highly regarded by his patients, by his community and by his peers at the Ohio Statehouse," Giatis said.

"When you look at the physician community in the state of Ohio there are so many people doing many good things. Everyday these people are in the trenches tying to help people who are sick," Johnson said. "To have a group like this honor you, that really stands out."

WAYNE ALLEN may be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 208, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.