Joyce Johnson, M.D.
Medical students light CANDLE for Johnson
Joyce Johnson, M.D., associate professor of Pathology, was recently chosen by Vanderbilt University School of Medicine students to receive the CANDLE (Caring, Advocating, Nurturing, Determination, Leadership and Empathy) Award.
The honor is given to individuals who have devoted themselves to teaching and mentoring.
Recipients are nominated and chosen based upon their positive impact on the lives of physicians-in-training, and are recognized by their students as examples of excellence in medical education.
“She embodies the caring, advocacy, nurturing, doing, leadership and empathy that the CANDLE Award seeks to recognize,” one of her nominators wrote. “Dr. Johnson has consistently gone out of her way to support issues at and beyond VUMC.
“For instance, she has volunteered for the Shade Tree Family Clinic — for which she signed up as a 'third/fourth year medical student' — and has helped lead training sessions for medical students to acquire basic skills such as drawing blood.
“She has a way of making people feel comfortable in her presence and involved in her work, which translate into lasting, meaningful growth and learning. Many people are intelligent; Dr. Johnson adds care, humility and humor to transform the ordinary to the extraordinary.
“She gives hope and example for how to be a good physician, teacher and leader in medicine and a good person in the world.”