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October 2002
Volume 66 |
Number 10
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| All in
the Family for 31 Years: ASA Executive Director Glenn
W. Johnson to Retire |
In many instances, being unable to separate one's personal
life from one's professional life is considered a negative
attribute. In the case of ASA Executive Director Glenn W.
Johnson, recognition of his unwillingness to separate the
two amounts to a compliment of the highest order. Since
1971, Glenn devoted much of his time and energy to a Society
that became not just his place of employment, but his family.
In March 2002, Mr. Johnson surprised ASA employees and
members alike when he announced that he would retire from
the ASA family after 31 years of service, 15 years as Executive
Director. Expressing sadness that he was leaving the organization
to which he had given so much, Glenn explained that he needed
more time with his wife and children – the family that
always mattered the most but that sometimes took a backseat
to his duties at ASA. Although he will be missed by all
who worked with him and knew him, the legacy he will leave
behind will be felt by all who continue on at ASA.
Upon graduation from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest,
Illinois, Mr. Johnson spent seven years as the office manager
of a manufacturing company. In 1971 he joined ASA, looking
for a challenge. As "Administrative Assistant,"
Mr. Johnson worked with the Membership Department, the Medical
Student Preceptorship Program, Regional Workshops and the
sections on Education and Clinical Care. During Mr. Johnson's
first few years at ASA, the Society focused primarily on
continuing medical education and scientific advancement.
Anesthesiology would grow rapidly in the 1980s, however,
and that growth would spawn new challenges and new opportunities
for Mr. Johnson and ASA.
Following his promotion to Director of Administration,
Mr. Johnson became increasingly involved with the Board
of Directors and the House of Delegates. He quickly became
a leader among ASA executive staff and was a motivating
force behind many of the positive and noteworthy changes
taking place in ASA and in the specialty. One of the most
notable, and undoubtedly one of the most important, changes
that occurred during Mr. Johnson's executive years was the
dramatic increase in ASA membership. For instance, the 1980
Annual Meeting tallied a grand total of 6,112 registrants
and offered 249 exhibit booths. In 2000, the Annual Meeting
hosted 17,440 registrants and 285 exhibit booths! Of this
fact, Glenn is most proud.
"Over the past 31 years, I have been a part of ASA's
steady progress in a number of areas. Our membership has
increased three-fold, our Annual Meeting has increased four-fold,
we have become heavily computerized, we have developed a
strong presence in Washington, D.C., and ASA is now a major
player in organized medicine," Mr. Johnson said.
In 1987, Glenn was promoted to Executive Director and was
the driving force behind all ASA's educational, scientific
and political activities. During his tenure as Executive
Director, the landscape of medicine and anesthesiology changed
dramatically, and ASA was forced to react to continuously
shifting political and legal forces that began to affect
the specialty more and more. Under Mr. Johnson's leadership,
the Washington Office staff grew and helped ASA become a
powerful political force for its members, patients and all
of medicine.
On a more "concrete" level, Mr. Johnson's talents
shone in 1992 when a new headquarters building was designed
and built to house burgeoning ASA staff and activities.
Glenn had long had an interest in design and architecture,
and with the help of an architect and building contractor,
he helped to plan and oversee the construction of the three-story,
44,000-square-foot headquarters building that houses ASA's
executive offices today.
The ASA headquarters building surely will stand for decades
to come and will be tangible evidence of Glenn Johnson's
achievements at ASA. Perhaps his greatest achievement, however,
is in the immeasurable impact he has had on ASA officers,
members and staff. As the driving force behind the majority
of ASA activities, his influence will live on in all future
ASA actions. ASA 2002 President Barry M. Glazer, M.D., remarked
on Mr. Johnson's contributions:
"Glenn Johnson is a perfect fit as Executive Director
of ASA. The fundamental function of an executive –
creating and running a dedicated, efficient, effective and
loyal staff organization – is executed flawlessly.
As might be expected, his many years of service have made
him the most knowledgeable person in ASA regarding our history
and traditions. But more importantly, while he has a full
understanding of the value of ASA as a member-driven organization,
he nevertheless is able to optimize his contributions to
ASA and anesthesiology, not only as the leader of our staff
but also as one of the specialty's most passionate spokespersons.
His respect for and pride in our specialty are only equaled
by the reciprocal respect and pride held by all who have
worked for or with him."
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Hardly working: Perhaps that is how Glenn and
his wife of 39 years, Gale, will spend their
time. After 31 years of hard work at ASA, they
deserve it.
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ASA NEWSLETTER Editor Mark J. Lema, M.D., Ph.D.,
has worked closely with Mr. Johnson through much of his
ASA career and recognizes that an important element of ASA's
past success will be lost:
"If ASA is the harbor pictured in our Society's seal,
then surely Glenn Johnson is the lighthouse. May the next
executive director's beam shine as straight, as bright and
as long as Glenn's light."
Despite the clouds on medicine's horizon at the time of
his retirement, Mr. Johnson is not worried about the future
of ASA or the specialty.
"These are troubled times for medicine, but ASA has
a bright future," he said. "Education, science
and advocacy are the mainstays of ASA, and I am proud to
have been a part of our involvement in these areas. I think
that I have had one of the best jobs in organized medicine!"
We think Glenn Johnson has done one of the best jobs in
organized medicine as well. As has been noted here, many
of his achievements are the kinds that can be easily measured.
On the eve of his retirement, though, it is more difficult
to measure how strongly the loss of a family member will
be felt by those who have worked for and with him. Certainly
a competent successor will be found, and ASA will undoubtedly
continue to grow under new leadership, but replacing family
is much more difficult. With fond remembrance, Glenn, your
ASA family wishes you good luck!
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