From the Office of the Chair of Internal Medicine

From the Office of the Chair of Internal Medicine:

It is a privilege to recognize Dr. Philip Johnson, who has been the director of the Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine at UTHealth for 36 of his 41-year tenure. He is transferring the reins of divisional leadership to Dr. Kevin Hwang, effective September 1, 2025. The department will miss him as a leader and welcome his ongoing work at UTHealth as a Vice Chair for Faculty Development and as an active clinical mentor.

We asked Dr. Gabriel Aisenberg (Vice Chair for the Division) to write a few words about these two friends:

I met Dr. Philip Johnson when I was a fellow back in 2003 at Thomas Street Clinic. I, because I was not the fastest, and he, because he is thorough, would meet at the end of our shifts to discuss my many questions about the care of my patients. Always with a smile, he was there to diligently save me (and my patients). Some years later, with Mexican food on our plates, he kindly offered me to join my faculty position. We have been working together ever since.

Dr. Johnson is a distinguished physician, educator, and researcher in the field of Infectious Diseases. He completed his medical degree in 1979 and residency in 1982 at Baylor College of Medicine, followed by a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at UTHealth. Since becoming Division Director in 1989, he has remained deeply engaged in clinical care, teaching, and research, with a focus on gastrointestinal infections, fungal diseases, and HIV/AIDS.

Over his career, Dr. Johnson has received numerous honors, including the Humanism in Medicine Award (2001), the Herbert L. and Margaret W. DuPont Clinical Teaching Award (2010), and the title of Distinguished Physician at Memorial Hermann Hospital (2015). He was appointed Vice Chairman of Internal Medicine in 2008 and later named to two endowed professorships in 2018. His scholarly work includes over 100 publications and book chapters.

Dr. Johnson has served in various leadership roles, including on pharmacy and therapeutics committees at multiple Houston medical institutions, as well as in community service organizations such as Amigos de las Americas and Faith in Practice, where he and his wife lead annual medical missions to Guatemala.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Johnson is known for his good manners, consistently positive attitude, and remarkable patience in facing adversity. His colleagues admire not only his clinical acumen and dedication to service, but also his ability to bring joy to those around him—including through his surprising talent as a skilled tuba player, a skill that he will adamantly deny.

Dr. Kevin Hwang joined the Division of General Internal Medicine at UTHealth in 2005, the same year I started my Internal Medicine residency at UT Houston, as a Primary Care Fellow and has since become a key leader in both clinical and academic roles. He currently serves as Medical Director of the UT Physicians Internal Medicine – Texas Medical Center clinic and as Director of the General Internal Medicine Fellowship. He also leads the Population Health longitudinal theme in the medical school curriculum, shaping future physicians with a focus on systems-based care and public health.

Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Clinical Informatics, Dr. Hwang brings a deep commitment to quality improvement, research, and the effective use of electronic health records. He holds a medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, completed residency training at Morristown Memorial Hospital in New Jersey, and earned a Master of Public Health from UTHealth McGovern Medical School.

With many medical publications and a growing body of academic work, Dr. Hwang remains a tireless contributor to scholarly and clinical excellence. Recently, he expanded his creative reach with the publication of a novel, demonstrating his versatility and passion for impactful storytelling.

Dr. Hwang is recognized by his colleagues for his unwavering availability, meticulous attention to detail, and a can-do attitude that inspires collaboration and forward momentum. Above all, he is driven by bold aspirations for the Department of Internal Medicine at UT—consistently advocating for its growth, innovation, and broader influence in academic medicine. I am proud to know and work with him, a cooperation I foresee as long-lasting and fruitful.

Gabriel Aisenberg, MD
Professor, General Medicine

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