Johnson, Joel

Johnson begins his interview describing his upbringing and his path to a career in medicine. He covers his naval career during the Vietnam War at the Oakland Naval Hospital in California and aboard the hospital ship USS Repose during the Tet Offensive (1966-1968). Johnson also discusses his career after the Navy as a surgeon in Kearney, Nebraska, and as a Senator in the Nebraska State Legislature (2002-2008). He talks about legislation that he was influential in passing such as the ban on smoking in restaurants and bars, bring medical helicopter service to Western Nebraska and using DNA for criminal exoneration. He continually expresses how thankful he is for the influential relationships throughout his life and gratitude for being an Elliott Award recipient (2009).

Transcript of the interview with Joel Johnson.