2019 Prime of Life Achievement Award

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Dr. Denis Johnson received a BSc in Pharmacy (1960), and MSc in Pharmacology (1962) from the U of S, and a PhD (1965) from the University of Washington in Seattle. He returned to the University in 1965, was Joint-Acting Head of the newly formed Department of Pharmacology, then taught and performed research for 42 years, before retiring from the University in 1997.

After retiring, Dr. Johnson was a consultant for his company “Restco”, working in the areas of research, education, science and technology. He served as Director of the Saskatchewan Synchrotron Institute from 2002 to 2004.

Dr. Johnson’s many contributions have been recognized by awards from local, provincial and national bodies: Certificate of Merit, National Cancer Institute of Canada, 1996; Rotarian Golden Wheel Award, for contributions to the city of Saskatoon, 2002; Science Advocacy Award, Canadian Federation of Biological Societies (CFBS), as a longtime advocate and supporter of health research in Canada, 2006; Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation Achievement Award, 2011; Pharmacy and Nutrition “Alumni of Influence“ award as part of the College’s 100th Anniversary 2014. The StarPhoenix named him among “100 Saskatonians who made a difference” in a special section of the paper “Paying tribute to 100 individuals who made a major contribution toward enhancing the physical, social or cultural well-being of our splendid city”, May 26, 2006.