Harold Elford Johns

Career

Educated at McMaster University and the University of Toronto, Harold Johns devoted his career to the application of physics to medicine and biology and to training students with similar interests. He is best known for his development at the University of Saskatchewan of cobalt-60 therapy units which revolutionized the radiation treatment of cancer worldwide, and for his pioneering efforts in a variety of areas of medical physics and photochemistry.

Did you know?
In November 1951, Harold Johns and his team used cobalt-60 radiation therapy to treat a cancer patient. (See also Canadian Contributions to Medicine; Sylvia Olga Fedoruk.)

His work was at all times characterized by the application of imagination and experimental skill backed by theoretical rigour to the solution of major problems, largely related to cancer diagnosis and treatment. An inspiring and enthusiastic teacher and lecturer, he was the initiator of Canada's first department of medical biophysics at the University of Toronto and gained international recognition for his research and educational efforts. He also served as chairman of the Healing Arts Radiation Committee (1981-82).

Publications

Harold Johns was the author of numerous scientific papers and the book, The Physics of Radiology (4th ed., 1983).

Honours and Awards

• Fellow, Royal Society of Canada (1951)
• Doctor of Laws, University of Saskatchewan (1959)
• Henry Marshall Tory Medal, Royal Society of Canada (1971)
• Canada Gairdner International Award, Gairdner Foundation (1973)
• Officer, Order of Canada (1977)
• Gold Medal, American College of Radiology (1980)
• M. Taylor Award, Canadian Cancer Society (1982)
• B. Lewis Award, Canadian Nuclear Society (1985)
• Inductee, Canadian Medical Hall of Fame (1998)
• Inductee, Canadian Science and Engineering Hall of Fame (2000)