F. Reed Johnson Named RTI Distinguished Fellow
posted 2010.3.1

F. Reed Johnson, PhD, of the Health Preference Assessment Group in RTI Health Solutions (RTI-HS) has been named an RTI Distinguished Fellow for his long-time contributions to health and environmental economics.

A principal economist for RTI-HS, Dr. Johnson has over 35 years of academic and research experience. He has served on the faculty of several universities in the United States, Canada and Sweden and currently is adjunct professor of public policy at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His awards and honors include two Fulbright-Hayes scholarships and a Brookings Economic Policy Fellowship.

His current research involves estimating time equivalences among health states, patients’ willingness to pay for improved health outcomes, and patients’ and physicians’ willingness to accept side-effect risks for improved outcomes. His publications include a series of studies on risk tolerance for new biologic treatments that offer large demonstrated improvements in treating chronic illnesses, but also carry risks of fatal side effects. Two of these studies are the only patient-preference studies to date that have been considered by FDA in support of drug-licensing decisions.

A prolific author, he has produced nearly 100 peer-reviewed publications, including 16 publications in 2009. He coauthored a book on techniques for using existing environmental and health value estimates for policy analysis.

Being named a Distinguished Fellow at RTI recognizes Dr. Johnson’s international reputation and record in publishing, invited presentations, mentoring, and other contributions to RTI. Designed to recognize and integrate the best technical and scientific talent at RTI, the RTI Fellow Program is the highest scientific honor bestowed by RTI.