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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
ducted under the control of the college. This
condition was met by establishing the hos-
pital of the Medical College of Virginia,
afterwards the Old Dominion Hospital. He
entered with zeal upon his new duties and
alligned himself with the progressive ele-
ment of the school, of which he became the
leading spirit.
It was his ambition to make the Medical College of Virginia the leading medical school of the South, with every equipment for doing the best work and developing the best physicians. Its greatest need, he thought, was an adequate hospital and he spent considerable time in devising plans by which this need could be supplied. He was finally able to interest Mr. John L. Wil- liams, who for his family subscribed a large amount of this purpose. This furnished the long sought nucleus and, with indefatigable energy, Mr. Johnston determined to make his plans a reality. The magnificent Mem- orial Hospital is the result. He studied the best hospitals in the country and plans were drawn under his direction. By his own personal efforts the bulk of the subscriptions were secured. This hospital is now prac- tically under the control of the college. He has been a potent factor in establishing the present high state of efficiency of the Medi- cal College of Virginia. Its course now covers four years, its requirements for en- trance are high, its laboratories and facilities tor clmical teaching are of the first order.
Dr. Johnston realized that the existence of two medical schools in Richmond with their associated hospitals was a dissipation of means, energy and ability and his active mind and untiring efforts were constantly applied to concentrating these resources within a single institution. He first moved in the direction of inducing the University of Virginia to establish its medical depart- ment in Richmond, taking over the prop- erty of the Medical College of Virginia, to- gether with the Memorial Hospital and also uniting with the University College of Medicine. An agreement satisfactory to the authorities of the University of Virginia could not be reached. Failing in this. Dr. Johnston renewed his endeavor to effect a merger of the Medical College of Virginia with the University College of Medicine and this was accomplished in 1913. Immediate- ly thereafter the trustees of the ^lemorial Hospital conveyed that property to the
merged institution. This marked the first ac-
complishment in the plan upon which Dr.
Johnston had worked for ten or more
years.
It was he who suggested a volunteer staff for the City Home Hospital, which hospital had always been a part of the City Alms House, and who succeeded in persuading the council to form such a staff. He was selected as one of the members of the staff and became its chief, occupying this posi- tion during his entire encumbency. It was also through his efforts that the City Hos- pital was divorced from the xA.lms House and organized into a separate institution, being brought into relations with the Medi- cal College of Virginia and made a part of its teaching facilities.
His surgical practice having grown to such an extent. Dr. Johnston decided to establish a private hospital and, in May, 1909, he and his associate. Dr. Murat Willis, opened the hospital known as the Johnston- \Villis Sanatorium. Since that time they have established a branch hospital at Abing- don, Virginia, and are surgeons to and part owners of the Park View Hospital, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. All three of these institutions bear a wide reputation, not only in their own state but throughout the entire South.
Dr. Johnston has been the recipient of many honors, professional and otherwise. Besides being a member of many scientific societies, he received, in 1897, the degree of LL. D., from the College of St. Francis Xavier of New York City. By right of de- scent from Peter Johnston, of Lee's Legion, he is a member of the Society of the Cincin- nati and at one time was president of the Mr- ginia Society. He is a member of and ex- president of the Medical Society of Virginia and of the Southern Surgical and Gynaeco- logical Association and in 1904 and 1905 was president of the American Surgical Associa- tion, the highest honor which can be bestow- ed upon any surgeon in the United States. He is also a fellow of the International Sur- gical Association, and has on two occasions been appointed to represent the I'nited States government in the International Med- ical Congress at Geneva and Brussels. He iy one of the founders of the American Col- lege of Surgeons.
Dr. Johnston has always been a Demo- crat in politics. In religious affiliation he is
