Timothy R. B. Johnson

Timothy R. B. Johnson, M.D.
Research Professor, CHGD;
Chair, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology;
Professor of Women's Studies; and
Bates Professor of Women and Children, Medical School, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor

Timothy R.B. Johnson, is an obstetrician/gynecologist and a Maternal Fetal Medicine (high risk obstetric) Specialist. His interests include assessment of the fetus, population differences in clinical perinatal measures and the process and content of prenatal care. Johnson's work on fetal assessment has included clinical assessment of gestational age, the clinical assessment of very low birth weight infants and the correlation between menstrual dates, clinical parameters and neonatal outcome. In addition, he has done extensive work in electronic fetal monitoring including evaluation of fetal heart rate patterns, fetal movement and amniotic fluid volume and their association with other fetal physiologic characteristics and neonatal outcome.

Current research relates to the study of integration and coordination of fetal characteristics such as fetal heart rate, fetal heart variability, fetal movement, fetal breathing, non-nutritive sucking, swallowing, hiccups, yawning, and amniotic fluid production. Most recently, he has studied the relationship of fetal neurobehavioral ontogeny to infant behavior and temperament. Johnson is also interested in women's health care and specifically prenatal care as a model for comprehensive primary care services for women both nationally and internationally.

Dr. Johnson is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine. He won the 2004 University of Michigan Academic Women's Caucus Sara Goddard Power Award for his support of advancing women in academics.