Rudolph Johnson, PhD
Rudolph Johnson, a toxicologist with national leadership experience in emergency response and measuring human exposure to toxic substances, will be the next director of the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH).
The laboratory serves as Wisconsin’s public laboratory focused on clinical, environmental and occupational health. It is a key partner of the University of Wisconsin–Madison that reports to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
Johnson joins the WSLH from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, where he served as director of the military exposures research program since 2023. His career experiences have included leading national laboratory preparedness initiatives and public health programs focused on toxic substance exposure research and testing, analytical chemistry and laboratory modernization.
At the Department of Veterans Affairs, Johnson directed work to better understand the impacts of a range of chemical, physical and environmental hazards that veterans may have been exposed to during military service. Johnson provided technical oversight of the Office of Research & Development Toxic Exposure Fund and led expert consortia supporting military exposure research at 102 VA medical centers across the country.
From 2002-2023, he held progressive leadership roles at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including serving as the chief of the Emergency Response Branch for 10 years. He has held leading roles in the federal response to numerous public health issues. As the leader for the CDC’s National Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats, he set national performance benchmarks and instituted proficiency testing programs that advanced the ability of laboratories in all 50 states to respond to public health emergencies.
“I look forward to the opportunity to lead the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and continue its legacy of excellence as a champion of public health for the state of Wisconsin and nationally,” Johnson said. “The laboratory’s integrated mission across clinical, environmental and forensic sciences closely aligns with my leadership experiences and philosophy.”
Founded in 1903, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene plays a major role in the health and well-being of communities in Wisconsin and beyond. The laboratory partners with researchers and clinical professionals at the School of Medicine and Public Health and with state, national and international agencies and clients on disease screening, environmental and occupational health, genetic testing, cytology, forensic toxicology, emergency preparedness, outbreaks and epidemics and more.
Johnson will begin as director on Nov. 17 and hold a faculty appointment in the school’s Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
Johnson holds a doctorate in analytical chemistry from Purdue University. He is a member of the Society of Toxicology and Society of Forensic Toxicology and associate editor of the Journal of Analytical Toxicology. As an expert and researcher in the areas of public health toxicology, forensic science and analytical chemistry, he has authored or co-authored more than 90 peer-reviewed publications.
The state laboratory exemplifies the Wisconsin Idea, the university’s commitment that its activities positively impact the state.
“The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene is a landmark example of how we work to advance the health of our communities and the environment,” said Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, dean of the School of Medicine and Public Health. “With expertise in laboratory preparedness and modernization, as well as mentorship and research, I know Dr. Johnson will chart an exciting future for our state laboratory.”
Johnson succeeds James Schauer, PhD, PE, MBA, who is retiring from UW-Madison after serving as WSLH director for eight years and a professor of civil and environmental engineering for 27 years.
The American Society of Cytopathology (ASC) awarded WSLH Emeritus Medical Director Daniel Kurtycz, MD, the Papanicolaou Award, the highest honor awarded by the Society. It is presented annually to a physician or PhD member who has made significant contributions to the field of cytopathology.
