Gastroenterology's physicians improve patients' digestive health through the recognition, prevention, and treatment of diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Dr. David Johnson and our community faculty have extensive clinical experience and have gained national and international recognition for their academic expertise and accomplishments.
Our faculty uses evidence-based treatment approaches and advanced technology to ensure excellent training for medical students and residents. We provide motivated trainees, whenever possible, with research and publication opportunities to further their interest and involvement in gastroenterology.
Our gastroenterologists support Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, which houses a U.S. News & World Report-designated high-performing Gastroenterology & GI Surgery program.
About Division Chief
David A Johnson MD MACG FASGE,VGSF, MACP, is Professor of Medicine and Chief of Gastroenterology at Eastern VA Medical School/Old Dominion University. Despite his primary focus on the clinical practice of gastroenterology, he has published extensively in the internal medicine/gastroenterology literature, contributing over 800 articles/chapters/invited reviews and abstracts in peer-reviewed journals and edited/co-edited 7 books.
His particular areas of expertise focus on esophageal reflux disease, gut microbiome, sleep disorders, colorectal screening and most recently- microplastics effects on GI health. Additionally, he co-edited the American College of Physicians (ACP) book “Dyspepsia” and edited two GI Clinics of North America series on “Obesity Issues for Gastroenterologists”, Stomach section editor for Section Editor for the Stomach section 2017 Current Treatment Options in Gastroenterology and edited the 2012 American College of Physicians module on CRC screening.
He was editor of the 2015 book: The Gut Microbiome: New Understanding and Translational Opportunities for Disease as well as co-editor of the 2018 book: Sleep Effect on Gastrointestinal Health and Disease: Opportunities for Promoting Health and Optimizing Disease Management. He has been co-primary of 2020 VA Catalyst grant to study microbial effects on gastroesophageal reflux disease. He is editor of the 2023 translational book “Esophageal Disease and the Role of the Microbiome” (first book in the world on this topic). His most recent focus has been on the emerging potential role of micro-nano plastics in GI diseases and he has published extensively on this (9 articles in 2026).
He is a past president of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) and served the ACG previously as Governor (VA), Chair of ACG Quality Council Task Force, and member of the Educational Affairs, Publications, Constitution and Bylaws (Chair), and Nominating (Chair) committees. Additionally, from inception (2007) to 2015, he served on the executive committee and was Treasurer of the ACG/ASGE GI Quality Improvement Consortium (GIQuIC) and 2008-2014 the executive committee for the GI Political Action Committee (GIPAC). He co-chaired the ACG National Fellows meeting for 17 years (1991-2008) and was co-director for the ACG Annual Postgraduate course in 1994.
He co-founded the National Medicare Carrier Advisory Committee and co-chaired that committee for 10 years. From 2000-2018, he served on both the GI Multi-Society CRC Screening Task Force and ACG guidelines committee for CRC screening and has co-authored these screening national guidelines and other ongoing national guideline publications from 2000-present (17 total). Additionally, he was a member of the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) Task Force for quality colonoscopy. He has served as the Gastroenterology Technical Advisory Chair for the National Quality Forum (NQF) as well as steering committee member of the quality outcomes NQF task force. He participated in all the GI related task force activities from 2005-2011 and chaired 3 task force meetings.
He has been honored with the VA chapter 2022 ACP Community Education Award, 2019 Master of the ACP (he was the 47th physician ever selected from the state of Virginia in the 105 yr history of the ACP) and was previously honored as Master of the ACG (2013). In 2012, he was acknowledged as the invited lecturer at the National Institutes of Health as a “Great Teacher” (first non-NIH GI physician). He has been honored with the highest awards from the ACG with the 2013 Berk/Fise Award (distinguished contributions to clinical gastroenterology over a significant period of time), as well as the 2015 William D Carey ACG Governors award (reserved for an exceptional individual who has served the Board and the College with distinction) and -2021 Samuel Weis award (presented periodically, and not necessarily annually, to a Fellow or Master of the College in recognition of outstanding career service to the ACG and contributions to the field of gastroenterology). In 2016 he was honored as with American Gastroenterology Association “Distinguished Educator” Award and by ACG in 2023 with Distinguished Educator and Mentor award..
He has been honored as “Master of Gastroenterology” and “Presidential Award” by the VA GI Society and in 2000, he received the EVMS Distinguished Internal Medicine Faculty Award and in 2014 the EVMS Dean’s Outstanding Faculty Award as well as the Distinguished Community Faculty Award (inaugural awardee) 2023.
He has been honored as distinguished invited lecturer for ACG including: Emily Couric Lecture (2013), American Journal of Gastroenterology Lecture (2009), Berk Fise Presidential Lecture (2016) and the David Sun Lecture (2018), Scott and White VanDyke lecture (2022), Va GI Society Alvin Zfass Lecture (2023) and American College of Gastroenterology David Graham Lecture (2023).
He served on the American Board of Internal Medicine (Gastroenterology) Board of Examiners (2012-2017) and was reappointed to the Maintenance of Certification ABIM Board 2020- 2021. He is the past co-editor of Reviews in Gastroenterological Disorders, Journal Medicine and section editor for the American Journal of Gastroenterology. He is the past co-editor of the American College of Gastroenterology Education Universe (2009-2015), GI section editor (2000- present) for Medscape Gastroenterology, Medscape GI Viewpoints, and Medscape GI Consultant Corner, and was the esophageal section editor for Journal Watch Gastroenterology (New England Journal of Medicine (2000-2018).
He co-founded (2013) the Eastern VA Medical School Community Faculty Award fund – provides stipends for basic science and medical trainees to present research and national meeting (up to 8/yr) and has since instituting this fund, continues to serve as the director and primary reviewer (fund requires submission of publication ready full manuscript developed from these presentations).
He directed the first published study in the world on the colonoscopy for colon cancer screening (1988). Additionally, he was the physician who worked with Virginia State Senator Emily Couric to put through the historic first legislation to mandate colon cancer screening with colonoscopy as the preferred standard. This initiative first in Virginia, has set the model for other states which have followed with similar legislation mandating CRC screening.
Research Awards: 2022 Va Catalyst (co-lead investigator for prebiotic treatment GERD)
Reflections on career: I have had the great opportunity to work with so many national and international key opinion leaders who had a tremendous influence on directional focus for my career. What I have learned has guided my professional as well as personal life. 1. A good scientific question should not end with just an answer but stimulate many great questions. 2. Applications of scientific discovery should be blended with clinical judgement when applied to patients. 3. As you advance in your career, continually look for ways to give back to your profession with involvement in mentorship and leadership whenever possible.
