On the recommendation of Dean Jane Philpott, Teri Shearer, Interim Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University, has appointed Dr. Shawna Johnston as Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the School of Medicine. Her appointment begins July 1, 2023, and is effective until June 30, 2028.
Dean Philpott extends her sincere gratitude to Dr. Graeme Smith for his impactful tenure as Department Head, Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Under Dr. Smith’s leadership, the department has pursued innovative approaches to training, research, and patient care.
Dr. Johnston earned her medical degree from Queen’s and, after completing her five-year residency program in obstetrics and gynecology, received a McLaughlin Fellowship to pursue training in urogynaecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery at St. George’s Medical School in London, England. She joined Queen’s as an assistant professor in 2003 and became an associate professor in 2013.
For the last decade, Dr. Johnston has been Deputy Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, as well as Program Medical Director, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).
Her clinical and research interests include the role of non-surgical management of urinary stress incontinence, and strategies for improving the care of perimenopausal and postmenopausal people. She has published and presented nationally and internationally on several topics in urogynaecology and menopause.
In 2018, Dr. Johnston was awarded the Exceptional Healer of the Year Award from KHSC and in 2020 was given the Carl Nimrod Educator Award from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. For several years, she has sat on the obstetrics and gynaecology Examination Board, Test committee and Nucleus committee for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, including roles as Test Chair and Examination Vice-Chair. For 14 years, she also served in the role of Associate Editor for the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada.
Please join Dean Philpott in congratulating Dr. Johnston on her appointment.
About Queen’s University:
“Since becoming Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University in July 2019, Patrick Deane has engaged the university community in a conversation about who we are, how we operate and more importantly, what Queen’s wants to be*.* These conversations helped establish a new strategy upon which to build Queen’s as the university for the future, whose people solve the world’s most significant and urgent challenges.”
About Dr. Shawna Johnston:
Shawna Johnston is an Associate Professor and attending staff member in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Urology at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, and is the current head of its Division of Urogynaecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery. Dr. Johnston received her BSC in Chemistry (summa cum laude) from Mount Allison University (New Brunswick) in 1986 and her M.D. from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in 1990. She completed a five year residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Queen’s University, qualifying as a fellow in 1995. She then received a McLaughlin fellowship to pursue fellowship training in Urogynaecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at St. George’s Medical School in London, England under the supervision of Mr. Stuart Stanton. Dr. Johnston has several active research interests, including non-invasive diagnostic methods for urinary incontinence and the nonsurgical management of urodynamic stress incontinence.
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