The trust focuses on rewarding professors who have inspired their former students to make a difference in the community.

Johnson – who taught for many years at the University of Florida before joining the College of Medicine faculty in 2002 – is a professor in, and a former chair of, the Department of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences.

“I am deeply grateful to Suzanne for the opportunity to learn from her as my mentor, and I believe she is highly deserving of this prestigious recognition,” said Kenneth Terckyak, Ph.D., former student at the UF College of Public Health & Health Professions, who nominated Johnson. “To this day, 20+ years later, Suzanne continues to inspire me to make a difference.”

Johnson has had more than 30 years of continuous funding from the National Institutes of Health for her research on psychosocial aspects of childhood diabetes and is considered an international expert on medical regimen adherence and the psychosocial aspects of genetic testing in children. More recently, she has expanded her research focus to include pediatric obesity.

The trust was established in 2008 under the will of Gail McKnight Beckman in honor of her mother, Dr. Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman, an educator, renowned author and pioneer in the field of psychology. The Beckman Award Trust has granted $1.3 million to 52 professors and/or faculty members to date.

Johnson and the other recipients will be honored Nov. 9 at The Carter Center in Atlanta.