A lifetime of learning

From the dissecting rooms at King’s to clinical practice and back again, Jane Johnson’s career has been shaped by curiosity, generosity and a love of learning. A physiotherapist, author and technician, she has spent a lifetime understanding the human body – and inspiring the next generation to do the same.

‘The privilege of being able to dissect is an experience that’s really stayed with me from my time at King’s. It enhanced my understanding of anatomy and was invaluable in my profession as a physiotherapist. Words cannot do justice to how humbled I felt that people had donated their bodies to medical education, so that students like me could benefit.’

After decades in clinical practice, Jane’s journey has now come full circle. ‘After retiring from full-time work as a physiotherapist, I was lucky enough to secure a role as a technician at King’s dissecting rooms, where I now feel once again privileged to play a small part in supporting new students to learn with the use of our donors and specimens.’

And that’s not the only way Jane is sharing her lifelong passion for learning about the body: ‘I began writing books about 10 years ago, whilst teaching basic anatomy. It was a way of answering student questions and inspiring that love of learning in others.

‘I continue to write books for use by manual therapists, including physiotherapists, and to date have had 13 published in multiple languages, including Chinese, Korean and Japanese.’

She also makes time to dedicate to her passions: ‘After gaining my PhD, I decided to take a step back from further formal study or research and to focus on my hobby, which is keeping a sketchbook.’

Her advice for new graduates wanting to make an impact in the world is simple: ‘Do what you love.’