By Dr. Gilbert Drozdow, M.D.
I am pleased to introduce Dr. James Johnson as the new Chair of the Department of Anesthesiology at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Johnson completed his anesthesiology residency in 2002 at the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He served active duty in the United States Air Force from 1999 to 2006 and held several positions including but not limited to Interim Vice-Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology and Director of Resident Education at Wilford Hall Medical Center/Brooke Army Medical Center at Lackland AFB (San Antonio), Texas. In addition, Dr. Johnson deployed in medical support on several missions during his active duty including Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom in Baghdad and Balad, Iraq, and the Hurricane Katrina Evacuation in New Orleans, Louisiana. Dr. Johnson holds multiple honors from his active military service including Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals, Air Force Meritorious Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, and National Defense Service Medal.
After serving in the military he entered private practice in 2006 at Good Shepard Medical Center in Longview, Texas followed by Plaza Anesthesia Group, PLLC in San Antonio, Texas. Since 2008, Dr. Johnson was a civilian military contractor at Wilford Hall Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas and served as the Anesthesiology Residency Director over the last year.
John Peter Smith Hospital currently provides over 17,500 anesthetics per year in a department with approximately 15 MDs and 35 CRNAs as part of a regional county health system. On behalf of the Company I am sure you all will join me in welcoming Dr. Johnson to the practice and congratulating him in his new leadership position.
