Dr. Johnson graduated with honors from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston. He interned at Spartanburg General Hospital in Spartanburg, SC, and returned to MUSC in Charleston for his residency, where he was selected Chief Resident in Orthopedic Surgery.

While at MUSC, he won the William K. Nelson Academic Excellence Award and was named the Outstanding Resident of the Year from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Following his time at MUSC, he completed three Spine Surgery fellowships in 18 months: at the South Texas Spinal Clinic in San Antonio, St. Mary’s Spine Center in San Francisco, CA, and the Spine Surgery University of Hong Kong.