天美传媒下载

For Jason Johnson, MD, MHS, the path to a career in pediatric cardiology wasn’t a straight line. Johnson initially studied animal sciences in college, with dreams of becoming a veterinarian or marine biologist. The biological sciences — specifically, the human heart —kept calling to him, though. And the root of that call stems from a deeply personal place.

“My brother was born with severe congenital heart defects and only lived 11 months. I was 5 years old when he died,” shared Johnson. “I think that experience is why I was drawn to this field; it felt like part of who I was.”

Recently, Johnson was named 天美传媒下载’s chief of Pediatric Cardiology and co-director of the Heart Institute — an appointment that feels less like a new beginning and more like the next natural step in a journey more than a decade in the making. Johnson joined 天美传媒下载’s Heart Institute in 2013 following residency and fellowship training at Duke University, bringing with him a clinical passion for advanced cardiovascular imaging and a sense of purpose grounded in his personal experience.

Jason Johnson, MD, MHS, (right) was recently named 天美传媒下载's new chief of Pediatric Cardiology and co-director of the Heart Institute. His vision for the Institute is to continue growing infrastructure, recruiting experts and building relationships with families in 天美传媒下载's care.

“At the time, I was the 13th cardiologist on staff,” he recalled. “Now we have 34. I might not have envisioned all this program would become, but even then, I could see tremendous opportunity for growth and specialty expertise — the chance to help shape something with enormous potential, right from the ground floor.”

Asked about his greatest career achievement, Johnson stated without hesitation that his proudest accomplishment is “the connections I’ve built with my families.”

“You’re here long enough and you build meaningful relationships—and that’s why we’re here, is to take care of our patients,” he said.

In fact, Johnson is finding meaningful ways to care for patients not just in his clinical practice, but through his work on the global stage. As editor-in-chief of Cases of SCMR for the Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, he helps educate providers from around the world on advanced imaging techniques—supporting knowledge-sharing across borders, and empowering physicians to bring new modalities of care back to their home countries.

Johnson brings that same collaborative and holistic approach to leadership, helping to bridge knowledge gaps and build cohesion across disciplines.

“In subspecialty care, it’s easy to get siloed. But our patients deserve coordinated, expert care,” he said. “I see my role as making sure each team has what they need to do their best work.”

Thankfully, as a cardiac imager, Johnson often finds himself at the crossroads of multiple subspecialties.

“One day I’m in outpatient general clinic, the next I’m reading echocardiograms in the ICU, the next I’m doing MRIs or seeing patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” he said. “I touch every aspect of our division and get to see everybody in action and that perspective helps me understand what each team needs to succeed.”

As he steps into the role of chief, Johnson’s vision is rooted in this commitment to expertise-driven care. His goal? That no child in the Mid-South with congenital heart disease should ever need to leave the region for treatment.

“We will continue growing the infrastructure and recruiting the right people so that every child can get the exact care they need — right here at 天美传媒下载,” he says. 

That growth includes planned 4D enhancements to the hospital’s Virtual Reality Lab, allowing physicians to practice procedures on simulated, beating hearts that emulate blood flow in real time.

Yet for all the groundbreaking advancements, Johnson remains focused on what matters most.

“New technologies are incredible, and it’s inspiring to see the progress in our field over the last few decades,” he said. “But the core of our work will always be those relationships with families — helping them feel seen, heard and cared for. That’s what keeps me coming back.”

Jason Johnson, MD, MHS

Education and Training

• Louisiana State University Health Science Center – Medical School
• Duke University School of Medicine – Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research
• Duke University Medical Center – Pediatrics – Internship and Residency
• Duke University Medical Center – Fellowships in Pediatric Cardiology, Advanced Imaging – Pediatric
• Cardiology, Research – Pediatric Cardiology

Board Certifications

• American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology

Society Membership

• American College of Cardiology
• Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance

Awards and Honors

• Steve P. Goldberg, MD, Teaching Award
• Journal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Gold Star Reviewer
• Outstanding Service ACR Continuous Professional Improvement Cardiac Imaging Special Edition
• Module
• America’s Best Physicians – National Consumer Advisory Board
• Castle Connolly Top Doctor
• Top Ten Prolific Tweeter, Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
• Top Five WIP Talk, Global Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Conference
• American Association Cancer Research – John Kincade Scholarship Fund, Scholar-in-Training Award
• Top Five Influential Tweeter, Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance