Benjamin W. Johnston, MD

I decided to practice medicine because I love solving important problems, and few problems are more important than those related to one’s health. I chose to work with children because of their amazing resilience and positivity in the face of illness. It’s a source of daily inspiration, and it drives me to always be better.

As a pediatric critical care doctor, I care for children who have serious illnesses, such as severe infections, respiratory failure, seizures, and heart, kidney, or liver problems. Some illnesses are life-threatening, and others require heightened medical attention that can only be provided in an intensive care unit (ICU). I also care for kids who have had high-risk surgeries—such as spine surgeries, brain surgeries, and certain ear, nose, and throat procedures—and need to recover in a setting with advanced monitoring.

I use an ultrasound machine to place IVs, which allows them to be placed with the fewest needle sticks possible and the least amount of pain.

Although children may express themselves differently than adults, I believe that they can understand a lot of what we say and do. Creating a healing environment is as important to recovery as our medicines and interventions—my team and I do everything we can to create this kind of environment from the very beginning.