Note: The Black Resilience in Colorado (BRIC) Fund is proud to amplify the unique voices and perspectives of people who make up the diverse fabric of Colorado communities. We provide a platform to share thoughts and opinions, discuss historical and current challenges, and illustrate Black resilience. This month, we were excited to speak with Dr. Johnny Johnson, who shares his medical journey and the ongoing need for diversity in healthcare.
Dr. Johnny Johnson is a distinguished Black OBGYN and prominent community leader known for his dedication to improving maternal health and advancing healthcare equity. With a career spanning decades, Dr. Johnson has been at the forefront of addressing disparities in Black maternal health, advocating for better healthcare access, and providing compassionate, culturally competent care to his patients. His contributions extend beyond the clinic as he actively engages in community outreach, health education, and mentorship programs to empower the next generation of healthcare professionals. Through his unwavering commitment to excellence and equity, Dr. Johnson has made a lasting impact on the Denver community, championing the cause of health and equality.
BRIC: Can you share with us what inspired you to pursue a medical career, specifically as an OBGYN?
Dr. Johnson: I have wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. There was a Black doctor in my community, and I saw myself in him because of the service he provided to the people. He was truly respected in the community. Additionally, looking at the miracle of life coming into this world was fascinating.
I became interested in OB/GYN because of the injustices and lack of adequate healthcare for Black women and children. My goal was to help prevent disparities and inequities in healthcare for people of color. My first exposure to extreme disparity was while completing an internship in Mount Bayou, Mississippi.
BRIC: What challenges did you face as a Black medical student and professional, and how did you overcome them?
Dr. Johnson: The challenges I faced were from all types of people (Black and white) who did not believe I had the capability or intelligence to become a physician or even college material. The military physicians tried to instill that negative thought in my head. But the one thing I knew was that I was prepared to reach my goal. I overcame my challenges by having faith in myself, support, love, and encouragement from my family, friends, and teachers, as well as blessings from the good Lord.
BRIC: Why do you believe diversity is essential in the medical industry, particularly obstetrics and gynecology?
Dr. Johnson: Diversity in healthcare for African Americans/Blacks is important because of the trust in knowing that Black physicians will go the extra mile to get to the root of the medical issues and problems. The cultural comfort of knowing Black healthcare providers are more likely to provide treatment and offer a higher standard of care for their patients. Maternal morbidity and mortality have tripled because of a lack of awareness of the needs of Black patients, their culture, and the community they live in. Black doctors are needed to help remove the disparity they face because they know the cultural habits and communities that Black people live in.
BRIC: Black maternal health is a critical issue today. What are some of the key factors contributing to the disparities in maternal health outcomes for Black women?
Dr. Johnson: The disparities in healthcare for Black patients are multifactorial but are not addressed with all sincerity. We do not address racial inequity and access to care. Diversity, bias, and inclusion are not a part of the conversation or evaluation to improve healthcare delivery. Healthcare and racial disparity aren’t new topics, but they have not been addressed properly for decades.
BRIC: Can you discuss any specific initiatives or programs you have been involved in to address and improve Black maternal health?
Dr. Johnson: Improvements can identify causes of systemic racism in healthcare that are grounded historically in the segregation of healthcare. Healthcare organizations should strive to close gaps in healthcare, create a vision for change, and implement strategies to close disparities. Support and recruit more Black Physicians.
BRIC: How do cultural competency and patient-provider trust impact maternal health outcomes, especially for Black women?
Dr. Johnson: Cultural competency and patient-provider trust have to partner with each other to build trust. We have to acknowledge the reasons for the distrust and meet the Black/African American and underserved patient population where they are to build trusted relationships.
BRIC: You have been a leader in working to improve community health outcomes in Colorado, specifically underserved communities of color. How are you continuing that work now that you are retired?
Dr. Johnson: I am now retired from clinical medicine but doing a great deal of non-clinical medicine (teaching, mentoring, policy-making, advocating for patients, and being at the table of healthcare (to level the playing field). We developed a minority medical society (Mile High Medical Society) to provide scholarships, mentoring, and recruitment of Black students to medical school. We have developed a pathway to medicine starting in the third grade.
BRIC: What are some of the most pressing health issues facing the Black community in Colorado today, and how can Black doctors collectively address them?
Dr. Johnson: Pressing healthcare issues include lack of proper access to healthcare due to costs and other financial challenges, shortage of Healthcare professionals (especially Blacks), need to improve the mental health system, demand for personal care, and maternal health care disparities. Declare maternal mortality and mortality has a public health care crisis.
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