He underwent Orthopaedic Surgery residency training at Northwestern University in Chicago, where he was elected Chief Administrative resident. As Chief resident, he helped oversee the entire residency program, and was awarded journal club grants from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery/Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation. He was also awarded a Hark Lectureship grant and served as a team physician for the Chicago Public Schools’ athletic program. Additionally, his position as chief resident earned him the opportunity to work at spring training with the Chicago Cubs.
Following residency, he furthered his spine surgery training with a fellowship at the University of California, San Diego under Dr. Steven R. Garfin. During this time, he worked with both neuro and orthopaedic spine surgeons to learn advanced surgical techniques in the treatment of spinal disorders. His training with both orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons taught him the techniques utilized in both realms of spinal surgery that he now incorporates into his own practice. As a fellow, he was awarded the Depuy Spine Fellowship award. He has lectured locally, regionally, and nationally on spinal disorders and treatments, and has taught numerous courses on both traditional open and advanced minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques.
In 2008, Dr Johnson was elected Chief of Orthopedic Surgery at Saddleback Hospital, and, in 2010, he was elected Chief of Surgery at Saddleback Hospital. He served in various medical staff leadership roles until the end of 2022. In 2015, he participated in the MemorialCare Leadership Academy, which exposed him to the administrative challenges of hospitals and hospital systems. Afterwards, he also obtained his Lean Leader Certification in 2019/20. He is also one of only a few dozen physicians, nationally, to have graduated from Optum’s prestigious Sequoia Fellowship. In 2020, he was elected as the inaugural President of OrthoWest, and has served in that capacity since that time.
Dr. Johnson practices all aspects of operative spine care, and treats the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Although, he specializes in both open and minimally invasive techniques of spinal surgery, he has an extended interest in minimally invasive spinal surgery and outpatient spinal surgery. His philosophy is to find the most minimally invasive surgical treatment that will maximize a patient’s improvement and recovery. He has been actively involved in the creation and growth of the outpatient spine surgery line at the Surgical Center of Saddleback.
Dr. Johnson was listed in Super Doctors® Rising StarsSM for three consecutive years 2013, 2014, and 2015; was voted as America’s Top Physicians; and was selected to Orange Coast Magazine’s Top Doctors 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Although he enjoys splitting his time between his clinical and administrative duties as a physician, he is deeply committed to his family. Outside of work, he can be found working with his daughter on her many sporting endeavors, or supporting his son’s theatrical pursuits, either as an audience member or as a volunteer building or tearing down sets. He also enjoys snow or waterskiing, snowboarding, and biking.
He sees patients at the Laguna Woods and Fountain Valley office locations.
Awards
- Dr. Johnson was named by his peers to the Super Doctors Southern California list for 2017
- ‘Top Doctors’ (Spinal Surgery)
- Orange Coast Magazine, January 2017
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Physician Assistant
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Patient Testimonials
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Website-reviewsToday, two months after my surgery on May 27th , a minimally invasive fusion, I am feeling once again like a new person. More than performing the surgery required, I am especially thankful to Dr. Johnson for the time he spent with me both prior to the operation and during my recovery. In all circums...~ AM ~
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Website-reviewsI am an older patient who, although suffering many years from partial arthritis, has been a fairly active person all my life. After returning from a cross country flight to Houston, I began to experience an unbearable pain that left me bedside for almost a week. It was then that I had the good fortu...
~ AM ~
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Website-reviewsDr. Johnson For months I suffered with back, hip & leg pain. Dr. Johnson operated (MIS TLIF) on Tuesday morning. That same night I was up walking in the hospital hall. Thursday morning, I came home. Each day since has been better than the one before. Dr. Johnson is a young, dedicated, inspired & agg...
~ GP ~
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Website-reviewsThis is way overdue. I was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, L4/L5 concern. Dr. Bryce Johnson was my surgeon for a Fusion on March 12, 2012. I, like anyone else with back problems was apprehensive to have the surgery done. Dr. Johnson placed me in a comfort zone and was NEVER pushy about moving forwar...
~ EA ~
