Doctor's Bio
Dr. Laura S. Johnson, MD, FACS, FCCP, FCCM, is the Medical Director of the Walter L. Ingram Burn Center at Grady. She is board certified in general surgery, surgical critical care, and neurocritical care and is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Emory University School of Medicine, as well as an adjunct Associate Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Johnson received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California. She completed her residency training at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and her fellowship training at Grady. She was on faculty at MedStar Washington Hospital Center (MWHC) and Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington, DC, before returning to Grady in her current position.
Dr. Laura S. Johnson is passionate about teaching and is a regular faculty member or course director for Advanced Trauma Life Support, Advanced Burn Life Support, Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma, and other burn and trauma education opportunities. Her trainees are her proudest achievements, and she mentors medical students and residents across various disciplines. Dr. Johnson has received several awards for teaching, including in 2020 the Dr. Sally Abston Association of Women Surgeons Distinguished Member Award, as nominated by her residents, given to a member who in addition to nationally recognized clinical expertise and providing outstanding mentorship, is a role model of what I want my surgeon to be like. She has also been recognized by her nursing staff with multiple MedStar Nurses Choice awards for Physician Collaboration and her nomination for the John J Lynch, MD Center for Ethics Moral Courage award in 2018.
When she is not in the hospital, Dr. Johnson is an avid saber fencer, competing around the country, and is part of the National Tournament Committee for the United States Fencing Association.
Board Certifications
American Board of Surgery
Affiliations
Emory
Education & Training
- Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
- Internship: Washington Hospital Center
- Residency: Washington Hospital Center
Fellowships
Grady Health System
Awards and Honors
- John S Dillon, MD Award for Faculty Excellence in Medical Student Teaching in the Surgery Clerkship, Georgetown SOM 2022
- Distinguished CHEST Educator, 2021
- MedStar Health Teaching Scholars Program 2020 – 2022
- Dr. Sally Abston Association of Women Surgeons Distinguished Member Award, 2020
- Georgetown Women in Medicine Eisenberg Career Development Award, 2019
- Principle Member, GUMC Teaching Academy for the Health Sciences, 2018 – 2022
- Evans/Cornwall MD Teaching Award of the Year, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital – Washington Hospital Center Residency in General Surgery, 2018 – 2019, 2021-2022
- John J. Lynch, MD Center for Ethics – Moral Courage Award, 2018
- Off Service Faculty of the Year, Georgetown Emergency Medicine Residency, 2017, 2019, 2022
- Clinical Program Excellence Award – The Burn Center, Medstar Washington Hospital Center Board of Directors, 2016
- Edward E Cornwall MD Teaching Award of the Year, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, 2015 – 2016
- America’s Top Surgeons, Consumer Research Council of America, 2013
- Keystone Educator Award, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, 2013 – 2018
- 1st Place, Resident Research Competition (Clinical), Emory University, 2012
- Ernest Alva Gould, MD Senior House Officer Award for Excellence, Washington Hospital Center, 2010
- Harry B Zehner, Jr., Memorial Traveling Fellowship Award Winner, Washington DC Chapter, American College of Surgeons, 2009
- “Trauma Team Leader ‘Thumbs Up’ Award, Washington Hospital Center, 2009
- 1st Place, Resident Paper Competition, Committee on Trauma (Washington DC), 2008
- Nurses’ Choice Physician Collaboration Award, Washington Hospital Center, Burn ICU, 2008
- The Templeton Injury Prevention Award Finalist, Eastern Association for the Society of Trauma, 2007
- Resident Award, “Excellence in Surgical Critical Care”, Washington Hospital Center, 2006
- Resident of the Month (August / May), Washington Hospital Center, 2005 – 2006
- Order of Arete, University of Southern California, 2005
- Medical Student Scholarship, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, 2004
- Omicron Delta Kappa, University of Southern California, 2003
- Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship, Keck School of Medicine, USC, 2002
- Academic Merit Scholarship, Keck School of Medicine, USC, 2001 – 2005
- Order of the Laurel and the Palm, University of Southern California, 2001
- Student Research Fellowship, The Endocrine Society, 2000
- Phi Beta Kappa, University of Southern California, 2000
- Certificate in Chemistry with Distinction, University of Sussex, UK, 1999
- Phi Kappa Phi, University of Southern California, 1999
- Raben Student Research Fellowship, The Endocrine Society, 1999
- Baccalaureate MD Student, University of Southern California, 1997 – 2001
Locations and Directions
Grady Memorial Hospital
Phone: (404) 616-1000
Location:
80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE
Atlanta, GA 30303
Publications
- Developing a Burn Advanced Practice Provider Team: Actualizing the Vision.
Szczepanski C, Liu YM, Nosanov L, Johnson LS
Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association. 2025;46(6):1186-1189.
PMID: 40694598 - Utilizing Indirect Intrapleural Pressure to Guide Mechanical Ventilation in Burn Patients With ARDS.
Soo Ping Chow AM, Johnson LS, Le TD, McLawhorn M, Moffatt LT, Travis TE, Shupp JW, Tejiram S
Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association. 2025;46(6):1255-1261.
PMID: 40626922 - Decrease in Total Leukocyte Count is Associated with Acute Kidney Injury After Severe Burn.
Rizzo JA, Thomas JM, Aden JK, Schauer SG, Van Gent JM, Peterson WC, Hoffman LJ, Salinas J, Johnson LS
Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association. 2025;46(4):850-853.
PMID: 40203127 - Engaging Burn Survivors, Their Families, and the Burn Community in Patient-Centered Outcomes Research: A Burn Survivor- and Burn Community Stakeholder-Generated and Prioritized Research Agenda.
Thompson CM, Acton A, Alexander W, Beyene R, Brownson EG, Carrougher GJ, Christensen B, Hoarle K, Irven J, Johnson LS, Kirkham MP, Lewis GM, Lucio JX, Matagi S, Morris L, Prazak AMB, Price-Smith E, Stuchly B, Webb C, Quinn K,
Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association. 2025;46(2):468-474.
PMID: 39451070 - Navigating the Ethical Challenges of Clinical Decision-Making for Patients with Mental Illness Presenting with Self-Inflicted Burns.
DePew R, Lal A, Sivertsen E, Smith A, Johnson LS, Pinto Taylor E
Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association. 2024;45(6):1641-1644.
PMID: 39297580 - Response to Letter to the Editor Regarding "American Burn Association Clinical Practice Guidelines on Burn Shock Resuscitation" by Cartotto et al.
Cartotto R, Johnson LS, Savetamal A, Greenhalgh D, Kubasiak JC, Pham TN, Rizzo JA, Sen S, Main E
Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association. 2024;45(6):1649.
PMID: 39126217 - Unintended Consequences of Code Status in the Intensive Care Unit: What Happens After a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order Is Placed? A Retrospective Cohort Study.
Driggers KE, Keenan LM, Alcover KC, Atkin M, Irby K, Kovacs M, McLawhorn MM, Mir-Kasimov M, Sabbahi WZ, Sellman J, Johnson LS
Journal of palliative medicine. 2024;27(4):508-514.
PMID: 38574337 - American Burn Association Clinical Practice Guidelines on Burn Shock Resuscitation.
Cartotto R, Johnson LS, Savetamal A, Greenhalgh D, Kubasiak JC, Pham TN, Rizzo JA, Sen S, Main E
Journal of burn care & research : official publication of the American Burn Association. 2024;45(3):565-589.
PMID: 38051821 - Surviving Sepsis After Burn Campaign.
Greenhalgh DG, Hill DM, Burmeister DM, Gus EI, Cleland H, Padiglione A, Holden D, Huss F, Chew MS, Kubasiak JC, Burrell A, Manzanares W, Gómez MC, Yoshimura Y, Sjöberg F, Xie WG, Egipto P, Lavrentieva A, Jain A, Miranda-Altamirano A, Raby E, Aramendi I, Sen S, Chung KK, Alvarez RJQ, Han C, Matsushima A, Elmasry M, Liu Y, Donoso CS, Bolgiani A, Johnson LS, Vana LPM, de Romero RVD, Allorto N, Abesamis G, Luna VN, Gragnani A, González CB, Basilico H, Wood F, Jeng J, Li A, Singer M, Luo G, Palmieri T, Kahn S, Joe V, Cartotto R
Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries. 2023;49(7):1487-1524.
PMID: 37839919 - Rete ridges are decreased in dyschromic burn hypertrophic scar: A histological study.
Carney BC, Travis TE, Keyloun JW, Moffatt LT, Johnson LS, McLawhorn MM, Shupp JW
Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries. 2024;50(1):66-74.
PMID: 37777456
PLANNING
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT
Whether you’re a patient or you’re visiting one, a little planning beforehand can make your visit to Grady easier and more comfortable. Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your visit, including an appointment checklist, admissions information, dining options, and much more.