Russell A. Johnson, MD
Accepting New Patients

Russell A. Johnson, MD

  • Pediatrics|
  • Internal Medicine
Average rating: 5.0
 
CARE Center |

About

Dr. Johnson received his medical degree from the University of Minnesota Medical School. Prior to medical school he was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Melbourne in Australia and during medical school he was a National Institutes of Health Fogarty Scholar at the International Center for Diarrheal Diseases Research, Bangladesh. Dr. Johnson went on to complete a dual residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Utah. During residency he pursued training in tropical and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medicine while attending the Gorgas Course in Clinical Tropical Medicine in Lima, Peru. Throughout his final year of residency he gained clinical experience in HIV primary care medicine seeing patients in the University of Utah Clinic 1A. He subsequently became certified as an HIV specialist by the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

Dr. Johnson spends the majority of his clinical time at the UCLA Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE) Center. There he provides primary care for patients living with HIV, as well as HIV preventative services for adolescents and adults at risk for HIV infection. Dr. Johnson is also part of the CARE Center’s anal cancer screening and prevention team, performing high resolution anoscopy to diagnose and treat precancerous lesions in at risk individuals. Dr. Johnson spends the remainder of his time seeing pediatric patients at the Santa Monica 16th Street Internal Medicine and Pediatrics clinic, both as a primary care and urgent care physician. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Johnson is involved in teaching medical students, residents, and LGBTQ fellows.

Dr. Johnson is passionate about the medical humanities and health messaging through media. He has published numerous op-eds in news outlets such as STAT! and has a TikTok channel educating viewers about HIV and sexually transmitted infections. In his spare time, he enjoys surfing, telemark skiing, drumming, writing, and traveling.

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certifications

Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2017
Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics, 2017

Residency

Internal Medicine/Pediatrics, University of Utah Health Care GME Office, 2017

Degrees

MD, University of Minnesota School of Medicine (MD Degree Only), 2013
MS, University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, 2009

Recognitions

  • LGBTQ+ champion
  • Super Doctors® Southern California Rising Stars 2024, 2025
  • Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching, University of Utah Department of Pediatrics, 2015

Hospital Affiliations

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center

UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital

Insurance

  • Aetna
  • Anthem Blue Cross
  • Blue Shield of California
  • Centivo
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Health Net of California
  • Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
  • Medicare Advantage
  • MultiPlan
  • UFCM Health System
  • Prime Health Services
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • TRICARE
  • UnitedHealthcare

The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change. 
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Recognitions

  • Super Doctors® Southern California Rising Stars 2024, 2025
  • Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching, University of Utah Department of Pediatrics, 2015

Reviews

Overall Rating:
5.0
145 total ratings | 91 reviews
5.0
May 31, 2025
Kind and knowledgeable, great to be part of a teaching institution and witness his mentoring of next generation of practitioners
5.0
May 29, 2025
Dr. Johnson is truly exceptional—his attentiveness and care go far beyond what I’ve experienced with any other physician. He takes the time to fully understand my health history and current needs, always approaching every visit with thoroughness and genuine concern. His proactive reminders about upcoming procedures and his clear communication give me complete confidence in my care. I’m incredibly grateful to have a doctor who is not only highly knowledgeable but also deeply committed to my well-being.
5.0
May 29, 2025
The Dr. is very attentive, available to answer any questions. Friendly service. Really happy.
5.0
May 28, 2025
Doctor Johnson and the staff at the UCLA office were fantastic.
5.0
May 27, 2025
Personable. Professional. Caring. Comprehensive. I truly appreciated the time he took to ask and answer questions!