Dr. Gilbert Johnston : About Us : Cardiac Surgery Group

Cardiac Surgery Group
St. Joseph Medical Pavilion
1802 S. Yakima
Suite 102
Tacoma, WA 98405
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(253) 272-7777 Tel
(253) 383-9109 Fax
info@nwheartcenter.com

Dr. Gilbert Johnston

Dr. Gilbert Johnston is a cardiac and pulmonary surgeon who has been in active practice in Western Washington since 1981. He received his general and vascular surgery training at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). While at UCSD, he worked on several research projects (including mechanical devices to assist the failing heart) that involved bioengineering and computer modeling. His training in cardiac and pulmonary surgery was completed at the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center in 1981, after which he moved to Tacoma and began private practice. He continued many of his research projects, working with representatives of private industries (he holds six U.S. patents) and as a member of the clinical faculty at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

Dr. Johnston is an experienced cardiac and pulmonary surgeon who has performed over 2,000 open-heart procedures. One of Dr. Johnston's primary interests has always been measuring and reducing the risk of cardiac surgery. He served on the Ad Hoc Committee of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons to establish a national database for analysis of outcomes. He has also presented several scientific papers on statistical computer modeling of mortality risk in cardiac surgery patients. Presently, Dr. Johnston is the Medical Director for Cardiac Surgery @ Multicare Medical Center in Tacoma.

He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a diplomat of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He holds memberships in many professional organizations, including:

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
The American Statistical Association
The American Medical Informatics Association
The Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists
The American Medical Association

Dr. Johnston has also served as past director for the Professional Review Organization of Washington, Alaska, & Idaho (PROWest). He is presently a member of the management committee for the Clinical Outcomes Assessment Program for Washington State, and the Medical Director for Cardiac Surgery at the Franciscan Health System (FHS) Heart Center in Tacoma, Washington. He also served on various data and informatics advisory committees for the Washington State Medical Association and Washington State Department of Health.

Dr. Johnston is married; he and his wife (also a physician) have two daughters. He is a strong proponent of physical exercise (running, biking, climbing, etc.), and likes to sail when time permits.