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Dr. Sandra Johnson: Medical skills a gift she shares

Free skin cancer screenings, other charitable work defines her career

Published: October 11, 2018   

Maryanne Meyerriecks

Dr. Sandra Johnson demonstrates a laser treatment on Kimberly Jarsma, a surgical nurse at Johnson Dermatology Clinic in Fort Smith, Oct. 1.

Maryanne Meyerriecks

Dr. Sandra Johnson demonstrates a laser treatment on Kimberly Jarsma, a surgical nurse at Johnson Dermatology Clinic in Fort Smith, Oct. 1.

Dr. Sandra Johnson, 46

Co-owner, Johnson Dermatology Clinic, Fort Smith

• Category: Small Business

• Parish: Sts. Sabina and Mary, Jenny Lind

• Family: husband Brad and two children

• What book would you recommend for ways to grow in spirituality or leadership? 
“The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey

Dr. Sandra Johnson, who with her husband Dr. Brad Johnson owns Johnson Dermatology Clinic in Fort Smith, views her medical vocation as a gift from God that she wants to share with everyone. 

“Our motto is the four Es,” she said, “to be effective, efficient, empathic and empowering.”

She empowers people by giving them the information and treatments they need to maintain healthy skin, both in the clinic and in the community.

“We offer free skin cancer screenings at the Reynolds Cancer Support House and other organizations at least once a year. We work with Good Samaritan Clinic so that uninsured people can come to our clinic. We have a clinical trials department so that patients with serious skin conditions can enroll in research projects and get paid for each visit. It’s a win-win situation.”

Inspired by one of her favorite saints, St. Teresa of Kolkata, who did little things with great love, Johnson regularly stocks little blessing boxes throughout the area with skin care samples from pharmaceutical companies. 

The staff at Johnson Dermatology shares a commitment to community involvement.

“Part of our annual review for team members evaluates what they do in the community and here in the clinic,” Johnson said. “At least once a year, we serve a meal at the Salvation Army, and we clean the highway we’ve adopted in front of our clinic.”

The clinic was honored as one of Arkansas Community Foundation’s Outstanding Philanthropic Corporations in 2014 among other local and regional awards.

The fifth “E” distinguishing Johnson Dermatology is its commitment to the environment, demonstrated by their opening the only LEED-certified medical clinic in Arkansas in 2011.

“We like to walk the walk and live by example,” Johnson said, noting that environmental problems can be devastating to the skin.

“Skin is the window to the world and everything you come in contact with reaches your skin first,” she said.

The Johnson family attends Sts. Sabina and Mary Church in Jenny Lind, where their two high-school-aged children, Mark and Anna, are altar servers, and where Johnson serves as a frequent lector.

Johnson wears a miraculous medal around her neck and frequently says the prayer, “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” On a visit to Paris, she saw the Church of St. Catherine Labouré, to whom Our Lady gave the miraculous medal, promising great graces to all who wore it.

“I just feel very blessed and thankful for all the graces that God has given to me,” she said. “I am grateful that I can do something to please him and share with other people.”

— Maryanne Meyerriecks

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