Romaine Johnson, M.D.

Beth and Marvin C. "Cub" Culbertson Professorship in Pediatric Otolaryngology

Otolaryngology
Pediatric Aerodigestive Disorders
Pediatric Voice Disorders

Biography

Romaine F. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He specializes in pediatric aerodigestive disorders, pediatric voice, and pediatric tracheostomy and airway reconstruction.

He serves as Director of both the Children's Health Airway Management Program and the Pediatric Voice and Swallowing Clinic at Children's Medical Center Dallas.

Dr. Johnson earned his medical degree at the Drexel University College of Medicine (formerly MCP Hahnemann). He completed a residency in otolaryngology at Baylor College of Medicine and received advanced training in pediatric fellowship through a fellowship at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

He also holds an undergraduate degree in biology from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and a Master of Public Health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2006.

Dr. Johnson's research interests include subglottic stenosis, obstructive sleep apnea, vocal cord paralysis, quality improvement, and airway simulation.

He has authored nearly 60 scientific articles, book chapters, and meeting proceedings, and he has delivered numerous national presentations, lectures, and professional courses. He serves as an Associate Editor of Pediatric Otolaryngology for Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery as well as a reviewer for The Laryngoscope.

Dr. Johnson is a Fellow of the American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society (aka The Triological Society), the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, and the American College of Surgeons. He’s also an active member of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, the American Broncho-Esophagological Association, and the National Medical Association.

He has been included in D Magazine's Best Doctors list, and he received the Honor Award in 2012 from the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery Foundation. He is also a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

Meet Dr. Johnson

Pediatric Otolaryngologist in Dallas and Plano

Pediatric otolaryngologist Romaine F. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, leads a multidisciplinary team of aerodigestive experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Health, serving as Medical Director of the Airway Management Program, which combines the expertise of physicians and allied health professionals such as nurses and speech-language pathologists.

Thanks to the latest advances in airway surgery, many pediatric aerodigestive disorders can be managed with minimally invasive techniques. If more extensive surgery is needed, Dr. Johnson has more than a decade of experience in North Texas treating the most complex airway conditions in children.

“Airway reconstruction remains the workhorse of the care of children with subglottic and tracheal stenosis. These often occur in former premature children who are tracheostomy tube dependent. Using advanced techniques, I can treat the scarring of the airway and allow for the safe removal of a child's tracheostomy tube,” Dr. Johnson says. “I perform both endoscopic and open procedures that allow me to correct extensive scarring of the airway.”

A perennial D Magazine Best Pediatrician, Dr. Johnson has an exclusive focus on pediatric aerodigestive disorders, including tracheostomy, subglottic stenosis, infant feeding, and voice rehabilitation, and he works to promote the best outcomes for children with these complex disorders.

Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Care for Aerodigestive Disorders

In addition to otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, and gastroenterologists, the Airway Management Program at Children's Health includes pediatric surgeons, speech pathologists, advanced practice providers (nurse practitioners and physician assistants), respiratory therapists, nutritionists, and physical and occupational therapists.

“The utilization of multidisciplinary care and standardized treatment protocols has consistently been shown to improve patient outcomes,” Dr. Johnson notes. “And we have the most experienced team in Texas, with more than a decade of providing multidisciplinary care.”

Education & Training

Other Post Graduate Training - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2005-2008)
Graduate School - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2005-2008)
Fellowship - Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (2004-2006), Pediatric Otolaryngology
Residency - Baylor College of Medicine (2000-2004), Otolaryngology
Internship - Baylor College of Medicine (1999-2000), General Surgery
Medical School - MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine (1995-1999)

Professional Associations & Affiliations

American Broncho-Esophagological Association (2018), The ABEA is a society of physicians, researchers, and allied professionals who share their expertise in broncho-esophagology and meet annually for scholarly presentations on matters relevant to the science and practice of their specialty.
Triological Society (2017), Also known as the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society Inc., the Triological Society was founded in 1895 in New York. In the more than 120 years since then, the Society has attracted the best and brightest in academic and clinical otolaryngology.
American College of Surgeons (2012), ACS is a scientific and educational association of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to improve the quality of care for the surgical patient by setting high standards for surgical education and practice.
American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (2004), AAO-HNS is the world's largest organization representing specialists who treat the ear, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck.
American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (2012), ASPO exists to foster excellence in the care of children with otorhinolaryngologic disorders through education and research and thereby enhance the profession of pediatric otolaryngology.

Honors & Awards

D Magazine Best Doctors, (2010-2014, 2016-2022)
D Magazine Best Pediatric Specialist 2021
2nd Place Poster 2020, Triological Society, Pediatric Otolaryngology Category, Combined Sections Meeting
1st Place Poster 2019, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Summer Meeting
Mentor – Outstanding Resident Paper 2019, Triological Society, Southern Section, Combined Sections Meeting
Poster of Exceptional Merit 2017, American College of Surgeons, Clinical Congress
Star Reviewer 2017, Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Journal
Mentor – Resident Research Award for Outstanding Clinical Research, (2015 and 2017) Department of Otolaryngology, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Best Doctors List, (2015, 2017-2018) Best Doctors® – Boston, MA
AAO-HNSF Honor Award 2012, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation
Herbert Silverstein Otology/Neurotology Research Award 2005, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation and American Neurotology Society
J. Charles Dickson Award for Outstanding Clinical Research 2003, Bobby R. Alford Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine
Resident Research-1st Prize 2003, Dallas Otology Foundation
J. Charles Dickson Award for Outstanding Clinical Research 2002, Bobby R. Alford Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Baylor College of Medicine

Books & Publications

Books
- Acquired Laryngeal Stenosis in Mitchell RB, ed. Case Studies in Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Audiology. 1st ed.
  Johnson RF (2019), Anadem Inc.
- Injury to the Esophagus, Larynx, and Trachea in ncyclopedia of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
  Johnson RF (2012), Online textbook
- Histiocytosis, Sickle Cell Anemia, and Rhabdomyosarcoma in Head and Neck Manifestations of Systemic Disease. Ed. Harris J
  Johnson RF, Myer CM, Vijayasekaran S (2007), Marcel Dekker
Publications
- Racial Influences on Pediatric Tracheostomy Outcomes.
  Johnson RF, Brown CM, Beams DR, Wang CS, Shah GB, Mitchell RB, Chorney SR, The Laryngoscope 2021 Sep
- Pediatric Tracheostomy Outcomes After Development of a Multidisciplinary Airway Team: A Quality Improvement Initiative.
  Chorney SR, Brown AF, Brooks RL, Bailey C, Whitney C, Sewell A, Johnson RF, OTO open 2021 Jul-Sep 5 3 2473974X211045615
- Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis: Analysis of twenty cases at a single institution.
  Shah GB, Ordemann A, Daram S, Roman E, Booth T, Johnson R, Xi Y, Mitchell R, International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology 2019 Nov 126 109608
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children With Autism.
  Tomkies A, Johnson RF, Shah G, Caraballo M, Evans P, Mitchell RB, Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2019 Oct 15 10 1469-1476
- Tracheostomy in Extremely Preterm Neonates in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.
  Wang CS, Kou YF, Shah GB, Mitchell RB, Johnson RF, The Laryngoscope 2019 Sep
- Perioperative outcomes after tracheoplasty: A NSQIP analysis 2014-2016.
  Johnson RF, Eaviz N, Truelson JM, Day AT, The Laryngoscope 2019 Sep
- Survival analysis and decannulation outcomes of infants with tracheotomies.
  Salley J, Kou YF, Shah GB, Mitchell RB, Johnson RF, The Laryngoscope 2019 Sep
- Weight gain velocity as a predictor of severe obstructive sleep apnea among obese adolescents.
  Johnson RF, Hansen A, Narayanan A, Yogesh A, Shah GB, Mitchell RB, The Laryngoscope 2019 Sep
- Emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and readmissions of patients with a peritonsillar abscess.
  Johnson RF The Laryngoscope 2017 127 S1-S9
- Sutureless vs sutured posterior costal cartilage grafting in laryngotracheal reconstruction in children.
  McClay JE, Brewer J, Johnson R Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery 2011 Dec 137 12 1276-9
- Cricotracheal Resection in children under 2 years old
  Johnson RF, Rutter MJ, Cotton RT, Vijayasekeran S, White DR. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol February 2008 117(2) 110-2
- Salivary gland surgery for chronic pulmonary aspiration in children
  Vijayasekeran S, Unal F, Schraff SA, Johnson RF,. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology January 2007 71 (1) 199-23
- Contemporary diagnosis and management of peritonsillar abscess
  Johnson RF, Stewart MG Current Opinions in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery June 2005 June (13) 157-60
- Outcomes research in pediatric otolaryngology
  Johnson RF, Stewart MG ORL Journal Otorhinolaryngology Rel Spec July 2004 66 (4) 221-64
- Chronic sinusitis: symptoms versus CT scan findings
  Stewart MG, Johnson RF Current Opinions of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery February 2004 12 (1) 27-9
- "Peritonsillar abscess - An evidence based review."
  Johnson RF, Stewart MG, Clay-Wright C. Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery March 2003 128 (3) 332-43

Research

Public Health
Pediatric Otolaryngology
Pediatric Airway Disorders
Medical Education

Clinical Focus

Pediatric Aerodigestive Disorders
Pediatric Voice Disorders
Pediatric Tracheostomy and Airway Reconstruction