Clay Johnston, PhD, MD, MPH
Family Physician
About
Clay Johnston
Clay Johnston’s mission is to redesign the health system so doctors and the team working with them truly get to know the people in their care. The goal is to achieve better health outcomes for people by being more responsive to their needs, which will ultimately reduce wasteful healthcare spending. This new harmonious vision of health empowers people to know all their care options and costs and creates a partnership with medical providers that remains intact all along a person's health journey. To Dr. Johnston, a physician should be like a best friend, a person who knows your aspirations and barriers, allows you to make your own choices and is accessible whenever you are in need. Dr. Johnston was the inaugural Dean of The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School where he strived to advance a new model of better health care. He also served as a Professor of Neurology at the University of Texas at Austin and an Adjunct Professor of Neurology at the University of California, San Francisco. During his time at the University of California, Dr. Johnston was Founding Director of the Center for Healthcare Value and was Associate Vice Chancellor of Research. Most of his research focuses on stroke care. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and The Philosophical Society of Texas. Research finds the healthiest people are the happiest people, so Dr. Johnston prioritizes time to do the things that promote an optimistic emotional state of mind. He enjoys early morning runs, travel with his family and Texas barbeque in moderation.