Executive Summary: Dr. Johnson says region will thrive with ‘positivity and pride’

Editor’s note: The Fort Smith Metro Daily News Executive Summary series is focused on looking under the title, so to speak, of a business, government, and non-profit executive in the Fort Smith metro.

Dr. Sandy Johnson and her husband, Dr. Brad Johnson, founded Johnson Dermatology in 2006 with a shared vision to deliver the most comprehensive and highest quality dermatologic care to the Fort Smith region. Today, Johnson Dermatology has 12 providers and more than 70 employees.

Originally from northeast Ohio, Sandy serves as the 2025 board chair of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce and was recently elected to the board of directors of the American Academy of Dermatology, where she will serve from 2026 to 2030. She has also contributed her leadership to numerous community organizations, including the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Board of Visitors.

An advocate for education and empowerment, Sandy and Johnson Dermatology regularly hosts trainees from UAFS, ARCOM, and UAMS, fostering hands-on learning for future medical professionals.

Sandy has published more than 130 scientific articles, participated in more than 120 clinical trials, and holds three patents. She has received numerous professional honors throughout her career, yet she is most proud of her role as mom to Anna, Mark, and her daughter-in-law Ashley.

• What was your first job and what did it teach you?
My first job was a fitness instructor and it taught me how important it is to encourage and empower every person. I also learned that one needs to be able to do everything you ask someone else to do. My favorite phrases were “last round, best round,” “we can do anything for 5 minutes,” and “there is no try — only do and not do,” — not original but I repeated them often.

• What is a principle or value on which you never compromise?
Always do the right thing, even when no one is looking. In the end, I only must answer to God and if I always tell the truth, I do not have to remember what I said or did.

• What’s one belief you held strongly 10+ years ago that you’ve changed your mind about?
I used to believe I was personally responsible for the actions of others. In medicine, we take the Hippocratic Oath — to first, do no harm — and it has always deeply affected me to witness complications caused by individuals who are untrained or practicing beyond their expertise. For a long time, I felt it was my duty to report anyone who, knowingly or unknowingly, was causing harm to patients — a situation that unfortunately arises too often in the cosmetic and aesthetic medical field. With time, I’ve come to understand that I cannot control the actions of others. What I can do is remain steadfast in my own commitment: to provide the highest level of care at Johnson Dermatology and to educate and empower others to uphold that same standard of excellence in patient care.

• If you could change one thing about the Fort Smith metro, what would it be?
I truly love the Fort Smith region and want others to appreciate all that makes our community special. It saddens me when people focus on its shortcomings or compare it unfavorably to other places. I believe the grass is greener where it is watered, and our community thrives when we nurture it with positivity and pride. We have so much to celebrate — our people, our opportunities, and our shared sense of purpose. By continuing to highlight the many strengths of our region and fostering a culture of optimism, we can create a positive momentum that attracts and retains the very best of what Fort Smith has to offer.

• There are many promises and concerns with the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI). What societal benefit do you hope AI will produce?
I heard a great talk recently about AI and I like the term augmented intelligence. I hope that we use every resource to augment the good things we have. As far as health care is concerned, AI will help us with earlier disease detection, and personalize treatments, and administrative relief so hopefully we can spend more time with patients and less time doing paperwork. For example, we did a clinical trial to determine which treatments will be best for people with eczema based on skin taping.

• How do you approach decision-making in an environment where public scrutiny or stakeholder criticism is frequent?
This goes back to what I would change about Fort Smith. It has been one of my highest professional rewards to serve as chair of the board of the Fort Smith Regional Chamber of Commerce. There are good people who want to serve and make our community better. I have seen a few of them stop serving the community because of unwarranted, unfounded, excessive scrutiny. I am not good at approaching how to deal with this type of criticism so I would love some mentoring on this skill.

• What’s the hardest decision you’ve ever made?
I consider myself very blessed in life. The two most important decisions anyone makes are whom they choose to spend their life with and what they choose to do with that life. Saying yes to marrying my husband was an easy and joyful decision. However, deciding whether to enter medical school directly after high school was much more difficult. It was an intimidating choice at such a young age, but ultimately one of the most rewarding. I am deeply grateful to have been accepted and to have shared that journey with an incredible group of peers who helped shape both my career and my character.

• If you could instantly learn the truth about one mystery — like who killed JFK — what would it be? 
I have been fascinated with the Denver airport conspiracy for years. I remember seeing a picture of a map of the United States many years ago at the airport that included a photo of the Mr. Peanut from Planters in Fort Smith. I would love to know the truth about the Denver airport. I would also love to see more love and growth for our Fort Smith airport.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SUBJECTS
Following are the links to previous posts in the Executive Summary series.
ArcBest Chair and CEO Judy McReynolds
Fort Smith Mayor George McGill
BHC President and CEO Marty Clark
Maryl Koeth Purvis, director of the Van Buren Advertising and Promotion Commission
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley
Fort Smith Public Library Director Jennifer Goodson
Bill Hanna, president, CEO, board chairman, Hanna Oil & Gas
Rodney Shepard, regional executive for Arvest Bank’s southwest region
Fort Smith Police Chief Danny Baker