PHOTOGRAPH BY ETHAN KAMINSKY
As a woman in a male-dominated field, Julie Johnson, M.D. brings her own unique perspective to orthopedic medicine. She is proud to be a member of Desert Orthopedic Center team where she specializes in foot and ankle care. Whether advising patients on preventative measures, treating a traumatic injury or performing reconstructive surgery, Dr. Johnson is very cognizant of just how vulnerable the foot and ankle are to injury. “The ankle for example has a higher rate of developing arthritis because it’s a smaller joint and yet it holds up our whole body.”
Although not as commonplace a procedure as hip and knee replacement, ankle replacement surgery is a viable and successful option given the right set of circumstances, according to Dr. Johnson. “The newer generation of ankle replacements which have been out for 10 years now, offer promising and reliable results. They are a good option for post traumatic arthritis.” The goal is to improve