Courtney Johnson, M.D., Ph.D.
Dermatology
Cutaneous Lymphoma
Assistant Professor, Division of Dermatology, Department of Surgery
Courtney M. Johnson, M.D., Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Division of Dermatology at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte, where she specializes in the care of patients with cutaneous lymphoma and other complex skin diseases. As a physician-scientist, Dr. Johnson is dedicated to bridging the gap between scientific discovery and patient care to improve outcomes foe individiuals with skin cancers.
Dr. Johnson’s provides compassionate, patient-centered care that emphasizes collaboration, education, and individualized treatment. She believes that patients should be active participants in their care and strives to support them through every stage of diagnosis and treatment.
Her research focuses on understanding the biology of cutaneous lymphomas and translating these insights into more effective, personalized therapies. As principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health–funded research program, she aims to address critical knowledge gaps and improve outcomes for underserved patient populations.
Dr. Johnson earned both her M.D. and Ph.D. in Pathobiology from Brown University. She completed her internship in internal medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, followed by dermatology residency and advanced research training at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She was honored with the American Academy of Dermatology’s Young Investigator Award in 2026.
Location
Duarte Cancer Center
Duarte, CA 91010
Education & Experience
Degree
- 2017, Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
- 2015, Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Pathobiology, Brown University Graduate School, Providence, Rhode Island
Internship
- 2017–2018, Preliminary Internal Medicine, Jackson Memorial Hospital / University of Miami, Miami, Florida
Residency
- 2018–2021, Dermatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Fellowship
- 2021–2024, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Future Academic Scientist in Dermatology (T32 Program), Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Professional Experience
- 2026–present, Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Dermatology, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, California
- 2021–2026, Clinical Associate, Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Publications
- Johnson C, Talluru S, Bubic B, Cobert M, Kumar P, Tsai H, Varadhan R, Rozati S. Association of cardiovascular disease in patients with mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome compared to a matched control cohort. JID Innovations. 2023.
- Johnson CM, Fitch K, Merola JF, Han J, Qureshi AA, Li WQ. Plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor‑α and adiponectin can differentiate patients with psoriatic arthritis from those with psoriasis. British Journal of Dermatology. 2019.
- Johnson CM, Miteva M. Alopecia areata on vertex as a potential pitfall for misdiagnosis of central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia in African American women. International Journal of Trichology. 2017; 9(2):73–75.
- Johnson CM, et al. Integrin crosstalk regulates the human neutrophil response to fungal beta‑glucan in the context of extracellular matrix: A prominent role for VLA3 in the anti‑fungal response. Journal of Immunology. 2017; 198(1):318–334.
- Byrd AS, O’Brien XM, Johnson CM, Lavigne LM, Reichner JS. An extracellular matrix–based mechanism of rapid neutrophil extracellular trap formation in response to Candida albicans. Journal of Immunology. 2013; 190(8):4136–4148.
- Bailey RK, Muir AJ, Howell CD, Bright C, Roane PR, Teshale E, Johnson CM, Curry SB, Collins AC, Jordan W, Allison‑Ottey SD. The hepatitis C crisis in the African American community: Findings and recommendations. Journal of the National Medical Association. 2012; 105(2):108–111.