About Dr. Douglas Johnston,
Heart Valve Surgeon

Hello! My name is Dr. Douglas Johnston and I am a cardiac surgeon having graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1998. To date, I have performed approximately 4,000 cardiac surgeries, of which over 3,000 involved heart valve procedures. I regularly perform surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Read more...

20 Patient Reviews for
Dr. Johnston

"This is my second surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), and choosing Dr. Johnston was easy. His reputation, prior long career at Cleveland Clinic and research, is very impressive. Dr Johnston took as much time as I needed at my initial surgical consultation to explain clearly and definitively his recommendations of valve type and surgery that would meet my health needs and future goals.

He also listened carefully to my health journey of allergies and sensitivities (including nickel) without judgment but with sincerity to help me feel better overall and in the long run. His caring attitude, knowledge, and experience made it easy for me to feel confident heading into my surgery.

His team of clinic PAs and RNs, and his in-patient PAs were also outstanding - very responsive during hospitalization as well as during my recovery at home.

I thank God for Dr. Johnston and his team."

-- Suelynn Hanegraaf, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, Median Sternotomy, Root Replacement, 04/08/2024

"Dr. Johnston performed the minimally invasive aortic valve replacement with great skill and compassion and the results were amazing. I was ready to leave the ICU after 24 hours and discharged from the hospital after only 3 nights.

Dr. Johnston was incredibly efficient (only 40 minutes "cross clamped"), and I had no confusion or cognitive fuzziness in recovery. I was off of narcotic pain relievers when I left the hospital and I was taking long outdoor walks after a week. By my two week check-in, I described myself as feeling "shockingly good."

In addition to the great skill and results, Dr. Johnston is a thoughtful, caring, and calming clinician. He took all the time necessary to explain to me the procedure and the path forward."

-- Dave Rosenbloom, Aortic Valve, Valve Replacement, 09/19/2023

> See 18 more patient testimonials

My Specialities &
Clinical Interests

My heart surgery specialties include:

  • Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery
  • Reoperative valve surgery
  • Aortic root surgery

In addition, I have research and clinical interests specific to:

  • Minimally invasive aortic valve surgery
  • Long term outcomes after bioprosthetic valve replacement
  • Predicative modeling to improve outcomes after heart surgery

Education, Training & Certificates

Dr. Douglas Johnston, heart surgeon, graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1998.

After medical school, Dr. Johnston completed a General Surgery Residency from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and a Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Residency at the Cleveland Clinic.

In 2022, Dr. Johnston became the Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery in the Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Surgical Director of the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Schedule Appointment
with Dr. Douglas Johnston, MD

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Johnston, you can:

The office of Dr. Johnston is located at 675 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60010. To get driving directions to this office, please click the map below.



> Click for driving directions to Dr. Johnston’s office.

Watch Educational Videos with Dr. Douglas Johnston

Learn about heart valve surgery from Dr. Johnston in these videos:

  • Patient Webinar: Lifetime Management of Heart Valve Disease with Dr. Doug Johnston & Dr. Josh Logan
  • Surgeon Q&A: Radiation Associated Heart Valve Disease with Dr. Douglas Johnston
  • The Ozaki Procedure: What Should Aortic Valve Patients Know?
  • Surgeon Q&A: Atrial Fibrillation and Amiodarone After Heart Valve Surgery with Dr. Douglas Johnston
  • > Watch More Videos

Page last updated: May 18, 2024