CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region announced on April 22 the appointment of Christopher Johnston, MD, FACEP, as its new Chief Medical Officer, effective May 10. Johnston has been serving in an interim capacity since January and will now take on the role permanently.
The appointment is significant for CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region as it continues to focus on clinical excellence and regulatory readiness. As Chief Medical Officer, Johnston will work with both local and national leaders to drive quality and safety initiatives across the region with a focus on high-quality, evidence-based care.
Johnston brings experience in emergency medicine and physician executive leadership to his new position. He previously served as Greater Denver Market Chief Medical Officer and as Chief Medical Officer at CommonSpirit St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster. During his career, he has led through challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, managed growth and expansion of clinical programming, and facilitated transitions involving Kaiser partners into CommonSpirit Health.
He earned his Doctor of Medicine from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in St. Louis and completed emergency medicine training at Denver Health where he was chief resident. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Biology with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder.
A longtime Colorado resident who grew up in Parker, Johnston lives with his wife, two children, and their bernedoodle dog. In addition to his professional responsibilities, he enjoys outdoor activities such as fly fishing and backpacking during summer months and skiing or snowboarding during winter.
CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region said that Johnston’s leadership will be key to continuing exceptional healthcare services for local communities.
