Rashard Johnson grew up in inner-city Miami-Dade County and attended the University of Central Florida, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in health science and his master’s degree in healthcare management.
He dreamed of a career in the NFL but sustained an injury that blocked that path, a redirection that he calls “divine intervention.” Insead of the NFL, Johnson eventually became one of the youngest presidents in his industry at Advocate Aurora Health in Chicago, where he was the president of Advocate Trinity and South Suburban Hospitals.
“The most important risk I’ve taken is believing in myself when others have said I was too young and not ready to be a CEO,” Johnson said. “I’ve moved my family halfway across the country because we had the faith that I could succeed in the corner office and an organization that believed in me.”
Before arriving at Advocate Aurora Health, Johnson served as vice president of operations and chief operating officer for the north Houston market at St. Luke’s Health in Houston, a Catholic Health Initiatives affiliate. He also held leadership roles at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Jackson Health System in Miami and the Miami Veteran Affairs Healthcare System.
In August, Johnson took over as CEO of Emory Decatur Hospital, Emory Hillandale Hospital and Emory Long Term Acute Care Hospital. Emory Healthcare is an academic healthcare system “committed to providing the best care for our patients, educating health professionals and leaders for the future, pursuing discovery research in all of its forms, including basic, clinical and population-based research, and serving our community,” the company said.
Johnson participates in several organizations, including the National Association of Health Services Executives, the American College of Healthcare Executives, the Young Presidents Organization, the YMCA and the March of Dimes. Johnson has served as board chair for South Side HCO, past president of the DWF Chapter of the National Association of Health Services Executives, board member of Park South Dallas for the YMCA of Metro Dallas, The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce, HealthCare Associates Credit Union, The Woodlands YMCA of Greater Houston, Greater Houston March of Dimes, the South Side YMCA and the Greater Chicago March of Dimes.
“I truly believe in surrounding myself with people smarter than I am at what they do,” Johnson said. “In order to solve complex problems, I like to have the content experts at the table. At which point, I’m able to orchestrate competing viewpoints and create harmony around the best path forward for all. Mission alignment to our collective ‘Why?’ is paramount.”
