After more than a decade of leadership in critical care, biocontainment and national professional organizations, Daniel Johnson, MD, is stepping into a new role at UNMC on March 1.
Dr.Johnson has been appointed executive vice chair for the UNMC Department of Anesthesiology, a position that expands his focus from critical care to the full scope of the department’s clinical, educational and research missions.
For Dr. Johnson, the timing feels right.
“I’m really excited to change my focus from critical care to the entire department,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed my work in the operating room with residents and CRNAs, and in this role, I’ll be able to lend my efforts not just to one division, but to everything we do as a department.”
Dr.Johnson steps into the role as clinical demands continue to grow. He said he is eager to be involved in the planning needed to support that expansion across physicians, advanced practice providers, CRNAs and house officers.
“At the department level, we know clinical growth is going to continue,” Dr.Johnson said. “I’m excited to help plan for that growth in a way that supports patient care, education and the people doing the work every day.”
He also sees the role as an opportunity to think beyond Nebraska.
“I plan to think about how our department can continue to make an impact on anesthesiology and medicine regionally, but also across the globe,” he said. “Support from our chair, Dr. Patterson, and university leadership makes it possible to turn those ideas into reality.”
Dr.Johnson describes his leadership approach in simple terms: honesty, transparency, listening to all members of the team, and continued hard work. He does not see leadership as separate from clinical care.
“I’m going to continue to be a clinician and an educator. Remaining engaged will ensure that I understand, day to day, what people in our department are experiencing.”
Maintaining strong relationships across disciplines is also central to his philosophy, particularly in anesthesiology, a specialty that works closely with nearly every service line.
Some of Dr. Johnson’s most formative leadership experiences came during moments of uncertainty. He points to the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic as a period that reshaped how he leads.
“Every month brought a new challenge,” he said. “It was a time to build bridges with other departments and to demonstrate what anesthesiologists can do in the middle of a prolonged crisis.”
Dr. Johnson helped establish critical care as a formal division within anesthesiology at UNMC. What began as a small group of intensivists grew into a nationally and internationally recognized program, shaped by a shared vision and collaborative leadership.
That same spirit carried into his work with the biocontainment unit during the 2014 Ebola outbreak, when UNMC was one of only two U.S. centers prepared to care for patients with the virus. Anesthesiology critical care physicians quickly said yes when asked to help.
“Teamwork and humble leadership are the biggest lessons from both critical care and biocontainment,” Dr. Johnson said. “Every member of the team matters. The best leaders are strong enough to provide direction and humble enough to listen to everyone.”
Dr.Johnson is particularly proud of the department’s role in advancing growth in cardiac surgery, ECMO and the widespread adoption of point-of-care ultrasound inside and outside the ICU. His work in ultrasound education at a national level reinforced for him how powerful the combination of eager learners, dedicated teachers and patient-centered application can be.
Looking ahead, he sees artificial intelligence as a major force in perioperative medicine.
“AI doesn’t have to be something people fear,” he said. “If we use it thoughtfully, it will meaningfully improve patient care. Our department is already engaged in developing and using AI tools that do exactly that.”
He also expects continued advances in early mobility for critically ill patients and further evolution of ECMO technology, allowing life-saving therapies to be delivered more efficiently.
As executive vice chair, Dr. Johnson’s goal is to support other leaders as they continue improving clinical care, education and research. He plans to mentor emerging leaders and help them identify their strengths and passions.
“I’ll always be available,” he said. “Any day, any time. I’ve benefited from that kind of support, and I want to pay it forward.”
When asked what he hopes people will say about the department’s culture in the years ahead, Dr.Johnson returned to a theme that surfaced repeatedly throughout his career.
“I hope we continue to take care of one another,” he said. “I hope we remain proud of delivering care that no one else in the region can provide, and that morale and relationships across the department continue to grow.”
Despite his many roles, Dr.Johnson says staying grounded comes back to two principles: providing excellent patient care and teaching the next generation.
“No matter how chaotic or complex a situation gets, if we remain focused on those two things, we stay on track,” he said.
Outside the hospital, that grounding comes from time with his wife and their three children, whether traveling together, skiing or spending time during the summer in Okoboji.
Looking back on his career, Johnson credits mentors who offered guidance, opportunities, and perspective. Looking forward, he is clear about what motivates him now.
“The success of the department matters deeply to me,” he said. “One of the greatest rewards is seeing people you once taught as students or residents grow into outstanding clinicians and educators. That is what makes this work most meaningful.”
Department chair, Andrew Patterson, MD, PhD, said he appreciates Dr. Johnson’s many years of leadership in critical care and looks forward to his assistance as executive vice chair.
“The department has entered an important transition period as we support the emergence of a large health care system that strives to expand access to the highest quality care for patients throughout Nebraska and the midwest,” he said. “Dr. Johnson’s commitment to teamwork and service to others will undoubtedly help the department fulfill its mission.”
As he steps into the executive vice chair role, Johnson said his focus is simple.
“I’m excited to do whatever I can to help the department move forward,” he said. “Wherever the energy is needed, that’s where I want to be.”