Michael M. Johns, MD

Professor of Clinical Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Stevie Nicks and Joseph Sugerman, MD, Endowed Chair in Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery

Director of Medical Student Education

Division Director of Laryngology

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Overview

My goal as the director of the USC Voice Center is to improve the quality of life for individuals with voice, swallowing and airway disorders. I strive to achieve this through a true interdisciplinary approach to promoting health, preventing and curing disease, advancing biomedical research and educating those around me.

I received my undergraduate degree in economics at the University of Virginia, but my passion is for medicine. I graduated medical school from the Johns Hopkins University and then pursued training in Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at the University of Michigan. While there, I did an NIH funded research year and became interested in voice, swallowing and airway disorders. This led me to pursue specialty fellowship training at the Vanderbilt Voice Center. I then founded the Emory Voice Center with Speech Pathologist Dr. Edie Hapner, PhD in Atlanta Georgia, which was amongst the first interdisciplinary voice centers in United States. 12 years later, I was recruited to the University of Southern California to form the USC Voice Center and bring our interdisciplinary model of care to Southern California.

I embrace a caring, patient-centered approach with my patients. At the USC Voice Center, my patients can count on a coordinated, cohesive and unique experience backed by a team of voice and swallowing experts to optimize outcomes and satisfaction.

#Courses

OHNS 507, Voice and Resonance Disorders (Y1, Spring Semester)

Awards

  • LA Magazine: Top Doctor – Dr. Michael Johns, 2019
     – 2019
  • Pasadena Magazine: Top Doctor – Dr. Michael Johns, 2017
     – 2018

Research Funding

  • CONSTRUCTION OF NEUROSCIENCE FACILITY
    NIH · C06RR017379 · May 1, 2002 – Apr 30, 2004 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
    NIH · C06RR015461 · Sep 30, 2000 – Sep 29, 2003 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • LABORATORY AT YERKES REGIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER
    NIH · C06RR012465 · Sep 30, 1997 – Sep 29, 1999 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Support of Yerkes National Primate Research Center
    NIH · P51OD011132 · May 1, 1997 – Apr 30, 2021 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • EXTRAMURAL RESEARCH FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION
    NIH · C06RR011208 · May 15, 1996 – Nov 14, 1999 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • SMALL INSTRUMENTATION GRANT
    NIH · S15HL047724 · Sep 1, 1991 – Aug 31, 1992 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Research Training in Otolaryngology
    NIH · T32DC000027 · Jul 10, 1989 – Jun 30, 2025 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • General Clinical Research Center
    NIH · M01RR002719 · Dec 1, 1985 – Nov 30, 2007 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH SUPPORT
    NIH · S07RR005378 · Apr 1, 1979 – Sep 29, 1994 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • GENERAL CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER
    NIH · M01RR000722 · Dec 1, 1977 – Nov 30, 1997 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • Support of Yerkes National Primate Research Center
    NIH · P51RR000165 · Jun 1, 1976 – Apr 30, 2016 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • General Clinical Research Center
    NIH · M01RR000052 · Oct 1, 1974 – Nov 30, 2009 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator
  • GENERAL CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER
    NIH · M01RR000035 · Oct 1, 1974 – Nov 30, 1998 · Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Publications

  • Transverse Cordotomy With Medial Arytenoidectomy Effectively Treats Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility. Laryngoscope. 2026 07; 136(7):3039-3045.. View in PubMed
  • Trends in Laryngology Fellowship Training: A Survey Study of Graduates and Directors. Laryngoscope. 2026 03; 136(3):1433-1443.. View in PubMed
  • Prospective Short-Term Outcomes of Allograft Adipose Matrix (AAM) for Vocal Fold Augmentation. Laryngoscope. 2026 04; 136(4):1808-1814.. View in PubMed
  • Laryngeal Sensory Neuropathic Cough Is Not Associated With Membranous Vocal Fold Lesions. Laryngoscope. 2025 11; 135(11):4296-4302.. View in PubMed
  • In Response to Practice Trends in Laryngology: Neuromodulators as Treatment for Chronic Cough. Laryngoscope. 2025 Nov; 135(11):E87-E88.. View in PubMed
  • Under-Funded and Under-Pressure: State Epidemiologists During the COVID-19 Response. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2025 05 07; 19:e110.. View in PubMed
  • A National Survey on Retrograde Cricopharyngeus Dysfunction Practice Patterns Among Laryngologists. Laryngoscope. 2025 08; 135(8):2838-2845.. View in PubMed
  • Prevalence of Speech and Swallowing Dysfunction and Intervention Among Individuals With Myasthenia Gravis. OTO Open. 2025 Jan-Mar; 9(1):e70077.. View in PubMed
  • Views From State-Level Policy Actors About the US Federal Government COVID-19 Response. Health Secur. 2025 Jan-Feb; 23(1):1-8.. View in PubMed
  • Workforce Analysis of Laryngologists in the United States Between 1993 and 2022. Laryngoscope. 2025 05; 135(5):1759-1766.. View in PubMed