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

  • Inter-rater and Intra-rater Reliability of Glottal Image Capture: A Mobile Application to Quantify Vocal Fold Bowing. Laryngoscope. 2025 05; 135(5):1732-1736.. View in PubMed
  • Novel In-Office KTP Laser Treatment of Anterior Glottic Webs. J Voice. 2024 Nov 28.. View in PubMed
  • Gender and Racial Demographic Trends in the US Laryngology Workforce (1993-2022). Laryngoscope. 2025 02; 135(2):794-800.. View in PubMed
  • Revisiting the etiology and clinical characteristics of hemorrhagic polyps of the vocal fold. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2024 Oct; 9(5):e1316.. View in PubMed
  • Bilateral Vocal Fold Motion Impairment Associated With Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis. OTO Open. 2024 Jul-Sep; 8(3):e70003.. View in PubMed
  • Prospective Outcomes After Serial Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection in Vocal Fold Scar and Sulcus. Laryngoscope. 2024 12; 134(12):5021-5027.. View in PubMed
  • “Lives versus livelihoods”: Conflict and coherence between policy objectives in the COVID-19 pandemic. Soc Sci Med. 2024 09; 357:117188.. View in PubMed
  • TrachGPT: Appraisal of tracheostomy care recommendations from an artificial intelligent Chatbot. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2024 Aug; 9(4):e1300.. View in PubMed
  • Representativeness of U.S. News & World Report Outcome and Volume Measures for Otolaryngology. Laryngoscope. 2024 09; 134(9):3881-3882.. View in PubMed
  • Impact of BMI on Dyspnea and Need for Surgical Intervention in Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 08; 171(2):486-493.. View in PubMed