J. Patrick Johnson

University of California Davis Medical Center, Neurological Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

J. Patrick Johnson is a pioneering spine surgeon and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of surgical robotics, minimally invasive techniques, and advanced image-guided navigation. With a career spanning nearly two decades of documented innovation, Johnson has made substantial contributions to the evolution of thoracoscopic spine surgery, tracing its progression from basic fluoroscopic endoscopy to fully integrated three-dimensional navigation systems — a journey chronicled in his 2021 study that has already garnered 23 citations. His most-cited work, a 2014 review of robotics applications in spine surgery (57 citations), established him as an authoritative voice on the promise of robot-assisted procedures to improve surgical accuracy while reducing complications. More recently, his 2024 scoping review through the Seattle Science Foundation's Robotics Course series reflects his ongoing commitment to synthesizing emerging evidence and educating the surgical community. Johnson's research consistently advocates for precision-driven, technology-enhanced approaches to spinal care, and his cumulative body of work has helped shape how surgeons worldwide think about adopting robotics and navigational tools in complex spinal procedures.