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Michelle C. Johansen

Michelle C. Johansen, MD, PhD

Vascular Neurology

Accepting New Patients

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Young Adult 18-25
  • Adult 26-64
  • Older Adult 65+

Languages

  • Spanish
  • English

Gender

Female

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

About Michelle C. Johansen

Primary Academic Title

Associate Professor of Neurology

Johns Hopkins Physician

Logo for Johns Hopkins Physician

Background

Neurologist Michelle C. Johansen specializes in prevention and treatment of stroke. She is the inaugural Guy McKhann Associate Professor of Neurology — the title was established in honor of the founder of the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology.

Dr. Johansen’s research and clinical interests focus on stroke etiology and vascular contributions to cognitive decline. She studies the intersection between the brain and the heart, specifically how changes in the heart’s structure and function point toward the cause of stroke and impact brain health, including cognition. 

She received the American Stroke Association’s Vascular Cognitive Impairment Award for her work showing that myocardial infarction is associated with acute and progressive decline in cognition, the American Academy of Neurology’s A.B. Baker Teacher Recognition Award and the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology’s Clinical Faculty Brain Award for excellence in teaching. She has received multiple grants to fund her research from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute on Aging and the American Heart Association.

Dr. Johansen’s work has been published in many high-ranking medical journals such as The Journal of the American Medical Association, and she has been interviewed as an expert for news outlets such as CNN and Medical News Today, as well as for webinars and podcasts. She is a member of the American Neurological Association and chair of its Education Innovation Committee, and she is a fellow of the American Heart Association.

She received her medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society, and she earned a postdoctoral degree in clinical investigation from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Johansen completed a medicine internship and neurology residency at the University of Virginia, followed by a clinical fellowship in cerebrovascular neurology at Johns Hopkins. She joined the Johns Hopkins Department of Neurology faculty in 2017.

The Johansen Lab: johansenlab.org

Research Interests

Cardioembolic Stroke, Stroke, Cerebrovascular Disease

Research Summary

Dr. Johansen’s research interest lie in the heart brain connection, specifically with regards to earlier diagnosis and ultimately prevention of cardioembolic stroke.  Current research efforts focus on characterizing and then utilizing cardiac anatomy in ischemic stroke patients to improve stroke subtype diagnosis, codify risk of stroke recurrence and describe patient functional outcomes.

Selected Publications

  • Chapman, S. N., Mehndiratta, P., Johansen, M. C., McMurry, T. L., Johnston, K. C., & Southerland, A. M. (2014). Current perspectives on the use of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) for treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Vascular health and risk management, 10, 75.

  • Erich L. Kiehl, M.D.,Alex M. Parker, M.D., Ralph M. Matar, M.D.,Matthew M. Gottbrecht, M.D., Michelle C. Johansen, M.D., Mark P. Adams, R.N., Lori A. Griffiths, R.N., Katherine L. Bidwell, Pharm.D. Venugopal Menon, M.D., Kyle B. Enfield, M.D., Lawrence W. Gimple, M.D. C-GRApH: A Validated Scoring System For The Early Stratification Of Neurologic Outcomes After Out-of- hospital.  Journal of the American Heart Association. 10.1161/JAHA.115.003821.

Courses & Syllabi

American Academy of Neurology Podcast-Lessons of the Week Series and Breaking Research segments, 1/1/13 - 12/30/15

Honors

  • Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Society
  • Robert F Byrd Scholarship
  • Golden Key Honor Society
  • KL2 Young Investigator Grant, 1/1/17
  • American Heart Association Mentored Clinical and Population Research Grant, 1/1/16
  • American College of Medical Quality; Quality Scholar, 1/1/16
  • University of Virginia Colligan Quality Improvement Grant, 1/1/14
  • Department of Neuroscience Award for Excellence in Clinical Neurology, 1/1/11

Lectures & Presentations

  • American College of Medical Quality, Quality Scholar, "Targeting Stroke in the Cardiac Catheterization Lab through creation of the Aldrete-FAST Score: Preliminary results of a prospective quality improvement project", Lab, 1/1/15
  • HEAD Talks: Ideas in Neurology Worth Sharing; "Overcoming irrational fear: Utilization of IV tPa in low NIHSS patients.", Presentation, 1/1/16
  • International Stroke Conference Junior Investigator proposal, "FAST-PC: The Feasibility of Using the Aldrete-FAST Screening Tool to Detect Stroke in Post Cardiac Catheterization Setting", Proposal
  • Johns Hopkins High Value Research Symposium, "Paradigm shift: Utilization of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Johns Hopkins Acute Stroke Care" accepted for presentation, presentation, Johns Hopkins, 1/1/16

Memberships

  • American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
  • American Academy of Neurology
  • Alpha Omega Alpha
  • American College of Medical Quality
  • American Chemical Society
  • American College of Physicians
  • Cavalier Varsity Athletic Alumni Association
  • Gold Key Honor Society

Professional Activities

  • American Heart Association, Peer Reviewed Journal Subject Expert Reviewer, 1/1/17
  • Circulation, Peer Reviewed Journal Subject Expert Reviewer, 8/1/16
  • Neurology, Peer Reviewed Journal Subject Expert Reviewer, 5/1/16
  • PlosOne, Peer Reviewed Journal Subject Expert Reviewer, 5/1/16
  • Stroke, Peer Reviewed Journal Subject Expert Reviewer, 1/1/16

Locations

  1. Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D., Outpatient Center

Expertise

Education

  • Graduate School: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Clinical Investigation, PhD, 2020
  • Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Vascular Neurology, 2017
  • Residency: UVA Health University Medical Center, Neurology, 2015
  • Medical Education: Virginia Commonwealth Univ School of Medicine, Medicine, MD, 2011

Board Certifications

  • Vascular Neurology: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2016
  • Neurology: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2015

Insurance

Please contact the location directly to confirm your health plan is accepted.
Search plans
  • Aetna
  • CareFirst
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Geisinger Health Plan
  • HealthSmart/Accel
  • Johns Hopkins Health Plans
  • MultiPlan
  • Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
  • Point Comfort Underwriters
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

Ratings & Reviews

4.9 out of 5

39 ratings, 20 reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Overall Rating by Patient
Provider Listened Carefully
Provider Explained Things Clearly
Provider Knew Medical History
Provider Showed Respect
Provider Spent Enough Time
Search reviews
    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/11/2026

    She is the absolute best, sweetest, thoughtful, caring and experienced doctor I know. I'm so thankful she was able to provide me with all the medical care I needed..

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/11/2026

    My appointment was a telehealth one with a doctor and not a nurse.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/11/2026

    Very prepared regarding my history.Very thorough in her exam.Very attentive to discuss her thoughts and future plans.Very kind and concerned.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/21/2026

    The most caring dr and the most knowledgeable dr on my team of doctors

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/14/2026

    This was my first visit. I liked how attentive and thorough the doctor was.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/14/2026

    Exceptional doctor.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/7/2026

    I was very worried about a symptom and Dr Johansen ensured I was seen in a timely manner. Listened carefully to my concerns did a thorough exam and provided her thought process , rationale and the reassurance I needed. Very appreciative of her excellent care

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/26/2025

    Focused. Gave a comprehensive examination. Explained and discussed follow up's

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/19/2025

    Wonderful experience! Thank you!!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/15/2025

    This was my first visit with Dr. Johansen. I found her to be caring, knowledgeable about my case and strokes in general. She gave me answers that no other doctor has been able to provide.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/1/2025

    Due to the period of Covid, epilepsy was stable with using Keppra so I haven't visited clinic for more than two years but Dr., Johansen were very kind. Since I live in Pennsylvania, and my condition has been stable she sets up my visit schedule once a year which makes me easier.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/17/2025

    The doctor was kind and knowledgeable.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/3/2025

    Outstanding provider

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/3/2025

    Very informative and concerned about my health. I like her very much.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/27/2025

    Very patient. Kind and thorough.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/20/2025

    Absolutely outstanding.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 7/30/2025

    Excellent and knowledgeable and approachable

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 5/7/2025

    Dr. Johansen is the epitome of what a physician should be. She's extremely knowledgeable, friendly, matter-of-fact, thorough, analytical and on top of everything about my health.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 5/7/2025

    I truly love and adore Dr. Johansen. She has been my main doctor concerning my stroke since after I had the stroke in 2020. She helped me believe in myself and believe ai could have a full life after my stroke. Every time I see her I feel relieved and encouraged and determined to keep trying to maintain my health as best I can, including my emotional and mental health.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 4/16/2025

    Dr Johansen has been the only neurologist who correctly diagnosed the reasons for my strokes. She thoroughly examined my test results, including MRIs and CTs, and provided me with research to understand my strokes. She greatly allayed my fears concerning my strokes and my concern for further strokes. Her bedside manner is exemplary. She is an asset to Johns Hopkins.