Each patient is unique, therefore, each patient needs to become an expert in their disorder or cancer in order to make a decision that is best for them. After meeting with a patient to discuss treatment options, I prefer they return home and reviews our discussion before making a decision. I expect them to have discussions with their primary care doctor or any friends or family they trust to help them make an important decision. I encourage my patients to call or email me with any additional questions. In the end, each patient will make a decision that they feel is right for them. If I can get my patients to this point, I know we have a great chance at success.
Dr. Johnston was born in Waupun, Wisconsin and grew up in Northern California. He attended the University of California, Davis where he played football while earning his degree in Chemistry. He attended Albany Medical College in Albany, NY and returned to the University of California, Davis for his surgery and urology residency. He completed his sub-specialty, fellowship, training in laparoscopic and robotic surgery at the University of Michigan.
Work/Select Awards
Dr. Johnston is a board-certified Urologist who specializes in urologic oncology (cancers of the Prostate, Kidney, Ureter, Bladder, Testis, Adrenal) and applying his experience and training in minimally invasive robotic surgery to treat urologic cancers and perform urologic reconstruction. He joined NorthShore University HealthSystem (formally Evanston Northwestern Healthcare) and the Department of Urology at Northwestern in 2004 after completing his fellowship. He was responsible for starting the robotic surgery program at NorthShore. He has been the recipient 2 Academic Achievement Awards for his research and awarded Teaching Awards at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Michigan State/Botsford Hospital. In 2009, NorthShore became affiliated with the University of Chicago and Dr. Johnston was appointed Assistant Professor. He is a former instructor of robotic surgery for Intuitive Surgical and has proctored surgeons in robotic prostatectomy throughout the country.
In January of 2012, Dr. Johnston joined the Michigan Institute of Urology in metro Detroit and is currently focusing his practice in the western suburbs of Novi, Northville, Farmington Hills, and Livonia, Michigan. He is currently an Associate Professor at Oakland University/Beaumont School of Medicine.
Dr. Johnston’s research focuses on biomedical engineering. His projects aim to improve surgical outcomes and decrease patient morbidity by improving techniques and instruments used during laparoscopic and robotic surgery. He has 20 published articles in peer-reviewed journals, over 30 presentations at regional, national, and world meetings. In September of 2009, Dr. Johnston was granted a US Patent for a new surgical instrument used for kidney cancer (US Patent: 7,591,817) and currently has his 2nd patent under review. He research has focused on the development of advanced methods to visualize cancer during robotic prostatectomy and has been a consultant with J&J/Ethicon/Verb/Auris building the next generation in robotic and digital surgery platforms and instrumentation.
Dr. Johnston is married to Katie who is a practicing dentist and has 4 sons, William IV, Zach, Mitch and Connor. In his spare time, he plays golf, works-out, and runs with his dog, Blue…recovery is usually centered arounnd some homemade wood-fire pizza with his family.
Copyright © 2020 William K. Johnston III, MD - All Rights Reserved. The information contained within this website cannot be directly applied to any one patient and only serves as general guidelines. Each patient is unique and each patient's condition is subject to variability. It does not replace a direct meeting with your physician and a discussion with your physician on your current condition. Call 911 for emergencies or urgent questions or report to the nearest ER.