Patrick Johnston, D.O.

Dr. Patrick Johnston is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon specializing in comprehensive care for conditions affecting the hand, wrist, and elbow. Fellowship-trained in hand, wrist, and elbow surgery, he also holds board certification in hand surgery. Dr. Johnston is one of the few surgeons in the region performing endoscopic carpal tunnel release—a minimally invasive technique—and is highly experienced in WALANT procedures (“wide-awake local anesthesia, no tourniquet”), which allow surgeries to be performed using only local anesthesia.

Driven by a passion for both patient care and education, Dr. Johnston was honored with the Arnold P. Gold Award for Humanism and Excellence in the Teaching of Medicine. He continues to shape the next generation of physicians as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, where he remains actively involved with the hand surgery fellowship program remotely. He has also presented his work at numerous conferences and meetings across the country.

A founding partner of Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute (SOSI), Dr. Johnston relocated to Steamboat Springs in 2016. His interest in hand surgery stems from its intricate blend of orthopaedic, plastic, vascular, and neurosurgical principles—a comprehensive understanding he brings to all his patients. He supports the local community through his involvement with 4H and continued outreach in Alliance, Nebraska.

Dr. Johnston is deeply committed to expanding access to quality surgical care. Recently, he partnered with his wife and colleagues to launch a surgical mission trip to Oaxaca, Mexico. This annual effort, organized in collaboration with Touching Hands (the outreach arm of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and the American Foundation for Hand Surgery) and local orthopedic surgeons in Oaxaca, delivers advanced surgical care to underserved populations in the region.

He earned his medical degree and completed his residency at Midwestern University in Chicago, followed by a fellowship in hand, elbow, and microvascular surgery at Grandview Hospital and Ohio University. Dr. Johnston is an active member of several leading professional organizations, including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is also part of Manu Amici, a national group of hand surgeons who meet biannually to exchange knowledge and foster professional and personal support.

Outside of his practice at SOSI locations in Steamboat Springs and Craig, Colorado, Dr. Johnston enjoys the active Steamboat lifestyle with his wife, Ginger, and their three children. Together, they spend quality time hiking, biking, and archery elk hunting. He is also a proud supporter of the Yampa Valley Autism Program, a cause close to his heart through his stepson, Xavier.