Paul B. Johnson, MD

Paul B. Johnson is a fellowship-trained oculoplastic surgeon, entrepreneur, educator, and physician career strategist. He is the founder of Paul B. Johnson, MD, PC and has built a portfolio career as an independent physician, practicing across multiple clinical settings while pursuing interests in consulting, medical education, public speaking, and industry collaboration. He is affiliated with Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

A graduate of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, he completed his ophthalmology residency at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary and fellowship training in oculoplastic surgery at Wills Eye Hospital. His published work spans orbital fractures, rare eyelid and orbital conditions, and glaucoma laser therapy and patient education, with research appearing in Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the British Journal of Ophthalmology, and the Journal of Glaucoma. He also contributed chapters to The Wills Eye Institute 5-Minute Ophthalmology Consult.

He writes and speaks about alternative physician career models, independent contracting, and creating professional autonomy beyond traditional employment. He shares updates on Instagram and Facebook.

Physician

The physician independent contractor path is a third option

Paul B. Johnson, MD

October 3, 2026Oct 3, 2026

For much of my medical training, I assumed there were two basic career paths for physicians. You could become an employed physician, trading some autonomy for stability and institutional support. Or you could own a practice, accepting the administrative and…

I ultimately chose neither.

For approximately a decade, I have built my clinical career primarily as an independent contractor. As an …