About
Julia C. Johnson, MD, is the Medical Director of the Struthers Parkinson’s Center at HealthPartners in St. Paul, Minnesota and an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Johnson is a neurologist with specialized expertise in movement disorders, particularly Parkinson’s disease. Her clinical and research work has focused on improving diagnosis, treatment, and quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease through clinical trials, imaging studies, and non‑pharmacologic interventions such as exercise. She has participated as a Principal Investigator and sub‑investigator on multiple federally funded, foundation‑supported, and industry‑sponsored studies.
HealthPartners/Park Nicollet Medical Group title: Medical Director, Struthers Parkinson’s Center at HealthPartners.
Academic appointment: Adjunct Professor, University of Minnesota
Conducting Institute research since: 2013
Education and Training
- University of Greifswald, School of Medicine, Greifswald, Germany (2000)
- MD, University of Heidelberg, School of Medicine Faculty Mannheim, Germany (2005)
- Internship, Internal Medicine, University of North Carolina (2006)
- Neurology Residency, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (2009)
- Movement Disorders Fellowship, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (2010)
Certification and Licensure
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (2009-current)
- Minnesota State Medical License (2013-current)
- Wisconsin State Medical License (current)
Affiliations/Other memberships
- Movement Disorder Society
- American Academy of Neurology
- Parkinson Study Group non-profit clinical trial site network
- Graduate, American Academy of Neurology Practice Leadership Program (2021-2022)
Current research activities and funding:
- Site PI, A Phase 2/3 study to determine efficacy of a medication in participants with early Parkinson’s Disease (Biohaven Pharmaceuticals, 2025-2027)
- Site PI, A Phase 2 study in Parkinson’s patients with a pathogenic variant in the glucocerebrosidase 1 (GBA) gene to delay motor progression (BIAL R&D Investments, 2023-2026)
- Study Physician, Parcel-guided Transcranial magnetic stimulation for anxiety in Parkinson’s Disease (2025-2026)
- Study Physician, safety and feasibility of intranasal insulin in patients with spinal cord injury (Department of Defense, 2023-2027)
