Smith L. Johnston, M.D.

Timeshifter Co-founder & Advisor

A titan in the field of space medicine, Dr. Smith Johnston joined Axiom after 25 years as a medical officer and flight surgeon in NASA’s Medical Operations Branch at the Johnson Space Center. As Axiom prepares to bring history’s first private crews to the International Space Station, he is responsible for the company’s medical organization and health and fitness programs and certifications for Axiom crew members.

Smith’s time at NASA included the medical care of the active astronaut corps, their families, and retired astronauts. He was the lead physician for the ISS Emergency Medical System and Crew Return Vehicle development and supported two ISS expeditions and more than 25 Space Shuttle missions. Prior to joining Axiom, he was the medical director of NASA JSC’s Aerospace and Occupational Medicine clinics, the lead of NASA’s Astronaut Medical Selection and Retention Standards, and the Fatigue Management and Human Health, Performance, and Longevity programs.

In addition to his Axiom duties, Smith is a member of the Timeshifter advisory board and the clinical faculty at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Preventive, Occupational and Environmental Medicine in Galveston. Board-certified in aerospace medicine by the American Board of Preventive Medicine, he is a fellow of the Aerospace Medical Association. He received his B.S. in biology and M.D. from Emory University and completed his residencies in internal and aerospace medicine (as well as an M.S. in aerospace and preventive medicine) at Wright State University.