Tisa M Johnson, MD

Biographical Statement

Dr. Johnson-Hooper has been practicing pediatrics for over 25 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She attended the Mayo Medical School and completed her pediatric residency at Pediatrics Combined Residency Children’s Hospital Boston and Boston Medical Center. She had 1 year of additional training in Behavioral & Developmental Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Boston.

Dr. Johnson-Hooper’s vision of clinical excellence builds on her groundbreaking work to improve the lives of children and youth, launching the world-class Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD) in 2008. In 2025, Dr. Johnson-Hooper launched the Generational Resilience Opportunity & Wellness (GROW) Center for Autism (ASD) and Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) whose mission is to provide integrate, comprehensive, patient centered care for people living with ASD and IDD across the lifespan. She serves as the GROW Center for ASD and IDD Medical Director as well as one of the GROW multidisciplinary diagnostic team clinicians. Dr. Johnson-Hooper has moved her pediatric primary care to Henry Ford Harbortown Medical Center where she will work collaboratively with the Family Medicine providers to establish a structured healthcare transition process for youth and young adults with ASD and IDD and establish an adult care model to meet the diverse needs of patients with ASD and IDD.

Dr. Johnson-Hooper also enables advancement in healthcare for patients through education. She is the Site Director for the St. John Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric rotation, Course Director for the GROW ASD and IDD medical school electives at Wayne State University and Michigan State University and is the Michigan Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (Mi-LEND) Health Equity and Diversity faculty.

Dr. Johnson-Hooper has presented at numerous domestic and international venues and is a respected leader in her areas of practice. Some recent presentations include:

• Practical Approaches to Address the Social Determinants of Health in a Clinical Setting ECHO Epilepsy Project. May 2024.
• Examining the social determinants of health and autism spectrum disorder. Presented at: Navigating Autism Today Conference, Autism Alliance of Michigan; Novi, MI; March 8, 2024,
• Transfer & integration into an adult outpatient practice. Virtual presentation at: Project ECHO, Health Care Transition Learning Collaborative, Gillette Children’s Hospital; February 12, 2024.
• Autism spectrum disorder & self-injurious behavior. Presented at: Emergency Department Grand Rounds, Henry Ford Hospital; Detroit, MI; February 2024.

She is eager to share her perspective and experience caring for children with special health care needs, diagnosing and managing autism spectrum disorder, and implementing the health care transition process from pediatric to adult medicine.

Care Philosophy

I am a passionate, unwavering force dedicated to improving global access to high quality, comprehensive healthcare for children with special health care needs.

My primary care practice has been rooted in the Detroit metropolitan area where I serve all children, but especially children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN). I view primary care as a collaborative endeavor incorporating patients, parents, specialists, therapists, educators and community resources working to maximize the health and wellness of a child.

Awards and Honors

• Inspiration Award, Women Physician Section, American Medical Association September 2021
• Dr. Clarence S. Livingood Humanitarian Award, CATCH Night of Champions October 2016
• Top Docs – Hour Magazine 2009-2021