ROCKINGHAM—William (Skip) Johnstone Jr., M.D., J.D., MBA, is no stranger to the Sandhills region. He cared for patients in Moore County for 19 years before joining the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program with New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, N.C., where he has served for the last eight years.
On Nov. 29, he will begin caring for residents in Richmond County and surrounding areas at FirstHealth OB/GYN located at 921 South Long Drive, Suite 205 in Rockingham where he will provide comprehensive gynecologic care for women of all ages.
Dan Barnes, D.O., president of FirstHealth Physician Group said Dr. Johnstone is a welcome addition to the team of providers at FirstHealth OB/GYN in Rockingham. “His years of experience both as a practicing OB/GYN and residency program professor make him a valuable asset to FirstHealth OB/GYN and the Richmond County community.”
Dr. Johnstone earned his medical degree from East Carolina University School of Medicine and completed an OB/GYN internship and residency at the University Medical Center of Eastern Carolina. Dr. Johnstone also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Concord Law School in Los Angeles, Calif. and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
He is a Fellow of the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Johnstone will care for patients at FirstHealth OB/GYN in Rockingham on Mondays and Thursdays and will focus on general gynecology.
Dr. Johnstone also has special interest and additional training in the treatment of women with opioid use disorder. In October of 2017, he established The Tides, Inc., an intensive treatment program for women with opioid use disorder. The nonprofit agency is currently based in Wilmington, N.C., and Dr. Johnstone looks forward to expanding its reach to the Sandhills region.
Dr. Johnstone said The Tides was born out of a passion to help pregnant women as they navigate recovery from opioid use disorder and work to become healthy moms having healthy babies.
“My interest in developing this program came out of necessity,” he said. “I was really affected by the loss of some of my patients as a result of opioid use disorder and frustrated by the lack of treatment resources available.”
Now in its fourth year, The Tides has become a remarkable success. “It’s been extremely rewarding and satisfying to see the results of this program,” said Dr. Johnstone. “I’m excited to expand the program to serve more patients in the Sandhills region.”
Dr. Johnstone joins the practice of Mohamed A. Y. Ibrahim, M.D., and Laura Marks, WHCNP at FirstHealth OB/GYN located at 921 South Long Drive, Suite 205 in Rockingham. To make an appointment with Dr. Johnstone, call 910-417-3477.
