Cato Johnson

Cato Johnson

Chief of Staff, Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs

Cato Johnson was named Chief of Staff in April 2017.  Along with Chief of Staff, Johnson provides leadership in Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs, a role he has held at Methodist Healthcare since 1985. Prior to that, he was vice president of Corporate Affairs at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis.

Johnson currently serves as chairman of the TennCare Medical Care Advisory Committee. He also chairs the Shelby County Schools Athletic Committee, the University of Memphis Athletic Department Community Advisory Committee, Southwest Tennessee Community College Board of Advisors, and the MIAA Athletic Development Committee. Johnson is vice chair for the Shelby County Schools Needs Assessment Committee, Shelby Schools Foundation, and Youth Education Through Sports. He is on the president's council for Lemoyne-Owen College and is on the Memphis and Shelby County Public Building Authority, Tennessee Hospital Association Bylaws Committee, Tennessee Hospital Association Council on Diversity, the Tennessee Hospital Association Council on Government Affairs, The University of Memphis Tigers Club, the Southwest Tennessee Community College Foundation Board, the Sports Entertainment Recreation Venue Review Committee, the Coalition for a Better Memphis and Generations Inc.

Johnson received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis).

Active in legislative affairs for more than 20 years, Johnson is a former member of the original Governor's TennCare Roundtable. He was vice chair of the State Health Planning and Advisory Board and chair of the TennCare Medical Care Advisory Committee. He is past president of the University of Memphis Alumni Association and served on the executive committee of the Memphis and Shelby County Sports Authority.