Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Johnston.
Hi Kelli, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised outside of Detroit, Michigan but fell in love with Charleston in 1999 when I lived here for 10 months for a program (now defunct) called AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps. I returned to Michigan to complete medical school at Michigan State University then relocated permanently to South Carolina after graduating in 2005. I lived in Columbia for 3 years during my pediatric medical residency, during which time I had three children!
I have been a pediatrician caring for children and families in South Carolina since 2008. I worked for a rural health clinic in Union, South Carolina for the first 7 years of my career and then moved to Charleston in 2015 and worked for a large group practice. In 2024 I decided to take a risk and open my own practice on Johns Island, close to where I live. Johns Island did not have any other pediatricians at the time I opened Angel Oak Pediatrics so there was a big need. I was very determined to make health care feel small again – striving to offer high quality health care in a setting that makes folks feel like family. I was fortunate to be able to hand pick from the very best of pediatric office staff in Charleston including my Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Cori Rogers, my medical assistant, Maddie McCaughtry, my pediatric RN, Stephanie Mowers, and my front office receptionist, Kate McCaughtry. We have such a great team and we love what we do. We have grown so much over the past year and a half and look forward to more growth in the years to come. We offer a high level of service to children and families who call Angel Oak Pediatrics their medical home.
My children are growing up fast, ages 18year, 16 years and 12 years old and it is always a challenge to balance a full time career as a pediatrician and, now, a business owner with my personal life but I love the challenge and wouldn’t have it any other way. I hope I am setting a good example for my kids of what it looks like to succeed at something you love doing!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There have definitely been some bumps along the road to opening the practice as it exists today. The first challenge was with credentialing, which in medicine is required in order to bill insurance. Getting credentialed with Blue Cross Blue Shield took 9 months which was about 6 months longer than expected. This greatly delayed our ability to welcome many families to the practice. Once credentialing was secured the next hurdle was moving from a small temporary space to a larger, newly renovated, forever home where we could comfortably serve more patients with higher efficiency. The renovation took longer than expected. But good things really do come to those who wait and out patience has been rewarded with a beautiful new office space and an abundance of great families as patients.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Angel Oak Pediatrics, we are committed to providing high-quality, evidence-based medical care in a warm, supportive environment. Our team partners closely with families to support children’s health, growth, and development from infancy through adolescence.
We believe exceptional care goes beyond medicine. That’s why we prioritize clear communication, attentive service, and respect for every family’s time and needs. From scheduling to follow-up, we strive to make every experience smooth, compassionate, and personalized.
We are proud to be an inclusive practice that welcomes and affirms all families, regardless of structure, background, identity, or belief. Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and understood, and every caregiver deserves to feel heard.
Our goal is simple: to deliver outstanding pediatric care while building trusting, long-term relationships with the families we serve.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I love that there is always something going on! Live music, festivals, art, music, sports – there really is something for everyone and the mild weather makes outdoor activities accessible for most of the year. I love the abundance of local restaurants and great food. I also like that Charleston is on the water – there is something so soothing about being near water. Charleston is also not to far away from some other great places like Charlotte and Asheville and Savannah so it’s very easy to travel within the region which I love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://angeloakpediatrics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.kellijohnstondo/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/DrKelliEJohnstonDO
