Tara Johnson

Tara Johnson, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in Pediatric Neurology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine. She serves as Founding Director of the Arkansas Children’s Biomedical Innovations Program.

Her research focuses on early identification of neurodevelopmental disabilities in infants, particularly cerebral palsy prediction using movement assessment tools. She specializes in translating diagnostic methods like the General Movement Assessment into clinical practice.

Publications (2013-2025) concentrate on:

• Movement analysis and cerebral palsy prediction in high-risk infants
• Innovative diagnostic tools including AI-based movement quantification
• Neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital heart disease patients
• Assistive technologies for motor impairments
• Clinical management of Tourette syndrome

She leads implementation of novel clinical protocols for early diagnosis at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Mentors include Alan Tackett, Ph.D. and Kenneth Knecht, M.D.