Dr. Evangeline Camarista Johnson Unraveled
Dr Johnson and family
* I laugh a lot, I sing, I dance, I keep a positive attitude although it's kind of difficult to do sometimes. I try to stay organized with my schedules to minimize stress. I keep my faith in the midst of detractors. I am learning to take it one day at a time
SHE is perhaps one of Iloilo City's most talked about women. Who wouldn't? Most women want to be in her shoes --- beautiful, determined, unshakable, smart, has love for the poor, independent and most of all, oozing with charisma.
She is Dr. Evangeline Camarista Johnson, owner of Saviour International Hospital in Iloilo, Bacolod Our Lady Hospital in Bacolod, and the Mercedes Medical Center in Pampanga.
As CPU Alumni Queen 2007
Kathy M. Villalon finds out more about her and wishes to share this discovery with you, too. Here it is, Dr. Johnson unraveled ....
ON BEING A DOCTOR AND BUSINESSWOMAN
Kathy M. Villalon (KMV): What influenced you to become a doctor? Tell us more about your practice.
Dr. Evangeline Camarista Johnson (ECJ): My parents decided I was destined to be a doctor, so they made sure that maintaining my grades and academic performance were priority above all my other activities. My parents were one of the most caring and helpful couples I've ever known. As such, my siblings and I have learned compassion and the joy of helping others from them. Becoming a doctor took many years of preparation, long hours of studying, sacrifices both personal and by family, discipline to get to where being a doctor I had the awesome responsibility for another human being's life. That makes doctors like me physically drained but emotionally strong.
I dropped out of school, eloped and married at age 18. I discovered the harsh realities of not finishing an education, having little kids, and not having enough to get by. I decided to get up and catch up with my medical studies. It was one of the most difficult periods of my life having to juggle responsibilities of being a mother and full time medical school student. I was one of those poor students who could not afford to buy books and survived on hand me down uniforms.
Dr Johnson is active in medical and
dental services
I started my practice as a medical officer at the 130th station US Army hospital in Heidelberg, Germany for about give years. That was when I started my hospital training in Neuropsychiatry specializing in brain injury in Landstuhl, Germany and proceeded to complete my training at the Psychiatric Institute of Fort worth in Texas. Most of my active practice was spent setting up and implementing psychiatric programs in psych units of at least six hospitals in Texas. I started devoting most of my time in corporate medicine in America sometime in 1987 right after my husband passed away. I started with a few thousand dollars in my hands. God has been good to us. I worked like crazy. My kids worked with me early on especially in running our first nursing home facility specializing in brain and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. My health care businesses steadily grew. Within 10 years, I owned at least 20 nursing home facilities, rehabilitation centers, imaging centers, personal care homes, home health businesses, and ultimately bought the Cedars Hospital in Dallas, Texas where I became the medical director and CEO. My company Sun Tzu Management soon had over 800 employees and over 50 full time physicians employed.
KMV: What's your management style?
ECJ: I am a hands-on CEO especially at the earliest stage of a project or task. Being a very obsessive person, I tend to be demanding yet supportive with my employees. I carefully and systematically plan each project and I keep realistic timetables and assign drop dead deadlines of completion. I like forming a super team in that I personally choose my top executives and associates. My employees have clear cut ideas of my expectations so I delegate more tasks, but closely monitor their progress along the way without looking over their shoulders. I demand loyalty, respect and affection from my employees just as I try to give them to same. I am a big dreamer, sort of a risk taker, and I have a tendency to inspire other people with my visions. I can be a stern disciplinarian in that I believe in fairness and that people must take responsibility for their own actions.
KMV:How do you manage your resources?
ECJ: It is relatively easier and quicker for me to make decisions since my family controls about 98 percent of the business equities. My two older children and my daughter-in-law who are lawyers and the eldest, a pilot, are now helping me in the management of the businesses so that I don't need to deal with the details.
I believe in saving for the rainy days. But when it comes to helping indigents, my staff often get shocked when I give away services for free without batting an eyelash. A portion of the company's earnings are put aside for indigent care and my civic action fund. A portion of earnings get reinvested in real estate or the family trust fund and mutual funds. My brother manages the family trust and remaining assets in the US.
KMV: What's your daily routine?
ECJ: I usually wake up at 9 am when my phone starts going wild until 11 am. I do brief workout in between texts and calls. By noon, I am off to the office to start my work day till around 7 pm. I often go to business dinners with doctors and business associates. After dinner, I catch up with my paper and computer work, correspondence and more calls to doctors, etc. I pray, read, write and draft texts until 1 or 2 am.
On weekends, I'd stay up much later for ballroom dancing. If there's a special project, I sometimes stay up till dawn, the best time to work while everyone is asleep. That's the beauty of being in business for yourself. You need not clock in and you do whatever you want whenever you want however you want it.
LEISURE AND FAMILY
KMV: What's your idea of a good time?
ECJ: Good time should be being with people whose company you enjoy. It could be with family, friends, employees and relatives. Usually holidays like Christmas or birthdays, reunions are my favorite fun times doing things with people I care about. Lots of food and laughter, crazy conversation, Karaoke singing with doctors and friends is fun, too. I love malling with close friends, trying on makeup and perfume.
KMV: What is your comfort food?
ECJ: I don't think I have any comfort food. My favorites are Kadios, Baboy and Langka, Dried Fish, Carne Frita and Paksiw.
KMV: What are your hobbies?
ECJ: Reading romance novels. I haven't outgrown them. I am into collecting songs now since my son bought me a cute iPod. Of course, like many women do, I love to shop. I sometimes play the slot machine once a month and even lucky enough to hit the jackpot last year.
KMV: Any favorite book?
ECJ: Barbara Cartlands, business-oriented books and biographies like Princess Diana, Winston Churchill and Bill Clinton.
KMV: Any favorite movie?
ECJ: Out of Africa and Dr. Zhivago. I love old movies and comedy TV program replays like I Love Lucy. I am romantic but evil, too sometimes. I like the Hannibal Lecter movies. Ugh! And I love James Bond movies. I have all of his VHS. For actors, Merryl Streep, Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts are tops for me. I have not watched a Tagalog movie for ages but I think Sam Milby and Judy Ann Santos are talented.
KMV: What's the sweetest gesture that anyone has done for you?
ECJ: When my late husband set up a folding bed and mosquito net for me out in the open garage when the air conditioner broke and fanned me for hours with a cardboard until I fell asleep. We were still broke then. Also, when my son brought me cigarettes at 3 am when I was having nicotine withdrawal while trying to quit smoking. It always feels great to love and be loved.
KMV: Who are the people you value most?
ECJ: My family foremost. My late husband, my three boys Lucho, JV, Vonn, my daughter-in-law Rachel, and my grandchildren Jamie and Gianni. The loves of my life. Supportive, loving, thoughtful, bright kids I adore and admire and who love and respect me as well. We share secrets, even our personal problems. Rachel is the sweetest intelligent girl who chooses my makeup and accessories. We share clothes sometimes. We all share family values of simplicity in life, integrity and compassion. They are my secret formula for success. Of course, their stepfather Major Johnson had been a great father and raised them well. They are all simple down to earth kids with simple lives and Christian values I can be proud of.
FASHION
KMV: Are you particular about signature brands? What brands do you prefer?
ECJ: Not really on clothes. To me, anything that looks and fits well and durable is good enough. I go for quality rather than brand. I am more choosy with my shoes and purses than my clothes. Bali bags and shoes and Joy French perfume are my favorites. I like Rolex watches, Judith Lieber evening bags, and pearl or diamond earrings like most women do.
KMV: Who are your favorite designers?
ECJ: In the US, Vera Wang makes good lines. Locally, I entrust my gowns to Alex Soncio and Eric de los Santos. They make sexy, subdued but elegant styles that match one's personality. I favor Jones New York suits.
KMV: Do you also go for ukay-ukay?
ECJ: Who doesn't? I love to go ukay-ukay. Some of my doctors see me there sometimes. Kaya lang, I end up just giving them away after they clog up in my closet. It's so much fun like treasure hunting and feeling good with the unbelievable bargains and name brand pa.
KMV: Do you collect shoes?
ECJ: I don't collect shoes but it's just that I like to buy shoes to match every new outfit and new bag. So, shoes can quickly overflow in my closet. Then I give them away naman. I wear all styles that fit every occasion, like pumps for suits, sandals for skirts, flats or wedge for pants, heels for dresses and even stilettos. Bali and Rusty Lopez are nice styles --- sexy but comfortable.
KMV: What items can one find in your bag?
ECJ: A rosary, cell phone, compact, comb, lipstick, wet wipes, wallet, breath mints, toothbrush, toothpaste, sunglasses, hard candy, dental floss, hand lotion and a magic coin.
KMV: What's your beauty and skin secret?
ECJ: Daily bath with Dove soap, Pantene shampoo and Skala hair spa, Dermatics Vit C10, Dermatics moisturizer, Dermatics Purelight to whiten and even my face tone, Dermatics Liftoff for dermabrasion, and Ponds cold cream to remove makeup. I get occasional facials from my dermatologist Dr. Techie Layson. I use Papaya powder once a week for body scrub to clarify and slough off dead skin. I avoid direct exposure to sunlight. I drink lots of water to hydrate my skin and I try to get adequate sleep whenever I can. I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by avoiding alcohol and smoking which can make skin dull and ruddy. A weekly manicure and pedicure and foot scrub is a must. Tons of sunblock when going outdoors. Minimal makeup.
KMV: What keeps you fit and healthy?
ECJ: For exercise, I go ballroom dancing and workout with light weights two to three times a week for toning muscles and keep my endurance level up despite my hectic schedule. I avoid fried foods. Eating sensibly most protein rich diet, no more than half cup of rice each meal. I take One A Day Women's Vitamin once a day to ensure a balanced nutritional supplement with its calcium, iron and minerals components. I don't drink alcohol except for occasional glass of wine socially and to unwind. I don't smoke. I give myself quiet time alone every day to pray and meditate, de-stress and recharge. I connect regularly with my family and friends. I keep my close friends. I laugh a lot, I sing, I dance, I keep a positive attitude although it's kind of difficult to do sometimes. I try to stay organized with my schedules to minimize stress. I keep my faith in the midst of detractors. I am learning to take it one day at a time.