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Cortez Johnson, MD

@this.is.cortez

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Stumbling through life one oddly confident step at a time.
Resident Physician. Activist.
Proud Black Queer Weeb 🌈🖤
Romans 8:37-39.

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This is 29: I very rarely do double-posts on the same day, but there were some serious technical difficulties in the upload of my annual birthday post earlier to make the edit cuz my laptop (I fumbled my phone while trying to break into my own apartment after i locked myself out). So surprise! A second set of photos from yours truly, with love. by @this.is.cortez

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22 days ago

Hello 29! My birthday this year came and went! I have been working night shifts on Labor and Delivery and have postponed my annual update. Overall, my birthday was a quietly celebratory affair. I went wine tasting the weekend before my birthday at Castello di Amorosa in Napa, a 14th century Tuscan-styled replica castle. I am so grateful to all of my lovely coworkers who celebrated me from the Family Medicine and ObGyn departments. I am also deeply thankful for the family and friends near and far who texted, called, e-mailed, and messaged in honor of my special day. As always, special thanks to my Mom who always makes me feel so seen. This year, I'd also like to thank my brother Tray, whose generous gift was a whopping surprise.
Earlier in the month, I saw my dear friends Weilun and Ricco (pictured at the end), and they treated me to my first ever wine tasting event when I went to the Bay to visit folks in Oakland and San Francisco.
Glory to God for allowing me to see 28 full years on this earth. As I humbly begin my 29th year, I am hoping to learn lots, rest well, nurture the relationships I have, and forge, new, meaningful bonds as I face the future ahead. taken in Castello di Amorosa, Napa Valley by @this.is.cortez

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23 days ago

This is 28: On May 11, 2026 I became a doctor. Earning my M.D. has been a goal since I was ten or eleven years old. Since then, that ambition has been at the heart of the majority of my major decisions. To say, I am elated would be an understatement. At the same time, this career path has taken a lot so on the day of, I tried to remind myself that exhaustion and exasperation are temporary, and that I should really try and take in as much of the moment as I could. I think having mixed-feelings about such a momentous occasion is natural and healthy. That being said, WOW. Look at what God has done! I was very glad that my mother, brother, aunt, and father, and mentor Ian were able to Pasadena to celebrate with me and some of the friends I've made over these past few years in Los Angeles. Eternally grateful for all of the love and support I've received over these past 18 years. I could not, and did not, walk this path alone. From the aspirations of a young, naive boy to the manifested reality of a humbled man, the Lord has carried me. GLORY HALLELUJAH!!!

P.S. Forgot to mention when I originally made this post: the last image of the several bouquets of flowers is especially special. I have always loved flowers as a gift and very rarely have I received them. My family grew up in a culture where men traditionally were not given flowers as a gift. Some traditions are silly and need to be broken. I was very happy to receive such an abundance of bouquets. My kitchen table practically became a garden. 🌷🌸🌹🌺🌼🪷🪻🏵️💠💐 taken in Pasadena Convention Center by @this.is.cortez

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5 months ago

This is 28: Here’s my Match Day speech with the audio! #Match2026 by @this.is.cortez

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7 months ago

This is 28: Match Day 2026! I matched at @ucdavisfm in Sacramento, meaning I'll be working there as a resident physician for the next three years! I am so grateful for everyone who came out to support me, especially my lovely mother. Peak my speech clocking in under 2 minutes! Thankful to everyone and anyone who has been a source of comfort, wisdom, knowledge, strength, or love throughout these many years. The previous two days have been hectic, mostly due to my own procrastination preparing for my mother's visit and my trip to China, but today was such a joyous occasion. My mom and I wore complimenting black jumpsuits: coincidentally she sported green nails and mine were pink! 🩷💚 Praise the Lord God Almighty, we did it, y'all! #Match2026 taken in Pasadena Convention Center by @this.is.cortez

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7 months ago

This is 28: Valentine’s Weekend 2026 was one full of firsts! I got invited to my first Galentine’s, which doubled as my first album release party; experienced my first manicure AND my first pedicure; and discovered a new bar love music bar called The Slipper Clutch in DTLA. Overall, it was a memorable time. I’m glad I’ve been encouraging myself to try new things. by @this.is.cortez

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8 months ago

This is 28: I have been blessed so much in 2025. Deeply grateful for the people in my life who make it easy to smile. Since my last post in September, I finished my research project, completed a Visiting Clerkships at AltaMed in South Gate and Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, went to Washington D.C, for the annual PNHP/SNaHP meeting (my fourth and last as a student), and have completed 16 residency interviews for my chosen specialty of Family Medicine. I didn’t travel home this year for Christmas so there isn’t a family photo featuring my lovely mother, but she’s been a huge supporter throughout this whole process. I’ve also made some new friends this year, and visited with cherished ones I’ve known for a few years. I’ve made mistakes and hopefully something from them, and I’m happy to be alive. I’m here. There’s so much I want to do in life, and so many I hope I can help. Despite all the bad that has happened and will happen, thank you God for the gift of seeing 2025. by @this.is.cortez

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10 months ago

A MONTH AGO (!!??!!) I turned 28! Yes, I am very late to my annual birthday update, but a lot has been happening. I celebrated the end of 27 at a gamer bar in North Hollywood, and started 28 at a gamer lounge playing another session of an ongoing Dungeon and Dragons campaign that’s been going for over two years now. The first weekend of my 28th year, I went to a a Disney-themed drag brunch at Idle Hour. The audience suffered through mine and few others’ very exaggerated “fake orgasm” performances. Everyone in my party dressed as a Disney character, and I chose Cruella de Vil. It was very fun, very hot, and I did in fact get very drunk😅🤪. I am forever grateful to my 27-year-old self. He took both Step 1 (in December) and Step 2 (in August) and passed both on his first attempt! Now, I’m applying to residencies and have been enjoying the process. There’s some photos of a mini-call I bought myself, a trip to the beach on a lovely early October day just before the weather shifted to more chilled temperatures, and a concert I was gifted at the Hollywood Forever cemetery, which just so happens to be a 5 minute walk from my house. It’s been a wonderful start to what I hope is yet another lovely and memorable year. My cup runneth over. Hello 28! 💚 by @this.is.cortez

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a year ago

This is 27: The third and final city I visited on my two week trek to Western Europe was London. The entire reason I chose to go to Dublin, Paris, and London this year was because of the Cowboy Carter tour. My initial plans had been to travel to Thailand, but those plans were thrown out the window for another opportunity to watch Beyoncé perform. I did a self-directed unofficial walking tour of London over the next couple of days, and overall really enjoyed my stay. It was a lovely finish to an overall enjoyable holiday across the pond.
Not-so-fun fact: I missed my plane from Paris to London and ended up learning about a website that sells last minute train tickets on the Chunnel. I love trains and I was able to squeeze in the Louvre with the extra day, so tons ended working out! taken in Tottenham Hotspur Football Stadium by @this.is.cortez

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a year ago

This is 27: The second stop of my European holiday was Paris! I studied French for several years, and Paris has long been on my list of desired destinations. I stayed in lovely quaint hotel and was able to take the local metro around the city for pretty affordable prices. The architecture of the city and Versailles were breathtaking. I think that was perhaps my favorite thing about the city. The people were not at all rude in the way Americans often describe them. I wasn’t brave enough to try my hand at holding a French conversation, but I was happy to hear it all around me. The food was perhaps a bit underwhelming, but I admittedly didn’t try anything too luxurious. The desserts were wonderful!! I will say, I did not anticipate the extent to which I would be affected by traveling to a colonizing European country. That definitely tempered my emotional reception of all that Paris has to offer in a way that allowed me to enjoy the city without necessarily following in love with it the way I have other beautiful, culturally significant, cities I’ve visited. taken in Château de Versailles by @this.is.cortez

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a year ago

This is 27: Three months ago, I took a trip to Europe! The first stop was Ireland 🇮🇪. It was a beautiful, welcoming place with a people to match. There’s a sense of deep respect for the land and Irish culture, a people of endurance and resilience, wresting with their storied past, but not stunted by it. I found the entirety of the experience quite lovely, although alcohol was a little pricier than you’d expect (apparently some recent policy changes to try and fight against alcoholism). Special thanks to the fellow traveler from the tour who graciously took the photos of me!
I should probably add: the cave in the first photo is the one they filmed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince! And the second photo is from Trinity Library (very old). taken in Cliffs of Moher, Ireland by @this.is.cortez

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a year ago

Say hello to Whozit and Whatzit... just wait until you meet Knowzit.... Check out the full episode to see how our story unfolds!

#actualplay
#dungonsanddragons
#d20
#criticalsuccess
#dnd by @this.is.cortez

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a year ago