Meet Josie Johnson!

Anyone who knows Josie knows she has a kind and caring nature about her. Josie greets everyone she meets with a warm smile. When you have your appointment with Josie, you can tell she truly loves what she does. According to Josie, “ I love working with a wide variety of people; knowing that you can help make a person’s life better is very rewarding.”

Josie grew up in a large family on a farm in northern Minnesota. She was the fifth of nine children. When Josie was five years old, she was in a farming accident and lost her left leg below the knee. She caught her leg in a grain auger and from that point on, Josie has needed to wear a prosthesis. This accident did not stop her from reaching her goals however. Even as a child, she strived to ‘overcome her disability’. Growing up Josie was very involved in sports. She participated in volleyball and excelled in basketball; becoming a member of both the US National and Paralympic wheelchair basketball teams. During her time playing sports, she met many wonderful people that taught her that your disability does not define who you are. Now Josie spreads that message to her patients at Great Steps O & P.

Before becoming a Great Steps O & P team member, Josie studied at the University of North Dakota. In 1996, she received her Bachelor of Science in Recreation Therapy. With this schooling, Josie worked as a recreational therapist, coached local youth wheelchair basketball, conducted peer amputation consults and did motivational speaking. Josie later decided to continue her education. Josie completed a one-year residency in the prosthetic department at a children’s specialty hospital and in 2003, she received her Prosthetic Practitioner Certificate from Century College. Josie was now ready to start her career in the prosthetics and orthotics field. She worked as an Orthotist and American Board Certified Prosthetist for eight years and in 2009, she joined the Great Steps O & P team. Josie has since received her BOC Orthotist certification and excels at seeing both Orthotic & Prosthetic patients. Josie’s favorite thing about working at Great Steps O & P is all the people. Josie explains, “It’s great having so many practitioners with many years of experience to learn from and work with.”


Josie has an open mind and is always interested in trying new O & P technology. She is able to do this by trying products herself and sharing her experiences with her patients.
Josie married her high school sweetheart, Aaron. They will be celebrating their 18th anniversary at the end of this year. They have two children, Gretta, who is eight years old and Seth, who is five years old.

If you ever need someone to talk to about your amputation or just a warm smile to brighten your day, Josie is the person to go to. Next time you are Great Steps O & P say hello to Josie!