Peter S. Johnston

Peter S. Johnston is a shareholder at Clark, Mize & Linville Chartered in Salina, Kansas, focusing on health care and hospital law and litigation. He serves as general counsel to Salina Regional Health Center and affiliated hospitals and clinics. He advises medical organizations and physicians on governance, regulatory compliance, risk management, professional relationships, and the transactions involved in operating health care institutions.

Johnston earned a B.A. in English with honors from the University of Kansas in 1994 and a J.D. from the same university in 1997. He was admitted to practice in Kansas in 1997 and Missouri in 1998. His academic background and litigation training support a practice involving hospital policies, medical staff matters, health care regulations, and contested liability claims.

His advisory work includes EMTALA, peer review, credentialing, physician contracts, privacy, technology, tax-exempt organization issues, and medical practice acquisitions. In court, Johnston defends medical malpractice claims in Kansas state and federal proceedings. His firm identifies jury defense verdicts for physicians and hospitals, as well as an appellate-affirmed summary judgment, among his representative litigation matters.

Johnston has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America in medical malpractice defense, personal injury litigation defense, and insurance law. Appointed to the Kansas Board of Regents in 2025, he was confirmed by the Kansas Senate in February 2026. Peter S. Johnston combines legal counsel to health care organizations with medical defense litigation and public service in Kansas higher education.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Clark, Mize & Linville, Chartered
• Member, Kansas Bar Association
• President, Litigation Section, Kansas Bar Association (2013-2015)
• Member, The Missouri Bar
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• Member, Saline-Ottawa County Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Kansas Association of Hospital Attorneys
• Member, American Health Law Association
• Member, Defense Research Institute (DRI)
• Member, Kansas Bar Foundation
• Member, Kansas Board of Law Examiners (2016-2026)
• Member, Kansas Bar Foundation Board of Trustees (2023-2026)
• Member, Judicial District Nominating Commission, 28th Judicial District of Kansas (2012-2024)
• Member, Bench-Bar Committee, 28th Judicial District of Kansas (2011-2016)
• Member, University of Kansas School of Law Alumni Board of Governors (2008-2016)
• Board Member, Kansas Association of Defense Counsel (2013-2016)
• Board of Trustees, University of Kansas Endowment Association (2024-Present)
• Board Member, University of Kansas Alumni Association National (2018-2024)
• Board of Directors and Vice Chairman, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce (2016-2019)
• Member, Kansas Board of Regents (2026-Present)

Licensed State

• Kansas
• Missouri

Education

• University of Kansas
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Kansas
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges