About me
Robert David Golden, MD, is a member of the MedStar Orthopaedic Institute and currently serves as Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma at the MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the Washington, D.C. region’s referral center for multiple trauma and mass trauma incidents. Dr. Golden is a member of the MedSTAR Trauma Team, which provides life-saving care in major incidents such as the September 11th attacks on the Pentagon in 2001, the Navy Yard shooting in 2011, and the Congressional baseball shooting in 2017 which injured Officer Crystal Griner and Representative Steve Scalise.
As an orthopaedic trauma surgeon, Dr. Golden specializes in fracture care and other musculoskeletal injuries resulting from a traumatic injury, such as motor vehicle accidents, falls, or shootings. He also specializes in treating patients who have had a previous injury that did not correctly heal, developed an infection, or had a subsequent issue as the result of another injury.
In addition to his vast surgical expertise, Dr. Golden is committed to using cutting-edge technology to ensure the patient’s recovery is the best it can be. As every fracture is unique, Dr. Golden is able to utilize his experience, problem solving, and creative abilities to achieve the best possible outcomes.
Dr. Golden received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine before joining Brigham and Women’s Hospital for an internship and residency training in general surgery. He then trained as part of the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Program and finally, completed fellowship training at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
When not in the Trauma Bay, Dr. Golden spends the majority of his free time with his two children. He also participates in triathlons which allow him to test his physical limits, stay in shape, and understand athletic injuries even better. He often partners with charities such as the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America for triathlons to help raise funds for research and patient care.
Dr. Golden grew up in Randallstown, MD and was a Lieutenant Firefighter and EMS Director for the College Park Volunteer Fire Department. He is an active member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and a clinical professor at George Washington University, as well as on the academic staff at MedStar Georgetown University. He also received the 2017 Nurses’ Choice Collaboration Award as recognition of the outstanding work he is performing.
Philosophy of Care
“I am passionate about orthopaedic trauma, as it allows me to intervene and restore the patient’s quality of life after first seeing them in the Emergency Department or Trauma Bay following one of the worst days of their life. I get the satisfaction of seeing the patient’s x-rays, after I have intervened, with the bones realigned as well as seeing their progress throughout the entire episode of care.
“I also enjoy the interdisciplinary aspect of Orthopaedic Trauma, as I often collaborate with other renowned trauma surgeons at MedStar Health in addition to the MedSTAR Trauma Team to provide life-saving care to patients. Care for the entire person is the focus and I'm proud of the services we provide.”
Patient Story:
Clinical areas of focus
- Ankle Fracture
- Arm Fracture
- Leg Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Acromioclavicular Fracture
- Acromioclavicular Joint Separation
- Ankle Dislocation
- Ankle Fracture
- Ankle Injury
- Arm Fracture
- Clavicle Fracture
- Colles Fracture
- Comminuted Fracture
- Compartment Syndrome
- Compound Fracture
- Crush Injuries Of The Leg
- Crush Injury
- Dislocated Patella
- Distal Radial Fracture
- Elbow Dislocation
- Elbow Fracture
- Elbow Injury
- Femur Fracture
- Fibula Fracture
- Finger Dislocation
- Foot Fracture
- Foot Injury
- Forearm Fracture
- Fracture Infections
- Galeazzi Fracture
- Hip Dislocation
- Hip Fracture
- Humerus Fracture
- Iliac Fracture
- Joint Dislocation
- Knee Dislocation
- Knee Fracture
- Leg Fracture
- Lunate Fracture
- Monteggia Fracture
- Non Displaced Fracture
- Non-Displaced Fracture Of Radius
- Non-Displaced Fracture Of Ulna
- Nonunion Fracture
- Open Dislocation Of Ankle
- Overuse Injury Of The Ankle
- Patella Dislocation
- Pelvic Fracture
- Pelvic Trauma
- Proximal Humerus Fractures
- Proximal Ulnar Fracture
- Pubic Fracture
- Pubic Symphysis Fracture
- Radial Fracture
- Radial Pseudarthrosis
- Rami Fracture
- Sacral Fracture
- Scapula Fracture
- Severe Bone Fractures
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Fracture
- Stress Fracture Of The Radius
- Stress Fractures
- Thumb Fracture
- Tibia Fracture
- Tibial Pseudarthrosis
- Tibial Spine Fracture
- Traumatic Amputation
- Ulnar Fracture
- Ulnar Pseudarthrosis
- Wrist Dislocation
- Wrist Fracture
Procedures I perform
- Amputation Below The Knee Surgery
- Amputation Of The Foot Surgery
- Ankle Fracture Surgery
- Clavicle Fracture Surgery
- Colles Fracture Surgery
- Elbow Fracture Surgery
- External Fixation
- Femur Fracture Surgery
- Fibula Fracture Surgery
- Foot Fracture Surgery
- Foot Surgery
- Forearm Fracture Surgery
- Galeazzi Fracture Surgery
- Heel Fracture Surgery
- Hip Fracture Surgery
- Hip Surgery
- Humerus Fracture Surgery
- Iliac Fracture Surgery
- Knee Fracture Surgery
- Leg Fracture Surgery
- Monteggia Fracture Surgery
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Ankle
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Arm
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Elbow
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Foot
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Hip
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Knee
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Shoulder
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation Orif Wrist
- Open Reduction Internal Fixation Orif Clavicle
- Open Reduction Internal Fixation Orif Proximal Humerus
- Pelvic Fracture Surgery
- Pelvic Reconstruction
- Percutaneous Pinning
- Pubic Fracture Surgery
- Reconstruction Of Hip
- Sacral Fracture Surgery
- Scapula Fracture Surgery
- Shoulder Fracture Surgery
- Shoulder Surgery
- Wrist Fracture Surgery
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select (aka Senior Advantage)
- Blue Choice Advantage & Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans/ UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans HMO, POS, PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO) (includes Empire PPO, GEHA, Compass Rose)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv/Special Needs Plans
- UHC Community Plan of MD
- Private Health Care Systems (PHCS) (PPO)
- Medicare Fee for Service
- Kaiser Virginia Premier
- Kaiser PermanenteSelect-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature-Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS
- Kaiser MD Medicaid MCO
- CFBCBS Federal Employee Program (Std/Basic PPO/Blue Focus)
- CFBCBS EPO
- Open POS II
- Network OA
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- POS OA & OA Plus
- PPO and PPO Plus
- Open HMO
- CIGNA HMO Open Access (OA)
- Aetna HMO
- Innovation Health: POS
- CFBSBC Blue Preferred PPO
- Innovation Health: PPO
- Innovation Health: Indemnity
- Choice POS & Choice POS II
- Open EPO Plus
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Opoen HMO Option
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Innovation Health: Open POS Plus
- Aetna Innovations: HMO & EPO Plus
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Innovation Health: Open Network Only Plus
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- United Healthcare Choice
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Innovation Health: POS Plus
- CFBCBS Maryland Point of Service Plan (MPOS)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- MedStar Select (MedStar Associates' Plan)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Tricare for Life (Medicare Supplemental Plan)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- CFBCBS (NCA) Indemnity
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CFBCBS Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund) Innovation Health: Network Only Plus
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- CFBCBS Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) & OCI Direct (HMO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- United Student Resources
- FIRST HEALTH
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Tricare Prime
- CFBCBS BlueChoice HMO
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery
Fellowship Program: Shock Trauma Center (2009)
Residency Program: Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Surgery Program (2008)
Residency Program: Brigham and Womens Hospital (2004)
Internship Program: Brigham and Womens Hospital (2002)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (2001)
Awards
- November 2017 - Honored by U.S. Capitol Police for care delivered to injured officer after shooting at Congressional Baseball practice
- September 2017 - Honored by Majority Whip Steve Scalise at U.S. House of Representatives session for care delivered after Congressional Baseball practice shooting
- July 2017 - Honored at White House by the President of the United States for care delivered to victims of the Congressional Baseball practice shooting
- May 2017 - 2017 Nurses’ Choice Physician Collaboration Award
- June 2008 -Best Research Paper Award (Residency Thesis Project)
- Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program May 2001
- Dr. I. S. Ravdin Prize (Surgical Studies) University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine May 2001
- William T. Fitts, Jr. Memorial Prize (Trauma Surgery) University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, May 1994
- Society of Fire Protection Engineers Award Outstanding Senior in Fire Protection Engineering University of Maryland, College Park
- May 1993-August 1993 Senior Summer Scholarship University of Maryland, College Park
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
- Hawks MA, Kim H, Strauss JE, Oliphant BW, Golden RD, Hsieh AH, Nascone JW, O’Toole RV. Does a trochanteric lag screw improve fixation of vertically oriented femoral neck fractures? A biomechanical analysis in cadaveric bone. Clin Biomech (Briston, Avon) 2013;28:886-891.
- Golden RD, Kim H, Watson JD, Oliphant BW, Doro C, Hsieh AH, Osgood GM, O'Toole RV. How much vertical displacement of the symphysis indicates instability after pelvic injury? J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2013 Feb;74(2):585-9.
- Jockel CR, Gardenal RM, Chen NC, Golden RD, Jupiter JB, Capomassi M. Intermediate-term outcomes for floating elbow and floating elbow variant injuries. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2013 Feb;22(2):280-5.
- Oliphant BW, Kim H, Osgood GM, Golden RD, Hawks MA, Hsieh AH, Oʼtoole RV. Predrilling does not improve the pullout strength of external fixator pins: a biomechanical study. J Orthop Trauma. 2013 Feb;27(2):e25-30.
- Golden RD and Rodriguez EK. Management of Subtrochanteric femur fractures with internal fixation and recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 in a patient with osteopetrosis: a case report, Journal of Medical Case Reports. 2010, 4:142
- Golden RD, Rodriguez EK. Management of bilateral subtrochanteric femur fractures with internal fixation and rhBMP-7 in a patient with osteopetrosis. A case report and review of the literature. The Orthopaedic Journal at Harvard Medical School. 2007; 9: 147-150.
- Golden RD, Pill SG, Carpentieri DF, Hubbard AM, and Dormans JP. Arm pain in an 8-year-old boy. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2002; 402: 288-91, 299-301.