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
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Ankle And Foot Fracture
- Ankle And Foot Ligament Sprain
- Ankle Joint Dislocation
- Arm Fracture
- Bone Cyst
- Bone Infection (OSTEOMYELITIS)
- Collarbone Fracture
- Femur (THIGH BONE) Fracture
- Femur Shaft Fracture
- Foot Dislocation
- Forearm Fracture
- Hand And Wrist Fracture
- Hip Joint Dislocation
- Hip Pain
- Joint Sprain
- Knee Dislocation
- Knee Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Fracture
- Lumbar Spine And Pelvis Joint Dislocation
- Lumbar Spine Fracture
- Malunion (IMPROPERLY HEALED FRACTURE)
- Malunion Fracture Of The Spine
- Nonunion Of Bone
- Patella Dislocation
- Pelvic Fracture
- Shoulder Fracture
- Toe Dislocation
- Toe Joint Sprain
- Wrist And Hand Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
Procedures I perform
- Ankle Fracture Treatment
- Ankle Ligament Repair
- Arm Osteotomy
- Bone Graft
- Bone Infection Treatment
- Calcaneal Fracture Treatment
- Calcaneus Fracture Fixation
- Clavicle Fracture Fixation
- Clavicle Fracture Treatment
- Closed Radial Head Or Neck Fracture Treatment
- Closed Treatment Of Femoral Fracture Without Manipulation
- Comminuted Fracture Treatment
- Distal Humerus Fracture Fixation
- Distal Radius Fracture Fixation
- Elbow Dislocation Reduction
- Elbow Fracture Open Reduction Internal Fixation
- External Fixation Device Insertion
- External Fixation Of Right Tarsal
- Femur Fracture Stabilization
- Fibula Fracture Fixation
- Fibula Fracture Treatment
- Fracture Reduction And Internal Fixation
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Hip Joint Replacement
- Humerus Fracture Fixation
- Humerus Fracture Treatment
- Internal Fixation Device Insertion
- Internal Lengthening Nail
- Intertrochanteric Fracture Treatment
- Intramedullary Nailing
- Joint Dislocation Treatment
- Left Hip Replacement
- Left Pelvic Bone Internal Fixation
- Malunion Treatment
- Metacarpal Fracture Fixation
- Metatarsal Fracture Fixation
- Metatarsal Fracture Treatment
- Nonunion Treatment
- Olecranon Fracture Fixation
- Open Reduction And Internal Fixation
- Open Treatment Of Tibial Fracture
- Osteotomy
- Patella Fracture Fixation
- Percutaneous Femoral Fracture Fixation
- Percutaneous Skeletal Fixation
- Periarticular Fracture Treatment
- Proximal Humeral Fracture Treatment
- Proximal Humerus Fracture Fixation
- Radial Head Fracture Fixation
- Radial Shaft Fracture Fixation
- Radius Fracture Fixation
- Removal Of Implant
- Removal Of Internal Fixation Device
- Reposition Acetabulum With Internal Fixation
- Reposition Femoral Shaft With External Fixation
- Reposition Femoral Shaft With Internal Fixation
- Reposition Femoral Shaft With Intramedullary Fixation
- Reposition Humeral Head With Internal Fixation
- Reposition Humeral Shaft With Internal Fixation
- Reposition Radius With Internal Fixation
- Reposition Right Tibia
- Reposition Upper Femur With Internal Fixation
- Rib Fracture Treatment
- Right Hip Replacement
- Scapula Fracture Fixation
- Scapula Fracture Treatment
- Talar Fracture Fixation
- Talus Fracture Treatment
- Tarsal Fracture Fixation
- Tarsal Fracture Treatment
- Tibia Fracture Fixation
- Tibia Fracture Treatment
- Tibial Plateau Fracture Fixation
- Tibial Spine Fracture Fixation
- Toe Sprain Treatment
- Ulna Fracture Fixation
- Ulna Reposition With Internal Fixation
- Ulnar Shaft Fracture Fixation
Practice locations
Distance from Change Location Enter your Location
11915 Georgia Ave
Wheaton, MD, 20902
106 Irving St NW
POB Ste 5000
Washington, DC, 20010
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 Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- United Student Resources
- HighMark
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- TRICARE East Prime
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Core Essential (HMO)
- UHC Passport
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Sentara Health
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Network OA
- BlueChoice Open Access
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst EPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- CIGNA EPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst NASCO
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CIGNA Indemnity
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- OA Plus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- Navigate
- IH-POS
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Choice POS
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Optimum Choice
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- CIGNA PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Choice POS II Open Access
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Aetna Basic
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-EPO Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- POS OA
- IH-PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Aetna Classic 3500
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- IH-HMO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare FFS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Beech Street PPO
- TRICARE East Select
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: University of Maryland Medical System (2009)
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital (2008)
Internship: Brigham and Womens Hospital (2004)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (2001)
Awards
- Washingtonian Top Doc 2025 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.