James K. Robinson III, M.D., M.S.

Board Certified Board Certified

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Fellowship Trained
Rockville Location Rockville, MD
Learn about MIGS or 301-340-1188
Patient Testimonial
Dr. Robinson was great to work with, he took what could have been an incredibly scary surgery and made it approachable and eased all of my fears. He has a wonderful bedside manner, and I am so grateful that he was available to perform my procedure.

Biography

James K. Robinson III, M.D., M.S. is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) and fellowship trained in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS). Dr. Robinson completed his residency in OB/GYN at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, in Madison, Wisconsin. From there, Dr. Robinson completed his MIGS fellowship at the Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Center at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts.  
 
Prior to joining SGF, Dr. Robinson was the Director of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Vice Chair of the Department of Women’s and Infants’ Services. He also served as the Director of MIGS and was Associate Professor at the Medical Faculty Associates of The George Washington University Medical Center. 
 
As Director of Reproductive Surgery at SGF, Dr. Robinson will provide reproductive surgery consultation, office-based procedures, and outpatient surgeries to SGF patients at the Rockville, Maryland, location, and patients from outside referring providers. He specializes in Asherman’s Syndrome (intrauterine adhesions), complex hysteroscopic surgery, and complex outpatient laparoscopic surgery. Dr. Robinson also provides laparoscopic hysterectomies to transgender male patients and laparoscopic interval cerclage placements to patients with cervical insufficiency.  

A self-avowed bird nerd, Dr. Robinson enjoys anything that gets him into the great outdoors to reset and relax.  

Education

  • Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin 
  • Fellowship: Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Center, Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newton, Massachusetts  
  • MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington Hospital Center Ob/Gyn Residency Program – Gynecology Attending of the Year (2021, 2020, 2019) 
  • Washingtonian magazine Top Doctor (2020, 2019) 
  • Nominated and elected to serve as Secretary-Treasurer for the AAGL Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGs) Executive Board of Directors (2019)  
  • Nominated and selected to run for AAGL Executive Board of Directors (2018)  
  • Nominated and selected to serve as a board member on the Foundation of the AAGL (2015)  
  • Nominated to serve on the Board of Directors for the AAGL Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (2015)  
  • Class of 2014, GW Department of OB/GYN, Excellence in Teaching Award (2014)  
  • American Association of Gynecologic Surgeons (AAGL) – Prior Board of Directors 
  • Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (FMIGS) – Prior Board President 
  • Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS) – Current Chair of the Membership Committee 
  • American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) 
  • World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH)   
  • A. Zelivianskaia, A. Qu, A. Ramanathan, J.K. Robinson, “Barriers to Office Hysteroscopy in Fellowship Education and Practice,” JMIG, Accepted for publication, 2024 Jan, 3. Ref # TJMIG-D-23-00662R3.  
  • J.K.Robinson, A. Ramanathan, R. Thompson, “An Argument for Quality Improvement in Asherman Syndrome Counseling,” JMIG on-line avail, 2023 Jan 12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2023.01.002  
  • A. Zelivianskaia, A. Arcaz, P. Kolm, J.K. Robinson, N. Hazen, “Cost-Savings Analysis of Routine Hysteroscopy for Early Detection and Treatment of Intrauterine Adhesions,” J. Gynecol Surg on-line avail 2022 Dec 5, https://doi.org/10.1089/gyn.2022.0106   
  • A. Zelivianskaia, N. Hazen, V. Morozov, J.K. Robinson, “Prospective Study Investigating Change in Carboxyhemoglobin Blood Level During Operative Hysteroscopy,” JMIG. 2022 Nov;29(11):1260-1267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmig.2022.09.002.   
  • A. Zelivianskaia, J.K. Robinson, “Office Hysteroscopy: Setting up Your Practice for Success,” Obstet. Gynecol. Clin. 2022 June;49(2):315-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogc.2022.02.011.  
  • K. Roy, J.K.Robinson, “Durable Improvement in Generic and Fibroid-Specific Quality of Life in Women Treated with Transcervical Fibroid Ablation with Sonata System After Three Years,” J Gynecol Surg. 2022 Apr;38(2):143-147.  doi: 10.1089/gyn.2021.0073. Epub 2022 Apr 1. PMID: 35497488  
  • E. Brunn, M. Cheney, N. Hazen, V. Morozov, J.K. Robinson, “Virtual-Reality Effects on Acute Pain During Office Hysteroscopy: A randomized Controlled Trial,” J Gynecol Surg. 2022 June; 38(3): 214-220. https://doi.org/10.1089/gyn.2021.0121.   
  • A.Hamouie, E. Brunn, J. Orzel, S.R. Shehr, J.K.Robinson, “Joint Treatment of de Novo Umbilical Endometriosis with Plastic Surgery and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery,” Plast Recon Surg – Global Open. 2021 July; 9(7):e3675. DOI:10.1097/GOX.0000000000003675  
  • J. Opoku-Anane, M.V. Vargas, C.Q. Marfori, G. Moawad, M.S. Maasen, J. K. Robinson, “Intraoperative Tranexamic Acid to Decrease Blood Loss During Myomectomy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial,” Obstet Gyn Surv. 2020;75(9):539-540.  
  • J. Opoku-Anane, M.V. Vargas, C.Q. Marfori, G. Moawad, M.S. Maasen, J. K. Robinson, “Intraoperative Tranexamic Acid to Decrease Blood Loss During Myomectomy: A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial,” Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Sept;223(3):413. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.019   
  • J. Fitzgerald, J. Davitt, J.Robinson, “Case report: Critically high carboxyhemoglobin level following extensive hysteroscopic myomectomy,” JMIG  2020 Feb;27(2):548-550.  
  •  P. Tyan MD, J. Robinson MD, M. Dandapani MD, J. Li BS, A. Gu BS, G.Moawad MD6, “Novel Approach for Two-port Laparoscopic Hysterectomy.” J Surg Innov 2019;26(4), 442-448. 

Q&A

My father was a family practice physician in a small rural town in Central Wisconsin and I saw the enormous impact he was able to have on his patients, his staff, and the community. While I did not immediately pursue medicine following college, following certification as a wilderness EMT I realized that for me no other field would give me the same sense of purpose and community engagement as medicine. I was and continue to be drawn to both the science and the deeply personal level of human interaction that medicine affords.

In medical school I first realized that I most thrived in a hands-on procedural setting. Unfortunately, much of surgery does not involve a lot of patient interaction which I also craved. Obstetrics and Gynecology was the field that best fulfilled both professional goals. During my residency, while I loved Obstetrics, I was most drawn to surgical subspecialties. More specifically, watching some of my mentors perform complex life-changing surgeries through tiny keyhole incisions in an outpatient setting was life changing for me. I was fortunate that the MIGS field was just emerging and, in its infancy when I finished residency. I was thrilled to continue my training with a world-class reproductive surgeon who opened my eyes to an entire world of surgical possibilities I previously had not considered. Now, many years later, I look back on my convoluted journey to MIGS and I can honestly say I would not change a thing. MIGS continues to evolve and inspire me, and I continue to wake up every day knowing I am blessed to have the privilege to care for women in their medical, reproductive, and equity challenges.

I have had the privilege to work with inspiring clinicians, educators, researchers, learners, and patients throughout my career. Unfortunately, in this country, women’s health often takes a back seat to other fields of medicine. We see this in research funding, medical infrastructure investment, payer reimbursement, surgical access, and health care system strategic planning. I am thrilled to currently work for an organization whose DNA is built around women’s health. I look forward to the opportunity to build a synergistic relationship with my reproductive endocrinology colleagues to offer both the best reproductive technologies and outcomes and the most successful and minimally invasive reproductive surgeries all under a single roof.

Patients inspire me every single day with their strength, vulnerability, and resilience. My patients struggle with severe chronic pain, debilitating bleeding and anemia, difficulties with fertility or recurrent pregnancy loss, and many other medical and social issues that negatively impact their lives. I am constantly amazed that despite these issues, most patients continue to have a positive outlook on life and are motivated to learn, try novel approaches, and persevere. Nothing gives me more joy than receiving a photo of a newborn child or a thank you note from a patient now able to live their best life as a result, in part, of my intervention. These moments make my work so worthwhile.

The first, second, and third step in helping the struggling patient is to listen. It is imperative that we understand not only the disease process, but the impact that it is having on the patient in the context of their own personal experience. No two patients are completely alike despite having similar pathologies. The practice of medicine outside of the personal, social, economic, and cultural background is a failed enterprise. Physician patient relationships must be based on shared understanding, decision making, and respect.

So many people. My parents, my wife, my children, my residents and fellows, my mentors, Mother Theresa, John Muir . . . the list is endless.

Empathic (I cry easily), fun (I love to dance), curious, hands-on, extroverted, glass is half full.

Hike the Himalayas, visit all the US National Parks, build a boat.

I love the wilderness and am a self-avowed bird nerd. I like to garden, cook, tinker, kayak, hike, sail, camp, bike, and boat. Anything that gets me into the great outdoors helps me reset and relax. Listening to music and using my hands also puts me at ease. I love live music, building great sandcastles, and carving sweet pumpkins!

World and wilderness travel.

2024 Shady Grove Fertility

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