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
106 Irving St NW
POB Ste 5000
Washington, DC, 20010
11915 Georgia Ave
Wheaton, MD, 20902
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
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- First Health PPO
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- POS OA
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Medicare FFS
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- OA Plus
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Aetna HMO
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- IH-POS
- IH-Open POS Plus
- HighMark
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Medicare Direct
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Sentara Health
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- UHC Passport
- IH-Network Only Plus
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Core Essential (HMO)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- Network OA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Choice POS
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- CIGNA PPO
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 3500
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- TRICARE for Life East
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- IH-Open POS II
- IH-PPO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Aetna Basic
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Beech Street PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Navigate
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Employee Health Plan
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CIGNA EPO
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- TRICARE East Select
- Tricare Reserve Select
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice
- First Health PPO
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- CareFirst NASCO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- IH-Indemnity
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- United Student Resources
- Police and Fire Clinic
- IH-HMO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CareFirst EPO
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Choice POS II Open Access
- Choice Fund PPO
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Erickson Advantage Plans
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.