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Robert M Richardson

Robert M Richardson, MD, PhD

Neurosurgery

Mass General Brigham

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Adults
  • Geriatrics

Languages

  • English

Gender

Male

About Robert M Richardson

Dr. Richardson completed the MD-PhD program at Virginia Commonwealth University's Medical College of Virginia and neurosurgical residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Richardson's clinical expertise includes awake brain mapping during epilepsy and DBS surgery, robotic-assisted stereotactic surgery, and network surgery approaches to epilepsy, including Responsive Neurostimulation. He was Director of Epilepsy and Movement Disorders Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) from 2011-2019, establishing an internationally recognized intraoperative MRI neurosurgery program, encompassing DBS, gene therapy clinical trials, and laser thermal ablation. Dr. Richardson is a primary advisor on several pioneering clinical trials spanning neuromodulation and gene and cell therapies, and a former member of the Executive Board of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery.

Dr. Richardson is also a neuroscientist who founded the Brain Modulation Lab, a human systems neuroscience lab studying brain electrophysiology and behavior in patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy, movement disorders, and psychiatric disease. The goal of this work is to facilitate the development and optimization of electrical and biological brain modulation therapies by filling critical gaps in our understanding of human brain function. Unique contributions of the Brain Modulation Lab include the first studies describing simultaneous cortical and subcortical recordings during speech, with support from the BRAIN Initiative, the first study describing biomarkers of therapeutic responsive neurostimulation for epilepsy, and the first study describing a biomarker of OCD symptomatology from sensing-enabled DBS recordings.

Locations

  1. Massachusetts General Neurosurgery Clinic
    • 55 Fruit Street, Wang Building, 7th Floor, Suite 745, Boston, MA 02114
    • Get Directions

Expertise

Education

  • Residency: UC San Francisco, Neurological Surgery, 2011
  • Residency: University of California, General Surgery, 2006
  • Medical Education: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 2005

Board Certifications

  • Neurological Surgery: American Board of Neurological Surgery, 2014

Insurance

Search plans
  • Aetna
  • Beech Street
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
  • Cigna
  • Commonwealth Care Alliance
  • Coventry
  • Fallon Health
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
  • Humana
  • Maine Community Health Options
  • Mass General Brigham Health Plan
  • MassHealth
  • Medicaid CT
  • Medicaid ME
  • Medicaid NH
  • Medicaid RI
  • Medicaid VT
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan
  • Senior Whole Health
  • TriCare
  • Tufts Health Plan
  • Tufts Medicare Preferred
  • United Health Care
  • Wellpoint
  • WellSense
  • WellSense NH

Ratings & Reviews

4.8 out of 5

36 ratings, 13 reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Search reviews
  • Reviewed on 3/16/2026

    The appointment did not seem rushed. He listened and answered all of my questions.

  • Reviewed on 1/22/2026

    Yes, I'm very happy to have Dr. Richardson as on my care team for neurology. And I look forward to working with him in the future for other issues that have come up. And I think he is definitely, I guess I'm not, I don't know how to say this, but definitely somebody I definitely want somebody that I definitely want on my care team for my health with neurological issues and for my epilepsy. I'm very fortunate to be under his care.

  • Reviewed on 12/7/2025

    He was very patient, a clear communicator, and had a kind bedside manner. He was also extremely encouraging.

  • Reviewed on 12/4/2025

    I found Dr. Richardson very helpful in explaining the procedure that I've been considering and the other options that are available short of this procedure, which is quite advanced. And I'm impressed with his knowledge and his consideration.

  • Reviewed on 12/1/2025

    He was knowledgable and listened. For a first time visit, I feel less stressed.

  • Reviewed on 11/24/2025

    Dr Richardson was very easy to talk to and reassuring. He was not in a rush to get off the phone with me and was more than happy to answer any questions I had at the time. I appreciate it his calmness through the whole appointment.

  • Reviewed on 11/19/2025

    Very engaging and considerate

  • Reviewed on 11/3/2025

    Dr Richardson gave us plenty of his time and explained everything to our satisfaction. [redacted]

  • Reviewed on 10/28/2025

    Had a zoom meeting with Dr Richardson. He explained everything and was a wealth of information about the procedure that I am looking forward to have

  • Reviewed on 9/17/2025

    Dr Richardson was amazing, very thorough and answers all my questions. Put my mind at ease.

  • Reviewed on 8/28/2025

    He seemed very empathetic and knowledgeable about my condition and his potential treatment alternative, which is deep brain stimulation. And he seemed very compassionate and understanding about the challenges that a person with Parkinson's faces.

  • Reviewed on 8/27/2025

    Very thorough & knowledgeable. Explains things well

  • Reviewed on 7/21/2025

    I'm very grateful for Dr. Richardson and his staff!