Robert M Richardson, MD, PhD
Not currently accepting new patients
4.931429 average rating from 35 patient reviews
Specialties
Affiliation
Mass General Brigham
Provider Locations
- Boston, MA
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.
Education & Training
- Residency: UC San Francisco, Neurological Surgery, 2011
- Residency: University of California, General Surgery, 2006
- Medical Education: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 2005
- Medical Education: Virginia Commonwealth University, Physiology & Biophysics, 2005
Board Certifications
- Neurological Surgery, American Board of Neurological Surgery
Languages Spoken
- English
Age Group Treated
- Adults
Patient Feedback
4.931429 average rating from 35 reviews
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he explained the procedure about the surgery so i could decide if that's what i wanted. Very. imformative
2026-06-23
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The appointment did not seem rushed. He listened and answered all of my questions.
2026-03-16
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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.
2026-01-22
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He was very patient, a clear communicator, and had a kind bedside manner. He was also extremely encouraging.
2025-12-07
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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.
2025-12-04
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He was knowledgable and listened. For a first time visit, I feel less stressed.
2025-12-01
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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.
2025-11-24
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Very engaging and considerate
2025-11-19
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Dr Richardson gave us plenty of his time and explained everything to our satisfaction. [redacted]
2025-11-03
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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
2025-10-28
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Dr Richardson was amazing, very thorough and answers all my questions. Put my mind at ease.
2025-09-17
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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.
2025-08-28
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Very thorough & knowledgeable. Explains things well
2025-08-27
Accepted Insurance
- Tufts Medicare Preferred
- Wellpoint
- Senior Whole Health
- Medicaid ME
- Cigna
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- MassHealth
- Tufts Health Plan
- Aetna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- United Health Care
- WellSense
- Medicaid NH
- Multiplan
- Medicaid RI
- Fallon Health
- Beech Street
- Medicaid CT
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- Medicaid VT
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- WellSense NH
- Medicare
- TriCare
- Coventry
- Blue Cross Blue Shield