Robert John O’Brien DrPH, MHS, PA-C
Assistant Professor , General Internal Medicine
72 E. Concord Street | (617) 358-9589obrienro@bu.edu
Sections
General Internal Medicine
Biography
Robert O’Brien, DrPH, MHS, PA-C, joined the physician assistant program faculty in May 2023. He has practiced clinically in orthopaedic surgery, sports medicine, sports traumatology, joint reconstruction, and reconstructive plastic surgery. His clinical work includes peri-operative management and first assisting within the operating room. His professional interests include sports injury prevention, surgical innovation, preventive medicine, evidence-based care, inclusion of marginalized populations in sports, and the effective integration of public health concepts into clinical medicine. He continues to remain involved in several research efforts focused on these areas. Dr. O’Brien completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Richmond, studying leadership and medical humanities. He earned his master’s in health sciences from Drexel University in 2013. He earned his doctoral degree in public health from Walden University in 2023.
Websites
Education
Physician Assistant, MHS, Drexel University
Leadership, BA, University of Richmond
Publications
Conner-Rilk S, Goodhart GC, von Rehlingen-Prinz F, van der List JP, Kunze KN, Tomanek F, O'Brien RJ, DiFelice GS. Sustained Clinical and Functional Outcomes After Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair: A Minimum 5-Year Follow-up Study. Am J Sports Med. 2025 May 23; 3635465251340087. PMID: 40407223.
Published on 7/8/2022Holuba K, Vermeijden HD, Yang XA, O'Brien R, van der List JP, DiFelice GS. Treating Combined Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Medial Collateral Ligament Injuries Operatively in the Acute Setting Is Potentially Advantageous. Arthroscopy. 2023 Apr; 39(4):1099-1107. PMID: 35817377.
Published on 5/6/2021Vermeijden HD, van der List JP, O'Brien RJ, DiFelice GS. Primary Repair of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: Current Level of Evidence of Available Techniques. JBJS Rev. 2021 May 06; 9(5). PMID: 33956672.
Published on 4/14/2020Vermeijden HD, van der List JP, O'Brien R, DiFelice GS. Return to sports following arthroscopic primary repair of the anterior cruciate ligament in the adult population. Knee. 2020 Jun; 27(3):906-914. PMID: 32303448.
Published on 1/7/2020Vermeijden HD, van der List JP, O'Brien R, DiFelice GS. Patients Forget About Their Operated Knee More Following Arthroscopic Primary Repair of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament Than Following Reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 2020 Mar; 36(3):797-804. PMID: 31919026.
Published on 1/1/2019van der List J, Vermeijden H, O’Brien R, DiFelice G. Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction following failed Primary Repair: Surgical Technique and a report of three cases. Mivera Med. 2019; 70(2).
Published on 8/1/2014Bellmunt J, Selvarajah S, Rodig S, Salido M, de Muga S, Costa I, Bellosillo B, Werner L, Mullane S, Fay AP, O'Brien R, Barretina J, Minoche AE, Signoretti S, Montagut C, Himmelbauer H, Berman DM, Kantoff P, Choueiri TK, Rosenberg JE. Identification of ALK gene alterations in urothelial carcinoma. PLoS One. 2014; 9(8):e103325. PMID: 25083769.
Published on 5/21/2014Guancial EA, Werner L, Bellmunt J, Bamias A, Choueiri TK, Ross R, Schutz FA, Park RS, O'Brien RJ, Hirsch MS, Barletta JA, Berman DM, Lis R, Loda M, Stack EC, Garraway LA, Riester M, Michor F, Kantoff PW, Rosenberg JE. FGFR3 expression in primary and metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Cancer Med. 2014 Aug; 3(4):835-44. PMID: 24846059.
Published on 1/31/2014Riester M, Werner L, Bellmunt J, Selvarajah S, Guancial EA, Weir BA, Stack EC, Park RS, O'Brien R, Schutz FA, Choueiri TK, Signoretti S, Lloreta J, Marchionni L, Gallardo E, Rojo F, Garcia DI, Chekaluk Y, Kwiatkowski DJ, Bochner BH, Hahn WC, Ligon AH, Barletta JA, Loda M, Berman DM, Kantoff PW, Michor F, Rosenberg JE. Integrative analysis of 1q23.3 copy-number gain in metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Apr 01; 20(7):1873-83. PMID: 24486590.
Published on 1/1/2013Guancial E, Werner L, Bellmunt J, Nikitas N, Stack E, Lis R, Signoretti S, Load M, Regan M, Park R, O’Brien R, Berman D, Bamias A, Rosenberg J. Relationship of ERCC1 genotype variant with mRNA expression and ERCC1 protein levels in advanced urothelial carcinoma. J Clin Oncol. 2013; 31(6):260.