Whitney R Robinson
Associate Professor in Obstetrics and GynecologyOverview
I design studies and interpret results from big datasets to figure out why rates of health and disease vary across groups. More generally, I love thinking up new ways to draw causal inference from observational data.
Non-cancerous gynecologic conditions, like endometriosis, fibroids, and PCOS, are my particular focus. They affect the well-being of a huge number of people but can be difficult to diagnose and treat. And treatment often involves complex trade-offs regarding quality of life, fertility, and permanence of treatment effectiveness. I typically investigate these questions using health care data that were not originally intended for research, such as electronic health records, state physician licensing data, etc.
As a Faculty Epidemiologist in the OB-GYN Department, I genuinely love seeing others thrive in their research. I have a gift for identifying where people can add the most value on a research team.
Positions
Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the School of Medicine
2022 School of Medicine
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy in the University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
2024 University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute in the School of Medicine
2021 School of Medicine
Education
Ph.D. 2008
2008 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Publications, Grants & Awards
Offices & Contact
Durham, NC
27710