Robyn N. Rubenstein, MD

About Dr. Rubenstein

Robyn completed a preliminary general surgery year at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia from 2017-2018. She then entered her General Surgery training at Lankenau Medical Center which began in 2018 and graduating in June 2025. From 2020 – 2022, she did a 2-year research fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City where she focused on national database research, health services, implications of BIA-ALCL, and breast reconstruction outcomes. Robyn is now starting her Plastic Surgery training, and while she is not sure what she will end up going into, her current interest is in breast reconstruction.

Education

2018 - 2025
General Surgery Residency
Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania

2020 - 2022
Research Fellowship, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer, New York City, New York

2017 - 2018
Preliminary General Surgery Year
Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2013 - 2017
MD - Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

2009 - 2013
BA - Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia

Societies

• Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Gamma of Georgia Chapter

Awards

2023
Anne Elizabeth Fleer Research Award

2022
Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, Winner of Resident Competition

2022
Anne Elizabeth Fleer Research Award

2021
Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons, Winner of Resident Competition

2019
Gibson Colby Engel Award for Intern of the Year

2012
Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Gamma of Georgia Chapter

Research

As a medical student, her research started in the orthopedic spine department looking at injury classification and scoring systems; however, when she developed an interest in general surgery, her research focus was on subtotal cholecystectomy outcomes. After discovering her passion for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, she accepted a position at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery where she focused on national database research, health services research, implications of BIA-ALCL, and outcomes of breast reconstruction (largely alloplastic but also autologous).

Publications

1. Rochlin DH, Rubenstein RN, Levy J, Boe L, Mehrara BJ, Nelson JA, Matros E. Evaluating the Accuracy of Relative Value Unit and Operative Time Changes in Breast Reconstruction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ():10.1097/PRS.0000000000011936, December 24, 2024. | DOI: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000011936
2. Rubenstein RN, Nelson JA, Azoury SC, Kim M, Boe LA, Chu JJ, Stern CS, Tadros AB, Mehrara BJ, Matros E. Disparity Reduction in U.S. Breast Reconstruction: An Analysis from 2005 to 2017 Using 3 Nationwide Data Sets. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2024 Dec 1;154(6):1065e-1075e. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000011432. Epub 2024 Mar 26. PMID: 38546540; PMCID: PMC11424772.
3. Rose K, Levy J, Rubenstein R, Ilyas EN, Ramtin S, Jones C. Xylazine-induced Skin Necrosis, Emerging Public Health Crisis and the Ethical Considerations in Surgical Reconstruction: A Case Report. SurgiColl. 2024;2(3). doi:10.58616/001c.122464
4. Rubenstein RN, Kim M, Plotsker EL, Chu JJ, Bell T, McGriff D, Allen R Jr, Dayan JH, Stern CS, Coriddi M, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Matros E, Nelson JA. Early Complications in Prepectoral Tissue Expander-Based Breast Reconstruction. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Apr;31(4):2766-2776. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-14861-x. Epub 2024 Jan 20. PMID: 38245651.
5. Sheckter CC,* Rochlin DH*, Rubenstein RN, Shamsunder MG, Morris AM, Wagner TH, Matros E. Association of High-Deductible Health Plans and Time to Surgery for Breast and Colon Cancer. Journal of the American College of Surgeons 237(3):p 473-482, September 2023. | DOI: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000000737 *Co-first Authorship
6. Chu JJ, Nelson JA, Kokosis G, Haglich K, McKernan CD, Rubenstein R, Vingan PS, Allen RJ, Coriddi MR, Dayan JH, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Matros E. A Cohort Analysis of Early Outcomes After Alloderm, FlexHD, and SurgiMend Use in Two-Stage Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction. Aesthet Surg J. 2023 Aug 8:sjad246. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjad246. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37551639.
7. Plotsker EL, Stern CS, Graziano FD, Rubenstein RN, Vingan PS, Haglich K, Monge J, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Dayan JH, Allen Jr. R, Matros E, McCarthy CM, Nelson JA. Surgical Management of Textured Breast Implants: Assessing Risk and Analyzing Patient-Reported Outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Aug 3. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010957. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37535711.
8. Rochlin DH, Matros E, Shamsunder MG, Rubenstein R, Nelson JA, Sheckter CC. Plastic Surgery Market Share of Breast Reconstructive Procedures: An Analysis of Two Nationwide Databases. J Surg Oncol. 2023 Jul 13. doi: 10.1002/jso.27398. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37439094.
9. Kim LN, Rubenstein RN, Haglich K, Kim M, Coriddi M, Pusic A, Nelson J, McCarthy C. Descriptive Analysis of Preoperative Breast Reconstruction Patient Expectations Using the BREAST-Q Expectations Module. Plastic Surgery. 2023;0(0). doi:10.1177/22925503231184261
10. Rubenstein RN*, Stern CS*, Graziano FD, Plotsker EL, Haglich K, Tadros AB, Allen RJ, Mehrara BJ, Matros E, Nelson JA. Decreasing length of stay in breast reconstruction patients: A national analysis of 2019-2020. J Surg Oncol. 2023 Oct;128(5):726-742. doi: 10.1002/jso.27378. Epub 2023 Jul 5. PMID: 37403585.
    *Co-first Authorship
11. Plotsker EL, Graziano FD, Rubenstein RN, Haglich K, Allen RJ Jr, Coriddi MR, Dayan JH, Poulton R, McKernan C, Mehrara BJ, Matros E, Disa JJ, Nelson JA. Early Complications in Prepectoral Breast Reconstructions with and without Acellular Dermal Matrix: A Preliminary Analysis of Outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 May 23. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010712. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37220401.
12. Nelson JA*, Rubenstein RN*, Vorstenbosch J, Haglich K, Poulton RT, McGriff D, Stern CS, Coriddi M, Cordeiro PG, McCarthy CM, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Matros E. Textured versus Smooth Tissue Expanders: a Comparison of Complications in 3,526 Breast Reconstructions. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Apr 26. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010600. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37104467. *Co-first Authorship
13. Graziano FD, Plotsker, EL, Rubenstein RN, Haglich K; Stern CS, Matros E, Nelson JA. National Trends in Acellular Dermal Matrix Utilization in Immediate Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Apr 25. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010575. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37092982.
14. Stern CS, Plotsker EL, Rubenstein R, Mehrara E, Haglich K, Zoghbi Y, Mehrara BJ, Nelson JA. Three-Dimensional Surface Analysis for Preoperative Prediction of Breast Volume: A Validation Study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Mar 30. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010473. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36995175.
15. Plotsker EL, Coriddi M, Rubenstein RN, Chu JJ, Haglich K, Disa JJ, Matros E, Dayan JH, Allen R Jr, Nelson JA. Air versus Saline in Initial Prepectoral Tissue Expansion: A Comparison of Complications and Perioperative Patient-Reported Outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Oct 1;152(4S):25S-34S. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010478. Epub 2023 Sep 28. PMID: 36995181.
16. Rubenstein RN, Tadros A, Slutsky HL, Plotsker EL, Haglich K, Stern CS, Morrow M, Nelson JA, Nelson P. Increasing rates of general anesthesia use in lumpectomy procedures: A 15-year trends analysis. J Surg Oncol. 2023 Jun;127(7):1092-1102. doi: 10.1002/jso.27226. Epub 2023 Mar 13. PMID: 36915277.
17. Rubenstein RN*, Nelson JA*, Azoury SC, Shamsunder MG, Haglich K, Yin S, Stern CS, Matros E. Breast Surgical Oncology Epidemiologic Research: A Guide and Comparison of Four National Databases. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Apr;30(4):2069-2084. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12890-6. Epub 2023 Jan 4. PMID: 36600098; PMCID: PMC10033365.
18. Nelson JA, McKernan CD, Rubenstein RN, Shamsunder MG, Poulton R, Dabic S, Mehrara BJ, Disa JJ, Cordeiro PG, McCarthy CM. Risk of Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in Patients with Textured Tissue Expanders. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Jul 1;152(1):32-37. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000010195. Epub 2023 Jun 29. PMID: 36728202.
19. Plotsker EL, Rubenstein RN, Graziano FD, Haglich K, Disa JJ, Stern CS, Nelson JA. Trends and Early Complications in Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction: An Updated Analysis of the ACS-NSQIP Database. Plastic Surgery. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1177/22925503221141708.
20. Rubenstein, RN, Stern, CS, Plotsker, EL, Haglich K, Tadros AB, Mehrara BJ, Matros E, Nelson JA. Effects of COVID-19 on mastectomy and breast reconstruction rates: A national surgical sample. J Surg Oncol. 2022 Aug;126(2):205-213. doi: 10.1002/jso.26889. Epub 2022 Apr 12. PMID: 35411946; PMCID: PMC9088456.
21. Nelson JA*, Rubenstein RN*, Haglich K, Chu JJ, Yin S, Stern CS, Morrow M, Mehrara BJ, Gemignani ML, Matros E. Analysis of a Trend Reversal in US Lumpectomy Rates From 2005 Through 2017 Using 3 Nationwide Data Sets. JAMA Surg. 2022 Aug 1;157(8):702-711. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.2065. PMID: 35675047; PMCID: PMC9178497. *Co-first Authorship
22. Rubenstein RN, Allen RJ Jr, Nelson JA. Discussion: An Analysis of the Modified Five-Item Frailty Index for Predicting Complications following Free Flap Breast Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2022 Jan 1;149(1):48-50. doi: 10.1097/PRS.0000000000008693. PMID: 34936601; PMCID: PMC8985180.
23. Kim LN, Rubenstein RN, Chu JJ, Allen RJ Jr, Mehrara BJ, Nelson JA. Noninvasive Systemic Modalities for Prevention of Head and Neck Radiation-Associated Soft Tissue Injury: A Narrative Review. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2022 Oct;38(8):621-629. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1742731. Epub 2022 Feb 25. PMID: 35213927; PMCID: PMC9402815.
24. Chu JJ, Shamsunder MG, Yin S, Rubenstein R, Slutsky H, Fischer JP, Nelson JA. Propensity Scoring in Plastic Surgery Research: An Analysis and Best Practice Guide. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2022 Feb 9;10(2):e4003. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000004003. PMID: 35169516; PMCID: PMC8830836.
25. Matros E, Shamsunder MG, Rubenstein RN, Polanco TO, McCarthy CM, Nelson JA, Gutowski K, Tops Steering Committee T. Textured and Smooth Implant Use Reported in the Tracking Operations and Outcomes for Plastic Surgeons Database: Epidemiologic Implications for BIA-ALCL. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2021 Mar 18;9(3):e3499. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000003499. PMID: 33758732; PMCID: PMC7972654.
26. Rubenstein R, Cowan SW, Yeo CJ, Entwistle JW 3rd. René Gerónimo Favaloro (1923-2000): A Man Who Struggled with Matters of the Heart. Am Surg. 2018 Jan 1;84(1):7-11. doi:10.1177/000313481808400105. PMID: 29428011.
27. Rubenstein RN, Koerner JD, Oh D, Kepler CK, Kandziora F, Shanmuganathan R, Dvorak MF, Aarabi B, Vialle LR, Oner C, Vaccaro AR. (2015). Thoracolumbar Injury Severity Scoring Systems: A Review and Rationale for a New System Based on the AOSpine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System. Int J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Feb 27;3(2):1-5. doi: 10.4172/2329-9096.1000257.
28. Schroeder GD, Kepler CK, Kurd MF, Paul JT, Rubenstein RN, Harrop JS, Brodke DS, Chapman JR, Vaccaro AR. A Systematic Review of the Treatment of Geriatric Type II Odontoid Fractures. Neurosurgery. 2015 Oct;77 Suppl 4:S6-14. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000000942. PMID: 26378359.