Meet Dr. John Robertson

Born in Fort Worth, John Robertson, M.D., always wanted to become a doctor. Dr. Robertson's grandfather was a doctor in Dallas, and his mother managed the office, taking him with her. As he grew up, Dr. Robertson developed a love of science, a desire to help people and to do good in the world.

Dr. Robertson realized he wanted to work with children while in medical school at UT Southwestern. In residency in Dallas, he felt drawn to pediatric pulmonology. Dr. Robertson grew up with asthma, and a specialty that allowed him to help children with breathing problems seemed like a natural fit. And after over a decade of practicing pediatric pulmonology, he still loves it.

One of his favorite aspects of each visit is getting to interact with children. "We start by becoming friends," says Dr. Robertson, who believes that creating a playful, warm environment in which the child feels welcome and safe is the essential first step toward an determining the right cause for their symptoms. "Without first earning their trust, an accurate exam is impossible in a young child and an accurate history is impossible in an older one," says Dr. Robertson.

When a child comes in to see him, from diagnosis to treatment, the goal is always to let the child get back to being a kid. This means different things at different ages and in different families, and Dr. Robertson believes the overall medical approach must take into account the special qualities that make each one unique. "What works for a teenage soccer player with a large extended family may not work for the toddler of a single, working parent."

In the practice of medicine, Dr. Robertson believes that one of the best characteristics a doctor can have is humility. "Humility keeps you open to learning something new. It's important to know what the books say, but sometimes the latest data comes from patients and their families. We must be humble in order to listen."

It is very important to work closely with the whole family and the child's primary care provider with clear, prompt, two-way communication between the specialist and the referring provider. This completes the circle of care for each patient and makes sure everyone is on the same page.

In addition to his general pediatric pulmonology work, Dr. Robertson has a special interest in exercise-triggered breathing problems in children, teens, and young adults. He has been performing continuous laryngoscopy (CLE) during exercise to further investigate the causes of these exercise-induced respiratory symptoms since 2019, including the first CLE ever performed on a pediatric patient in Texas on February 8, 2022. He has recently received a 2024 Endowed Chair Award from the Cook Children's Health Foundation to found the Exercise Respiratory Center (ExRC) in Prosper, Texas. The ExRC opened in October of 2023.

When he's not working, Dr. Robertson enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughter, grilling, being involved in church activities, and making a mess as an amateur artist.

Services

  • Pediatric pulmonology
  • Flexible bronchoscopy
  • Spirometry
  • Lung volumes (plethysmography)
  • Airway resistance
  • Forced Oscillometry (FOT)
  • Continuous Laryngoscopy during Exercise (CLE)
  • Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET)

Reviews

Average rating:

4.9
Questions were addressed
5
5 (79)
Provider explained things clearly
4.9
4.9 (79)
Likelihood of recommending this provider
4.9
4.9 (79)
Trust/confidence in physicians
4.9
4.9 (79)

What our families say

  • November 09, 2025

    Everyone from the respiratory therapist, nurse and Dr Robertson were so nice! They talked to [...] first and then me to fill In the gaps. He was not rushed to leave and asked her lots of questions.

  • October 29, 2025

    Dr. Robertson was amazing and quite jolly.Professional too involved my son in the care plan and he made us feel cared for and left happy with all questions and concerns taken care of.

  • September 25, 2025

    I loved that they give the time without haste to solve all the questions and explain everything very understandable with a lot of patience.

  • September 25, 2025

    Doctor and all the staff who are present at my daughter's appointment very efficient and patient with enough time to resolve all my concerns would gladly recommend

  • September 13, 2025

    Dr Robertson was very attentive with our transfer of care from San Antonio. He listened and answered all our questions.

  • September 12, 2025

    Everyone was very nice from start to finish. We are going to stay with this office even though the closer office to us is in prosper. 10/10 worth the drive!

  • August 31, 2025

    I don't know what the hiring process is like to work at this hospital but I have never had an even slightly negative experience with any staff members. It's a great feeling to know she will feel safe and secure during her health care procedures.

  • August 18, 2025

    Dr. Robertson is so kind and shows patience when listening to our concerns.

  • July 23, 2025

    All staff members very organized and helpful from the moment we walked in, we reached 3rd floor also lovely staff! Dr and Nurses made us feel like home.

  • July 20, 2025

    Everyone was very friendly and helpful

  • July 15, 2025

    Made my child smile instead of being nervous. The registered nurse was very patient. The doctor listened to my child concerns and addressed them. It made my son open up. I was very pleased. They were very knowledgeable.

  • June 14, 2025

    Only good experiences. Everyone was awesome, punctual, and very friendly.

  • June 14, 2025

    I don't recall the names of each person, BUT every single person we encountered was fantastic and courteous.

  • June 04, 2025

    Everybody was very nice

  • June 04, 2025

    Doctor was very attentive and listen all my concerns.

  • May 23, 2025

    Dr Robertson was great with our autistic son

  • May 07, 2025

    The nurse and doctor were so nice and made us feel very heard.

  • April 16, 2025

    Dr Robertson he is an amazing doctor and is always so friendly. He truly cares about his patients and making sure they are on the proper path!

  • April 11, 2025

    Dr. Robertson was really special and all the team that worked with [...] were very kind, truly concerned and understanding her unique needs and helped her a lot

  • April 05, 2025

    The nurse was very nice and caring.

  • April 04, 2025

    So far I have not had bad experiences. In general, we have always been well taken care of.

  • April 04, 2025

    I think everyone works well, and they do everything they can to make sure you have a good experience. Dr. Robertson is very attentive and friendly as well as a good professional, he has patience and explains all my doubts.

  • April 04, 2025

    All of the staff we saw was excellent.

  • April 04, 2025

    Dr. Robertson was fantastic. He was patient, not rushed, thoroughly explained the diagnosis and treatment plan.

  • March 29, 2025

    Staff was great

  • March 20, 2025

    The dr John is GREAT

  • March 15, 2025

    The entire team was amazing!!!

  • March 01, 2025

    Dr Robertson was so nice and really took the time to get to know my son, [...]!

  • February 18, 2025

    Everyone that assisted us!!! Great team!!

  • February 10, 2025

    Dr Roberton is a great doctor. Patient and informative throughout the appointment. He answers all questions and never seems rushed.

  • February 04, 2025

    I just love how everyone we saw listened and answered all my daughters questions.

  • January 28, 2025

    Dr Robertson and his nurse [...]. And another RN that helped my son at the end of the appointment, but I unfortunately didn't catch her name. [...] listened to me ramble, as I was trying to describe my son's condition, and I'm just a frantic mama trying to get her child well. She was patient, kind, receptive, and so friendly. She put my son at ease, as well as myself. Dr. Robertson is phenomenal. I have no words to express my admiration and gratitude for what he has done for my son. He's brilliant, patient, well spoken, intuitive, the list goes on. I thank God for Dr. Robertson.

  • January 14, 2025

    The virtual waiting room was great!

  • January 14, 2025

    Dr Robertson was exceptional. He took time to ask my daughter a lot of questions to try to get at the heart of her issues. We really enjoyed this visit as she felt her concerns were heard.

  • January 09, 2025

    Dr. Robertson is amazing

  • January 09, 2025

    . Always very caring and answers all my questions and needs

  • December 24, 2024

    The entire staff is great.

  • December 08, 2024

    Love the doctor and nurses

  • December 05, 2024

    We saw a respiratory therapist, nurse & Dr. Robertson. All were fabulous.

  • December 05, 2024

    We were heard, we felt cared for, and we left pleased with the entire visit. Dr. Robertson and his nurse were extremely thorough. Our visit was long, but we were happy with this because else live an hour away and would much rather have a lengthy and thorough visit than have to come back for another appointment. Dr. Robertson answered lots of questions and addressed our concerns. He made my daughter feel safe and seen. We couldn't be happier with the care we received. Thank you for not dismissing a physical issue and pawning it off as anxiety.

Media

Dr. John Robertson Named to D Magazine 2022 Best Pediatric Specialists
Specialty Spotlight Series
girl on treadmill having her breathing tested while running

Helping young athletes breathe easier

Pediatric pulmonologist John Robertson, M.D., has created the new continuous laryngoscopy during exercise (CLE) test that is helping young athletes with exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) breathe easier and safely return to their favorite sports.

Read the full story
Dr. John Robertson

Every Breath You Take (I'll be scoping you)

Learn the distinct exercise-induced asthma symptoms vs. other respiratory issues and the diagnostic advantages of continuous testing during peak exercise and compare tools to identify dynamic airway collapse.

Watch presentation Exercise Respiratory Center

Endowed Chair Recipient

Research: Exercise Respiratory Center (ExRC)

Dr. Robertson's clinic will help diagnose, treat and research the causes of exercise induced respiratory symptoms. This pioneering center will specialize in maximal exercise exertion with simultaneous airway, respiratory and cardiovascular evaluation. This comprehensive approach can pinpoint the root cause(s) in most cases. Cook Children's is one of only a handful of pediatric centers nationwide offering continuous laryngoscopy during exercise (CLE) - the gold standard for diagnosing exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO).

Explore program

Education

  • Medical school:
  • Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas TX
  • Residency:
  • Children's Medical Center of Dallas TX; Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical School - Dallas TX
  • Board certifications:
  • Board Certified in Pediatrics with a sub specialty in Pediatric Pulmonology

Affiliations

  • Cook Children's Physician Network

Recognitions

  • D Magazine's 2025 Best Pediatric Specialists

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