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, and the first ever continuous bronchoscopy during exercise (CBE) on a pediatric patient in the world on August 14, 2024. 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.

Dr. Robertson is active in the Texas Pediatric Society and is a current member of their Adolescent and Sports Medicine Committee and the Continuing Medical Education Committee. Dr. Robertson is also a founding member of the Global Initiative for Induced Laryngeal Obstruction and serves on their Board of Directors for 2026.

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:

5.0
Questions were addressed
5
5 (64)
Provider explained things clearly
5
5 (64)
Likelihood of recommending this provider
5
5 (64)
Trust/confidence in physicians
5
5 (64)

What our families say

  • April 06, 2026

    Dr. Robertson is always welcoming and a pleasure in fact he is the only doctor she(patient) likes coming to and isn't shy about speaking up.

  • April 04, 2026

    Dr. Robertson was great with us. He took the time to really listen to us and explained to my child in a way he could understand. Excellent bed side manners!

  • April 04, 2026

    The experience was overall great. From the check-in process to the check-out. Everyone is so kind, helpful and professional. The building is beautiful and well maintained. Kuddos to the entire staff at Cook Children's!

  • March 28, 2026

    We absolutely love Dr. John Robertson. He is wonderful.

  • February 24, 2026

    All good! They were able to get us in the very next week from our initial referral

  • February 24, 2026

    All were very great, and listened to any worry no matter how small it was. Very glad to finally have answers and a plan

  • February 04, 2026

    Everyone I encountered was so nice and patient with us. The doctor took his time to explain everything from asthma's effect on the body and how the medication will work.

  • February 04, 2026

    I appreciate everyone so much. I've been trying to get answers as to what is going on and why things are happening and I feel like this was a step in the right direction for my daughter.

  • January 30, 2026

    They did a fantastic job and I really appreciate there attentiveness my daughter was Comfortable around the people taking care of her!

  • January 27, 2026

    Good experience overall

  • January 11, 2026

    They were both so kind and patient when explaining the exercises and movements. They didn't make [...] feel uncomfortable or silly because she couldn't do the movement at first.

  • December 10, 2025

    My son always loves to visit with him, easy to talk to and explains everything where my son understands

  • 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!

News about Dr. Robertson

Dr. John Robertson Named to D Magazine 2022 Best Pediatric Specialists
Breathing Against Yourself – Exercise Limiting Respiratory Symptoms in Competitive Athletes

Patient stories

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.
Jessye_Tout_soccer_player_breathing_well

Groundbreaking technique offers breathing relief

At just 13 years old, Jessye Tout was already a multi-sport athlete. But then, she pushed the limits of human performance and got a second wind.

Read the full story.
Piper_Francis_female_athlete_softball.

Teen athlete’s breathing finally treated

For the 17-year-old athlete, Piper Francis, catching her breath is finally just as achievable as catching the winning softball.

Read the full story.

Professional education resources by Dr. Robertson

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
  • Fellowship:
  • Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
  • Board certifications:
  • Board Certified in Pediatrics with a sub specialty in Pediatric Pulmonology

Affiliations

  • Cook Children's Physician Network

Recognitions

  • Best Pediatric Specialist in D Magazine 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
  • Excellence in Healthcare Awards Finalist, Outstanding Healthcare Innovator in D CEO Magazine 2022, 2025

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