Rate My Professor John Robinson

Dr John N. Robinson serves as Senior Lecturer and Academic Coordinator for Musculoskeletal Medicine in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine at the University of Otago, Christchurch, part of the Faculty of Medicine within the Health Sciences Division. He earned his BSc and MBChB from the University of Pretoria, a Postgraduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine (PGDipMSM) from the University of Otago, a Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Medicine (PGDipOccMed) from the University of Auckland, a Master of Pain Medicine (MPM) from the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, and holds Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Musculoskeletal Medicine (FAFMM). With over 20 years of experience in musculoskeletal medicine and pain medicine in both hospital and private practice, Robinson previously served as a consultant in pain medicine at the Burwood Pain Management Centre, a hospital-based interdisciplinary pain clinic. He completed training in interventional pain medicine through the Spine Intervention Society.

Robinson plays a key role in the teaching and development of postgraduate programmes in musculoskeletal medicine, the only such courses in Australasia designed for medical practitioners, integrating biomedical and psychosocial knowledge. These include the Postgraduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal Medicine (PGCertMSM, 60 points), featuring compulsory papers MSME701 Clinical Diagnosis—a nine-day on-campus block course restricted to registered medical practitioners—and PAIN710 Introduction to Pain, plus elective options. He also coordinates the Postgraduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Medicine (PGDipMSM, 120 points), which encompasses five compulsory papers including MSME709 Clinical Therapeutics—a seven-day practical on-campus course—and emphasizes skills in history taking, physical examination, pharmacotherapy, interventional techniques, biomechanics, manual medicine, psychosocial management, and interdisciplinary referral. Most teaching occurs via distance with Zoom videoconferencing, online resources, and local assessments, supplemented by hands-on on-campus components. His work promotes evidence-based, person-centred, interprofessional learning in musculoskeletal disorders and pain management, preparing graduates for clinical leadership, specialist roles, and further research or fellowships.