Don Royster, M.D.
Double board-certified
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
or call 949-642-8727
At SCCRM, Dr. Royster combines compassion with innovation to help patients overcome infertility with personalized care using his 25 years of experience as an engineer, military officer and physician-scientist. Known for his leadership in reproductive medicine, he is the co-inventor of Greene Stirrups (U.S. Patent #10,188,572) field medical device and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the United States Air Force Clinical Excellence (Physician of the Year) and Bioenvironmental Engineer of the Year Award for Air Mobility Command, Pacific Coast Reproductive Society (PCRS) Outstanding Paper Award and The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Outstanding Poster Award.
Dr. Royster is a proud father and husband who is an active member of several prestigious organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI), and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG).
If you’re ready to start your fertility journey, schedule a consultation with Dr. Royster today and let his expertise and personalized care guide you to the family you have always dreamed of.
Education
Undergraduate
United States Air Force Academy (USAFA)
Colorado Springs, Clorado
Medical School
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) School of Medicine
Bethesda, Maryland
Residency
Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN), San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC)
San Antonio, Texas
Fellowship
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland
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Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology as of 2012
Board Certified Diplomate, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as of 2018
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Fellow American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG)
American Medical Association (AMA)
Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS)
American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI)
National Medical Association (NMA)
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Air War College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL, December 2016
Air Command and Staff College by correspondence, Maxwell AFB, AL, July 2011
Aerospace Medicine Primary Course, Brooks City-Base, TX, April 2006
Combat Casualty Care Course, Camp Bullis, San Antonio, TX, February 2006
Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL, August 2001
Radiation Safety Officer Course, Brooks Air Force Base (AFB), TX, July 1998
Commander and Staff Radiological Accident Response Course, Defense Nuclear Weapons School, Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, February 1998
Medical Red Flag Course, Sheppard Air Force Base, TX, October 1997
Medical Management of Biological Casualties, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, September 1997
Bioenvironmental Engineering Course, Brooks Air Force Base, TX, June 1996
Airmanship 490 Course, Basic Free Fall Parachuting, USAFA, August 1992
Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape (SERE), Basic Combat Survival and Water Survival Course, United States Air Force Academy, August 1992
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Duty Title: Chief, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility / IVF Director
Dates: 2018 – 2020
Location: San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), TexasDuty Title: Staff Physician, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Dates: 2016 – 2018
Location: San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), TexasDuty Title: Clinical Fellow, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
Dates: 2013 – 2016
Location: NIH and Walter Reed Medical Center, Bethesda, MarylandDuty Title: Chief, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dates: 2012 – 2013
Location: David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, CaliforniaDuty Title: Medical Director, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Dates: 2010 – 2012
Location: David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, CaliforniaDuty Title: Deployed OB/GYN, Humanitarian Response Team
Dates: April 2011
Location: Trinidad and TobagoDuty Title: Administrative Chief Resident, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dates: 2009 – 2010
Location: San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), TexasDuty Title: Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dates: 2006 – Present
Location: USUHS School of Medicine, Bethesda, MarylandDuty Title: Student Commander, United States Air Force Class of 2006
Dates: 2002 – 2006
Location: USUHS School of Medicine, Bethesda, MarylandDuty Title: Commander, Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight
Dates: 1999 – 2002
Location: MacDill Air Force Base, FloridaDuty Title: Commander, Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight
Dates: 1995 – 1999
Location: McGuire Air Force Base, New JerseyDuty Title: Deployed Deputy Air Force Mission Commander and Medical Team Chief
Dates: Jan – Mar 1999
Location: San Salvador, El SalvadorDeputy Mission Commander for Central American tour by President of the United States
Coordinated with White House & Embassy staff in four Central American countries
Provided humanitarian relief to Hurricane Mitch survivors throughout Central America
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Undergraduate:
United States Air Force Academy: 1991 – 1995
Superintendent’s, Dean’s, Commandant’s and Athletic Director’s List
Medical
U.S. Patent (10,188,572) awarded 29 January 2019 – Greene Stirrups field medical device allows for examination of patients in low / high lithotomy positions on NATO stretchers
Outstanding Paper Award (1st Place) and Scholarship Recipient, 2016 Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Annual Meeting, Palm Springs California – March 2016
Outstanding Poster Award, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Armed Forces District Annual Meeting, Norfolk Virginia – October 2015
USAF Clinical Excellence Award, Air Mobility Command (Field Grade Officer), 2011
Academic Excellence Award, Obstetrics & Gynecology – PGY-1 and PGY-4 Resident, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium; 2006 – 2010
Outstanding Chief Resident, Society of Laproendoscopic Surgeons, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC); 2009 – 2010
Outstanding Case Report, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Armed Forces District Annual Meeting, Honolulu Hawaii – November 2009
Reproductive Endocrinology Resident Award, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Armed Forces District Annual Meeting – October 2008
OB / GYN Extra Mile Award – Excellence in Patient Satisfaction, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC), May 2007
Wingman Award, Aerospace Medicine Primary Course (Flight Surgeon) – April 2006
Outstanding Academic Performance Award in Surgery, USUHS – October 2005
Outstanding Troop Award, USUHS School of Medicine, January – June 2004
Outstanding Medical Student in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Armed Forces District, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; 2002 – 2006
Military
Selected for rank of Colonel, date of rank 31 May 2019
Selected for rank of Lieutenant Colonel two years below-the-zone, date of rank 31 May 2013
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Army Achievement Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Global War on Terrorism and Humanitarian Service Medal
Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon
German Troop Duty Proficiency Badge (Gold), German Armed Forces Command, 2002
Company Grade Officer of the Year – 6th Medical Group (Hospital) & 6th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base (AFB), FL, 2000
Wing Company Grade Officer of the Quarter – McGuire AFB, New Jersey, 305th Air Mobility Wing & Medical Group, Jan – Mar 1999 & Jan – Mar 1998
Company Grade Officer of the Year – 305th Medical Group and 305th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, McGuire AFB, NJ, 1996, 1997 and 1998
USAF Air Mobility Command, Bioenvironmental Engineer of the Year, 1998
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G. Royster IV, J. Harris, Y. Castro, R. Weitzel, A. Nelson, J. Tisdale, R. Heitmann, DeCherney, E. Wolff, “Rapamycin Corrects T Regulatory Cell Depletion and Improves Embryo Implantation and Live Birth Rates in a Murine Model.” Reproductive Sciences, 19 February 2019.
G. Royster IV, K. Krishnamoorthy, K Csokmay, B. Yauger, R Chason, A. DeCherney, E. Wolff, M. Hill, “Are intracytoplasmic sperm injection and high serum estradiol compounding risk factors for adverse obstetric outcomes in assisted reproductive technology?” Fertility and Sterility, 2016 Aug; 106 (2): 363 – 370.
M. Hill, G. Royster IV, M. Taneja, M. Healy, S. Zarek, A. Christy, A. DeCherney, E. Widra, K. Devine, “Does elevated progesterone on day of oocyte maturation play a role in the racial Disparities in IVF outcomes?” Reprod Biomed Online, 2016 Nov 16.
M. Hill, G. Royster IV, M. Healy, M. Levy, et al., “Are good patient and embryo characteristics protective against the negative effect of elevated progesterone level on the day of oocyte maturation?” Fertility and Sterility, 2015 Jun; 103(6): 1477 – 84.
B. Yu, S. Mumford, G. Royster IV, J. Segars, A. Armstrong, “Cost-effectiveness analysis comparing continuation of assisted reproductive technology with conversion to intrauterine insemination in patients with low follicle numbers,” Fertility and Sterility, 2014 Aug: 102(2): 435 – 439.
G. Royster IV, M. Retzloff, A. Propst, et al., “The Length of Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Using Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Antagonist, Does Not Adversely Affect in Vitro Fertilization Pregnancy Rates,” Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 2012 Sep – Oct; 57(9-10): 415 – 420.
G. Foglia, G. Royster IV, N. Michael, et al., “Use of Rapid and Conventional Testing Technologies for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Serological Screening in a Rural Kenyan Reference Laboratory,” Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2004 Aug; 42(8): 3850 – 3852.
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G. Royster IV, Nelson, J. Harris, M. Connell, R. Heitmann, E. Wolff, “Live Birth Rates Improve with Expansion of T-Regulatory Cells using Rapamycin in a Murine Model”
Oral Presentation, Pacific Coast Reproductive Society (PCRS), Palm Springs, CA, 2016
Won Outstanding Paper Award (1st Place)
G. Royster IV, A. Nelson, J. Harris, M. Connell, R. Heitmann, E. Wolff, “Live Birth Rates Improve with Expansion of T-Regulatory Cells using Rapamycin in a Murine Model”
Oral Presentation, Society of Reproductive Investigations (SRI), Montreal, Canada, 2016′
G. Royster IV, A. Nelson, J. Harris, M. Connell, E. Wolff, “Live Birth Rates Improve with Expansion of T-Regulatory Cells using Rapamycin in a Murine Model”
Poster Presentation, Armed Forces District Annual Meeting, ACOG, Norfolk, VA, Oct 2015
Won Outstanding Poster Award
G Royster IV, A. Nelson, J. Csokmay, M. Hill, et al., “Elevated Estradiol Levels (> 90th Percentile) at the Time of hCG Trigger During Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation Increases Obstetrical Risks Later in Pregnancy”
Poster Presentation, Society for Reproductive Investigation, San Francisco, CA, Mar 2015
G. Royster IV, M. Levy, M. Hill, et al., “Three Day Progesterone Area Under the Curve (AUC): A Better Test than Progesterone on the day of hCG?”
Oral Presentation, ASRM Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, October 2014
G. Royster IV, R. Bochner, “Greene Stirrups: A Novel Solution to a Global Problem”
Poster Presentation, Society for Gynecologic Investigation (SGI), Florence, Italy, Mar 2014
G. Royster IV, Z. Zarek, K. Richter, M.Levy, et al., “The Effect of Peak Endometrial Thickness (EMT) on Live Birth Rates in Patients Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART): An Analysis of 4,086 ART Cycles”
Oral presentation, ASRM Annual Meeting, Boston Massachusetts, October 2013
G. Royster IV, Z. Zarek, K. Richter, M. Levy, et al., “Caucasian Race/Ethnicity is Associated with Decreased Peak Endometrial Thickness and Increased Live Birth: An Analysis of 4,086 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Cycles”
Oral Presentation, ASRM Annual Meeting, Boston Massachusetts, October 2013
G. Royster IV, J. Orr, B. Staat, et al., “Video Presentation of Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) Procedure at a Military Treatment Facility (Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas) for Large 7.4 cm Anterior Neck Mass.”
Oral Presentation, Armed Forces District Annual Meeting, ACOG, Hawaii – Nov 09
Won Outstanding Case Report – November 2009
G. Royster IV, M. Retzloff, A. Propst, et al., “Does the length of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation or exposure to gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists affect in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy rates?”
Poster Presentation, ASRM Annual Meeting, Atlanta Georgia, October 2009
G. Royster IV, A. Propst, “Does the length of ovarian stimulation affect pregnancy outcomes in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) Cycles using a Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Antagonist?”
Oral Presentation, Armed Forces District Annual Meeting, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Norfolk Virginia – October 2008
Won Reproductive Endocrinology Resident Award – October 2008
Poster Presentation, Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Meeting – April 2009
G. Royster IV, A. Shields, “New paradigm in control of massive postpartum hemorrhage during caesarian section using SOS Bakri Tamponade Balloon Catheter”
Poster Presentation, Armed Forces District Annual Meeting, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Louisville Kentucky, October 2007
Poster Presentation, Military Health System Conference, Washington D.C., Jan 08
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Fourth Year Medical Student Sub-Internship Coordinator
Administrative Clinical Fellow, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Program National Institutes of Health / Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Mentor for high school and college students from underprivileged backgrounds, California, Maryland and Texas
United States Air Force Chief Resident, Obstetrics and Gynecology, SAMMC
Volunteer Boys and Girls 11-12 year-old Travis Air Force Base Basketball Team Coach
San Antonio Food Bank Volunteer, San Antonio, Texas
Squadron Commander, USAF Medical Students, Class of 2006, USUHS – School of Medicine
Chapter Vice President, & Delegate to the American Medical Association (AMA) USUHS School of Medicine, Medical Student Section
Chairman, Youth Science Enrichment Program, USUHS School of Medicine
Tar Wars Educator, USUHS School of Medicine, Family Medicine Interest Group
Free Clinic Volunteer (Helping Hands Clinic), USUHS School of Medicine
Counselor and Tutor, Tampa Bay Boys & Girls Club, Tampa, Florida
President, Company Grade Officer’s Council, McGuire AFB, New Jersey
Volunteer, Habitat for Humanity, New Jersey
Captain, United States Air Force Academy Men’s Track & Field Team
“My experiences around the world delivering babies, performing surgeries, and supporting families in need have been some of the most meaningful moments of my life. Bringing that knowledge and care to SCCRM is truly a privilege.
Every patient’s journey is unique, and it’s an honor to walk alongside them, using everything I’ve learned to help them build the family they’ve dreamed of. Being part of their story is a gift I don’t take lightly."
— Don Royster, M.D.