Dr. Harrell E. Robinson was born in Thomasville, Alabama, and raised in Florida as the first male child among seven siblings. Guided by God-fearing parents — his father a preacher — he grew up in a family of high achievers, with many becoming doctors, lawyers, dentists, and chiropractors. Four of the seven were high school valedictorians, including Dr. Robinson himself.
Graduating as valedictorian from Oakwood Academy in 1970, he went on to Oakwood University, earning cum laude honors in chemistry and biology, and receiving the Physics Award and a scholarship to study French. Accepted into Loma Linda University Medical School, he completed an accelerated three-year program in 1977 before entering residency in otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, facial plastic surgery, and laryngology.
In 1984, Dr. Robinson opened a thriving ENT practice in Orange County, California, where he also built a surgery center. His medical work extended globally — including surgeries in Bangkok, Thailand, and Cambodian refugee camps — inspiring the creation of his nonprofit, Global Healing Inc., dedicated to building hospitals and providing healthcare to underserved communities worldwide.
Now based in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Robinson serves as CEO and CFO of ATR Law Group PLLC, a firm he operates with his wife, an immigration attorney. His philanthropic work includes a decade-long effort supporting the Mayne tribe in the Philippines with food, clothing, and shelter.
A lifelong learner and athlete, he enjoys golf, tennis, basketball, cycling, painting, and reading — continuing to blend professional achievement with humanitarian impact.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
I start early with a light workout — cycling or golf practice if time allows — followed by reviewing my schedule. I divide my day into segments: legal work at ATR Law Group with my wife, philanthropic planning for Global Healing Inc., and time for reading or creative work like painting. I’m strict about time blocks to keep focus.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I start with a written outline, whether it’s a hospital design plan or a community aid project. Then I build a small team to stress-test the idea. For example, when planning a hospital in Laos, I worked with both local leaders and U.S. architects to adapt to the region’s specific needs.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Telemedicine in rural and underserved areas. It can close the gap between patients and specialists without requiring massive infrastructure.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Daily reflection. At the end of the day, I spend 15 minutes reviewing what was done well and what needs attention tomorrow.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Pace yourself. Ambition is important, but so is sustainability — in your work, health, and relationships.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
That medical missions should focus equally on long-term capacity building as they do on immediate care. Many prefer quick-impact projects, but without infrastructure, the effect fades.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Schedule humanitarian work like it’s a business meeting. If you don’t block the time, other demands will always take priority.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I step away from the desk and do something physical — a few tennis serves or a walk. Physical movement clears my thinking better than pushing through mental fatigue.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Building partnerships in unexpected places. My work in Cambodian refugee camps came from connecting with a relief worker I met at a medical conference. That one connection led to years of impactful projects.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
In my early practice, I expanded too quickly into a new surgical center without fully understanding the operational demands. It strained resources. I scaled back, focused on stabilizing the main practice, and later relaunched the center with better planning.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A mobile surgical unit designed for rural or disaster-struck areas. It could be deployed within days, offering basic ENT and trauma surgeries.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Trello. I use it to manage hospital project timelines, breaking each goal into actionable steps with assigned deadlines.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. It follows Dr. Paul Farmer’s work in global health — a reminder of the power of sustained commitment to underserved communities.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The Good Doctor. It captures both the technical and emotional sides of practicing medicine, even if dramatized.
Key learnings
- Consistent reflection and time-blocking improve focus and productivity across varied roles.
- Lasting humanitarian impact comes from building infrastructure, not just short-term aid.
- Physical activity can be an effective reset when facing mental fatigue.
- Strategic partnerships can emerge from unexpected connections and lead to long-term projects.
- Scaling too quickly without operational readiness can jeopardize success — steady growth is often more sustainable.