Rock G. Positano, DPM, MPH, MSc, DSc

Rock G. Positano, DPM, MSc, MPH, DSc has been on staff at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) since 1991 and is internationally known for his non-surgical approach for the treatment of foot disorders. He serves in the capacity of Founder and Co-Director of the Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Service and the Joe DiMaggio Heel Pain Center at HSS. In addition to being a faculty member of Yale University’s School of Public Health, he is also on staff at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical College, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, and Lenox Hill/Northwell Health. Dr. Positano was featured on the front page of The New York Times in an article concerning the dangers of cosmetic foot surgery, and was recently featured in the Times as a contributing physician on the harsh impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on feet and ankles. It was in this article that he coined the phrase “pandemic foot”. He has authored and edited numerous peer-reviewed articles and has served as the editor of over a dozen medical textbooks ranging from foot and ankle orthopedics, heel disorders, to sports medicine. His thesis on Foot Health was approved "With Honors" and "With Distinction" by the faculty of the Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Public Health in 1989.

Outside of the world of medicine, Dr. Positano is also a published and celebrated author. His recent books include Dinner with DiMaggio: Memories Of An American Hero by Simon & Schuster, and most recently, in October 2022, released his book Street Smart, also by Simon & Schuster. Street Smart features memoirs by dozens of acclaimed individuals including Dr. Anthony Fauci, Arianna Huffington, Michael Imperioli, and others.

Dr. Positano also works as an executive music producer, having worked alongside Grammy Award winners Phil Ramone, Jack Douglas, and Neil Young. His most recent record release is the Cowsills’ Rhythm of the World, released in September 2022 by Omnivore Records.

Referring to his love for both healthcare and the arts, Dr. Positano calls it “the tether that centers both my left brain and right brain.”

To show his support for Yale University’s School of Public Health, Dr. Positano launched a scholarship fund, the Positano Scholarship Fund. Through the program, Dr. Positano hopes to aid future medical professionals in following the doctor’s footsteps in prioritizing management of musculoskeletal conditions without surgery.