Dr. Rocchio spent a significant amount of his last 2 years at Marist college volunteering at the hospital chosen to be the direct medical treating facility for both local presidential visits during this time, St Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie, NY. It was during this service that Dr. Rocchio confirmed his passion for patient care.In 1996 Dr. Rocchio began training at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine. During this training Dr. Rocchio was exposed to the highest level of surgical care. The connection to the vast medical specialties of the Temple community allowed Dr. Rocchio to experience a broad education in the other surgical specialties that included but where not limited to vascular surgery and orthopedic surgery. Recipient of scholarship awards and an active member of multiple student organizations including the surgical club and the political action comity, Dr. Rocchio immersed himself in the podiatric surgical profession.
In 2000, Dr Rocchio was selected to the highly sought after Community Medical Center residency program in Scranton, PA. In his three years of training he became proficient in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, limb lengthening, diabetic charcot reconstruction, and pediatric deformity correction. Under the close training of world renowned surgeon, Dr. Guido LaPorta, Dr. Rocchio began to establish himself as an educator of not only the newer resident class but also many other practicing podiatric physicians. In the final year of his residency, Dr. Rocchio completed a mini-fellowship in Biomechanics of External Fixation of the foot and ankle at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for pediatric orthopedics in Dallas, TX. A Shriners Hospital, Scottish Rite treated all children of Texas that suffered from any orthopedic deformity free of charge. It was during this rare opportunity that Dr. Rocchio was able to train and learn from world renowned Russian orthopedic surgeon, Mikail Samchukov. The fruit of this training was an article that focused on the mechanical properties of circular external fixation as it pertains to the foot and ankle. In 2003, with great reception, Dr. Rocchio presented this work for the first time at the predominantly orthopedic group Association for the Study and Advancement of the Method of Ilizarov, or ASAMI, meeting in Boston, MA.
Among his most recent achievements, Dr. Rocchio has developed a unique surgical procedure to replenish the atrophied plantar fat pad. With several pioneering articles and case studies, Dr. Rocchio’s parachute technique is utilized by hundreds of surgeons per year. From nearly one thousand entrants, this original procedure was awarded 2nd place at the 2009 American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons annual scientific seminar in Washington, DC.
Among his areas of expertise are pediatric deformity (club foot/flat foot/in toe/etc), trauma of the foot and ankle, adult deformity correction (including those associated with diabetes, severe arthritis, and trauma), sports medicine, ingrown toenails/nail fungus/athletes foot, surgical correction of bunions/hammertoes/etc, and routine foot care (including diabetic patients).
Known for his approachable demeanor, Dr. Rocchio prides himself in both gentle elderly care as well as an excellent rapport with pediatric patients. Add this to a remarkable resume of both office and surgical care, and it becomes apparent why Dr. Tom Rocchio’s is a welcome addition to the health care options for the northeast area of Pennsylvania.
