Garden City Pediatric Surgeon Wins Prestigious Health Care Hero Award

Long Island Business News presented Garden City resident Dr. Rachel A. Ruotolo with its prestigious Health Care Hero Award in November. This annual award recognizes individuals and organizations whose ongoing work, innovations and dedication to the health care industry ensure the well-being of Long Island residents.

Dr. Ruotolo, a member of the Long Island Plastic Surgical Group (LIPSG), specializes in pediatric plastic surgery. She focuses on repairing birth deformities including cleft lip and palate and craniosynostosis (premature closure of skull sutures, which curtails brain growth and results in abnormal head and facial shape).

Dr. Ruotolo also specializes in facial trauma in children and adults.  She serves on the board of the Child Abuse and Protective Services, Long Island's largest non-profit dedicated to eradicating child abuse and neglect.

A cum laude graduate of Duke University, Dr. Ruotolo earned her M.D. degree with distinction from George Washington University.  She completed her training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, receiving specialty training at the Medical City Children's Hospital in Dallas, TX.

In 2008, she joined Long Island Plastic Surgical Group and she is currently affiliated with Long Island Jewish Medical Center, North Shore University Hospital (Sandra Atlas Bass Campus in Manhasset), Winthrop University Hospital, Day-Op Center of Long Island, Good Samaritan Hospital, Southside Hospital, South Nassau Communities Hospital, Mercy Medical Center and Nassau University Medical Center.

Another LIPSG doctor, Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, was a finalist for the award. Dr. Alizadeh has been the president of Long Island Plastic Surgical Group since 2007 and directs the Clinical Research Division of the practice's Plastic Surgery Residency Program. Dr. Alizadeh has traveled abroad extensively to lend his expertise to others, receiving numerous teaching and training grants for treating patients in Central and South America, the Middle East and Asia. He has also authored numerous publications and conducts innovative research in all aspects of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

For more information about LIPSG, visit lipsg.com.