Ronald Sollitto: the University of Notre Dame Monogram
Ronald Sollitto, DPM, MD, MPH is a distinguished physician who practices in New Jersey. He attended Notre Dame as an undergraduate and earned three ND monograms in fencing.
Known at other universities and colleges as simply a varsity letter, the University of Notre Dame (UND) monogram is the university’s stylized “ND” logo, awarded to varsity athletes. Varsity athletes who have been awarded the ND monogram belong to an elite club, the Notre Dame Monogram Club. This club was originally established in 1896 to promote camaraderie and sportsmanship. The culture of student athletics of the time, though, was not conducive to students or coaches remaining long at any particular school, and the club did not last long in its original incarnation.
The Notre Dame Monogram Club was revived in 1916 by Jesse Harper, athletic director and head football coach, together with assistant coach Knute Rockne. The new Monogram Club consisted of athletes who had won the monogram. Alumni who had earned the ND monogram were also invited into its ranks because Harper felt they could fill a critical role and provide a sense of continuity and historical perspective to current student athletes.
There were fewer than 100 members of the original Monogram Club, and they represented Notre Dame in just four sports: football, baseball, basketball, and track. Today, Notre Dame’s athletes take the field in 26 different sports, and more than 7,000 current athletes and alumni have won the ND monogram.
Dr. Ronald Sollitto: a Look at the Master of Public Health degree at Columbia University
Dr. Ronald J. Sollitto is currently the chief executive officer of Saddle Brook Surgicenter, Inc. He possesses three graduate degrees: a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, a Doctor of Medicine, and a Master of Public Health that he recently received from Columbia University.
Affiliated with Columbia University, the Mailman School of Public Health offers several different degree tracks for graduate students looking to gain expertise in public health education, research, and community collaboration. Students seeking to obtain the Master of Public Health degree (MPH) have several options. They can pursue the standard MPH over a two year period or can take the rigorous accelerated path, through which they will obtain an MPH within one year. Those students looking for extra specialization can opt to pursue an MPH for Healthcare Management.
To learn more about the Mailman School of Public Health and its master’s degree programs, visit the website at www.mailman.columbia.edu.
Dr. Ronald Sollitto: What Causes Plantar Fasciitis?
New Jersey surgeon Ronald Sollitto, DPM, MD, MPH, brings his extensive experience in foot and ankle disorders to his practice at the Mayhill Medical Group and Saddle Brook Surgicenter, both in Saddle Brook, NJ. Dr. Sollitto’s articles on chronic heel pain and plantar fasciitis treatment have appeared in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery.
People suffering from plantar fasciitis tend to share a common experience. They start to feel pain under the heel when they first walk after waking or sitting for an extended period. Then the ache intensifies while they climb stairs or after they exercise. Eventually, they hobble into a doctor’s office once the pain becomes debilitating.
The soreness results from strain to the plantar fascia, a ligament connecting the heel bone to the front of the foot. Over time, the strain produces tiny tears in the ligament that lead to swelling or inflammation. Excessive tension is the primary culprit. Factors that increase pressure include obesity, arch problems, unsupportive shoes, and repetitive impact from running, standing, or walking.
Plantar fasciitis is a very common problem, and various treatments are employed such as cortisone injections, orthotics and even surgery. About fifteen years ago Dr. Sollitto developed a new technique that cured over 90% of his patients without the need for surgical intervention. The painless procedure takes about ten minutes to perform, and his technique has since been employed and confirmed by doctors at various institutions, including Harvard.
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association Announces January 2013 Webinar Schedule
By: Dr. Ronald Sollitto
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) is pleased to announce its series of educational webinars beginning in January 2013. The ASCA hosts these webinars to benefit its members and to provide valuable information on topics such as business practices, quality control and patient care.
The first webinar, entitled “Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Are We Pushing the Envelope?,” is scheduled for January 8, 2013. The webinar will examine the risks associated with obstructive sleep apnea, as well as identify strategies for managing this condition on an outpatient basis. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke at the National Institutes of Health, approximately 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea.
Another webinar scheduled for January 22, 2013 examines effective strategies for increasing the capacity of an ambulatory surgery center (ASC), as well as increasing patient access to the ASC’s care and services.
About the Author:
Dr. Ronald Sollitto of New Jersey is Chief Executive Officer of Saddle Brook Surgicenter, Inc., one of the first Ambulatory Surgery Centers in the state. In addition to this, Dr. Sollitto was included in Who’s Who in the Ambulatory Surgery Industry in both 2010 and 2011.
50 Years of Excellence at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
By Ronald Sollitto, DPM, MD, MPH 
An enduring symbol of hope for children around the world, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2012. The hospital was the life’s work of entertainer Danny Thomas, who found himself struggling in his early career, with little success and a young family to support. While attending Mass, he prayed for help and landed work the next day. Over the coming years, he continued praying to St. Jude, the patron saint for lost souls and hopeless causes, looking for guidance. With his career flourishing, Thomas began planning for a shrine to the saint in the form of a hospital where critically ill children could receive treatment free of charge.
Danny Thomas settled on Memphis, Tennessee as the home for his future hospital. He held fundraisers, enlisted the support of friends, celebrities, and business leaders, and was able to see his vision realized. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened in 1962, and has pioneered many remarkable advances in catastrophic childhood illnesses. When St. Jude opened, the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia was 4 percent. Today, thanks to research and treatments developed at St. Jude, the rate is 94 percent. Danny Thomas passed away in 1991, but his work goes on, supported by his family, St. Jude’s staff, and ordinary citizens the world over. As was the case 50 years ago, no family ever pays for treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
About the author: The Chief Executive Officer of Saddle Brook Surgicenter, in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, Dr. Ronald Sollitto is a foot and ankle surgeon. Dr. Sollitto contributes generously to many worthy organizations, including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which named a treatment room in his honor.
A Brief History of Ambulatory Surgical Care in the United States
Few are more knowledgeable about the field of ambulatory surgery than Dr. Ronald Sollitto of New Jersey. A renowned physician and surgeon in the field of foot and ankle medicine, Dr. Ronald Sollitto is the CEO of the Saddle Brook SurgiCenter in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Dr. Sollitto was named in the national listing of Who’s Who in the Ambulatory Surgery Industry in 2010 and 2011. He constructed one of the first NJ ambulatory surgery centers.
Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) differ from traditional hospitals in that they provide patients with same-day surgical treatment. They focus on surgical procedures but also provide diagnostic and preventive treatments. The concept of ambulatory surgery centers first came to light in the 1960s, in response to a need for more accessible and affordable outpatient surgery. The first ambulatory surgical facilities opened in California and Washington, D.C. in 1966 and ‘67.
In the 1970s, procedures and practices for ASCs were endorsed and standardized by organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Society of Anesthesiologists. The number of ambulatory surgical facilities expanded rapidly throughout the late 1970s and ‘80s, eventually reaching 1,000 distinct facilities in 1988. ASCs became an important source of medical care for beneficiaries of Medicare, and today they receive about one-third of ASC-provided services.
A Look at the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers, by Ronald Sollitto, DPM, MD, MPH
Founded in 1992, the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers was developed to promote the needs of ambulatory surgery centers throughout the state. A non-profit organization, this group conducts programs that educate medical professionals about developments in the field and the best ways to treat patients. As part of its mission, it engages state and federal policymakers to enact legislation favorable to the industry. Furthermore, the organization affiliates with the national Ambulatory Surgery Center Association so that they may coordinate strategies and improve the profession.
Another way in which the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers reaches out to its members is through meetings. While the group runs regular gatherings, for the past two years, it has also hosted an all-day annual conference. The October 2012 event featured speakers discussing topics such as negotiating in-network contracts and the management of sleep apnea.
About the Author:
Based in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, Ronald Sollitto, DPM, MD, MPH, administers Saddle Brook Surgicenter, Inc., and Mayhill Medical Group, LLC. Active in his profession, Dr. Sollitto belongs to the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers.
Some Facts About St. Jude from Ronald Sollitto, DPM, MD, MPH
Dr. Ronald J. Sollitto is an ardent supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He sat down to answer a few questions about the organization.
Question: What is the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital?
Dr. Ronald Sollitto: St. Jude’s mission is to perform research and treatment that develops cures and treatments for catastrophic childhood diseases. Types of diseases studied include leukemia, lymphoma, and HIV and AIDS, among others. Treatment is provided regardless of the family’s ability to pay.
Q: What types of research are performed by the organization?
RS: St. Jude engages in a wide range of research activities, including laboratory studies, clinical trials for new medications, and the development of innovative treatment regimens.
Q: About how many patients does St. Jude treat?
RS: Roughly 260 patients are treated on a daily basis, and the facility consists of 78 beds. About 7,800 patients from all 50 states are treated each year.
Q: How can others help to further the cause of St. Jude?
RS: St. Jude relies heavily on public funding to cover its operating costs, which add up to about $1.7 million per day. Financial donations are greatly appreciated.
About: Dr. Ronald J. Sollitto, Chief Executive Officer of Saddle Brook Surgicenter, Inc. in New Jersey, possesses a Master of Public Health from Columbia University.
