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Memorial Sloan Kettering oculoplastic and orbital surgeon David Della Rocca

David Della Rocca, MD

Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgeon & Comprehensive Opthalmologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Cancers of the eyelid
  • Eye (ocular) cancers and conditions
  • Orbital tumors
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Dr. Della Rocca's Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Associate Attending Surgeon
Get To Know Me

I have had the great opportunity to practice in a field that I love for the last 15 years. I trained in ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary from 2000 to 2003. During that time, I recognized that I love to effect change with my hands as well as my mind.

I was drawn to the creativity and process of plastic surgery, so I pursued further training in an oculoplastics fellowship. I’ve had great mentors and powers of example: My grandfather was an ophthalmologist in the Bronx following his time as a doctor in France during World War II, and my father is still practicing as a nationally recognized practitioner in the field of oculoplastics and orbital surgery. In fact, I did much of my training with my father, and we worked together in private practice for many years.

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I find that the most rewarding and challenging part of my career is related to the care of patients with cancer around the eye. The sensitive nature of this area is rarely considered until someone experiences a problem. Dealing with oncological issues can be overwhelming, so I do my best to help patients understand their diagnosis — knowledge tends to help ease the mind. At the same time, I know from my own experience with cancer that we are all different in the way that we approach these life-changing moments.

I am so grateful to do the work that I do. My time in the operating room, where I am able to be relaxed and focused on the job at hand, is some of the best time in my life. I seek to reassure patients that their comfort is of major import to me.

Outside of the hospital, I am busy helping to raise three beautiful children, working to stay healthy, and doing my best to stay connected to my larger community. I enjoy regular surgical mission work outside of the country, and I try to support and stay involved with local volunteerism.

My Role at MSK

An oculoplastic and orbital surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the structures of the eye. This includes the eyelids, orbit (eye socket), and tear drainage system.

A comprehensive ophthalmologist (OF-thul-MAH-loh-jist) is a doctor with special training in eye diseases and eye surgery. They also prescribe and fit glasses and contact lenses.

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Cancers of the eyelid
  • Eye (ocular) cancers and conditions
  • Orbital tumors
  • Lacrimal gland (tear gland) tumors
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Creighton University School of Medicine

Residencies

  • Ophthalmology - The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)

Fellowships

  • Oculoplastic and Orbital Surgery - The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary

Board Certifications

  • Ophthalmology

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

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Contact and Location

Dr. Della Rocca sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022
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Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

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Clinical Trials

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Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

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Research and Publications

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Della Rocca’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

David Della Rocca discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

No disclosures meeting criteria for time period


If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.

The information published here is a complement to other publicly reported data and is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


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