Dr. Caron B. Rockman’s legacy is one of leadership, compassion and relentless pursuit of better outcomes for her patients. Her voice in vascular surgery resonates in her research and leadership, as well as in every patient she treats.
Dr. Rockman, the newly appointed Northern Regional Chair of Vascular Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, brings over 27 years of experience and a humanistic approach to medicine. A native of the New York metropolitan area, Dr. Rockman has spent her life building a career that has shaped the field of vascular surgery in the region.
She is the former president of the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery (SCVS) and a member of numerous professional societies, including the Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS), the American Surgical Association (ASA) and the SVS Strategic Board of Directors. In her career, she has authored over 225 peer-reviewed publications and more than 20 book chapters, with a particular focus on carotid artery disease and improving outcomes for female patients with vascular conditions.
Beyond the accolades and academic achievements, Dr. Rockman stands by her unwavering commitment to her patients.
“I treat every patient as if they were a member of my family,” she said. “I listen carefully, and I only recommend surgery if I believe it will help someone feel better or prevent something serious from happening.”
Her philosophy of putting family first influences both her personal and professional life. As a proud mother of two adult daughters, she appreciates the deep trust that patients place in their physicians. She takes great pride in her clinical research, which aims to enhance patient outcomes and achievement, a value she holds highly.
Dr. Rockman honed her passion for collaboration and team-based care during her years at NYU Langone Medical Center, where she was part of an extraordinary vascular surgery team. Now, at Hackensack Meridian Health, she is committed to building a similar model of excellence and enhancing the already outstanding vascular surgical care at Hackensack University Medical Center.
“Vascular surgery is a unique and demanding specialty. Working with an excellent team is critical to delivering the best outcomes,” Dr. Rockman said.
Outside the operating room, Dr. Rockman has rekindled a lifelong love of music. A pianist since childhood, she now plays chamber music with friends she’s known since high school. “Now that I’m an empty nester, I’ve rediscovered a passion that brings me joy and balance.”
Looking back on her career, she would give her younger self the advice to prioritize patient care above all else, “not worrying so much about what others think, just work hard and stay dedicated to your craft.”
She advocates for SVS members to support SVS Foundation initiatives for critical research endeavors, stating that without funding, the future of vascular health cannot advance in the field, and the health of vascular surgery patients will suffer as a result.
"Vascular surgeons have unique skill sets that allow them to impact their patients' lives in incredibly meaningful ways: to prevent a stroke, to save a limb, to prevent death from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm," she said.
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