Don Heitman, MD


Orthopedic Surgeon

A native of Suffolk County, NY, Dr. Donald E. Heitman graduated cum laude from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology. He then went on to obtain his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. After medical school, he remained in Manhattan and completed his general surgery internship and orthopedic surgery residency at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center, currently part of the Mount Sinai Health System. This included training at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Institute and the Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children. He served as chief resident in his final year.

Dr. Heitman then moved to the West Coast to pursue additional fellowship training in orthopedic sports medicine and arthroscopy at Sports Orthopedic & Rehabilitation Medicine Associates. There, he served as an associate physician in the office, on the sideline, and during the surgical care of many collegiate and professional athletic organizations in the Bay Area, including those of Santa Clara University and the San Francisco Giants.

Dr. Heitman believes education is key to empowering patients to select their best course of treatment.

Special Services

Dr. Heitman believes education is key to empowering patients to select their best course of treatment.

Returning to the metropolitan New York City area, Dr. Heitman’s main interest is in joint preservation. He aims to provide a most comprehensive but also focused approach to the care of his patients. Whether this entails non-surgical or surgical treatment, Dr. Heitman prides himself on developing a plan individualized for each person.

Specific areas of interest include:

  • Arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle
  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Shoulder impingement and instability
  • Labral tears
  • Cartilage and ligamentous injuries of the elbow
  • Hip impingement
  • Meniscal tears
  • Ligamentous injury of the knee
  • Patellofemoral pain and instability
  • Cartilage injury of the knee
  • Knee arthritis
  • Ankle instability
  • Cartilage injuries of the ankle
  • Acute and chronic tendon injury

Professional Affiliations

Dr. Heitman is Board Certified with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He also maintains memberships in the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine attending yearly conferences and surgical labs to stay abreast of the latest operative solutions and techniques. He holds medical licenses in the states of New York, New Jersey, and California.

Rate Dr. Heitman