Richard Diana, MD

Doctor Richard Diana is a highly trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery. His expertise in minimally invasive shoulder and knee surgery provides state-of-the-art treatment for sports and nonsports related injuries in patients of all ages. His specialized surgical training, when combined with his unique history as an NFL football player and collegiate football & baseball All American, uniquely qualifies him to understand and treat athletes who have suffered sports injuries.

Primary Specialty

Additional Specialties

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High School athletic and academic success led Hamden’s Rich Diana to Yale University where he graduated cum laude in molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. His record setting football career garnered him All-American status alongside Hall of Fame players Marcus Allen and Herschel Walker. He finished in the Top 10 Heisman Trophy balloting; The National Football Foundation named in one of 11 National Scholar-Athletes while the college sports information directors in GTE named him an Academic All-American.

[“To Rich Diana, at the 25, Diana spins away at the 30 to 35, he’s all at the head of everybody. Rich Diana, he’s at the 30 of {inaudible} There’s nobody going to catch him. Rich Diana is {inaudible} 80 yards. Touchdown run, for his {inaudible} in the afternoon”.]

During College Spring semesters, Rich balanced his football career with a similar all-ivy baseball career, where he set school records for home runs and runs batted in. After graduating from Yale, the Miami Dolphins drafted Rich where he played for legendary NFL Hall of Fame coach Don Shula in Super Bowl 17. Coach Shula once called him one of his all-time favorite players.

[“Diana. Inside the 10-yard line. 5’9, 220-pound record shattering running back… Speed. Diana, a rookie from Yale.]

After his NFL career, Rich attended Yale Medical School and completed his Orthopedic residency at Yale New Haven Hospital. He then completed an Orthopaedic Sports Medicine fellowship with legendary Boston Red Sox team physician Dr. Arthur Pappas. He remained on the Red Sox medical staff for 5 years. Fellowship trained and American Board of Orthopaedic surgery certified, Dr. Diana has been a managing partner of Connecticut Orthopaedics since 1993. He specializes in treating sports injuries, providing arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery to pros and Weekend Warriors young and old alike. He’s provided consulting services to the University of Florida, Notre Dame, Boston College, Yale, Quinnipiac and numerous other colleges and local high schools. He’s performed over 8,000 surgeries and recently wrote the book Healthy Joints for Life, published by Harlequin. As an athlete, he was always known for having great hands, vision, and dedication to the task at hand. As a doctor, those same traits have been the Hallmark of his career. Meet former Yale All-American, Miami Dolphin, and orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Rich Diana.

Contact

For all general questions, prescription refills or to schedule an appointment, contact our office at:

Phone:
203.407.3540
Fax:
203.466.8590

Education and Training

  • B.A. Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry - Yale University
  • M.D. Yale School of Medicine
  • Residency completed at Yale New Haven Hospital
  • Fellowship in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine - University of Massachusetts Medical Center

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery

Team Affiliations

  • Quinnipiac University
  • Hamden High School
  • Cheshire High School
  • North Haven High School

Office Locations

Testimonials

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347 Patient Reviews

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" It was very quick and easy to check in, and to be seen by the doctor. The Dr did tell me right away that I needed an operation asap. "

Connecticut Orthopaedics
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" Very impressed. "

Connecticut Orthopaedics
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" Dr. D is always great, not my first trip there with my sons who play high school football. "

Connecticut Orthopaedics
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" Dr. Diana has treated me in past and I highly recommend him to family and friends "

Connecticut Orthopaedics
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" The staff was very cordial .Dr Diana was very attentive to my concerns and answered all my questions.I liked him very much Dr Diana "

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Full Biography

Doctor Diana is a highly trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery. His expertise in minimally-invasive shoulder and knee surgery provides state-of-the-art treatment for sports and nonsports related injuries in patients of all ages. His specialized surgical training, when combined with his unique history as an NFL football player and collegiate football & baseball All American, uniquely qualifies him to understand and treat athletes who have suffered sports injuries.

He graduated from Yale in 1982 cum laude with a degree in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. Upon graduation he was one of Yale’s most celebrated student-athletes receiving numerous Yale and national distinctions including The President Gerald Ford Award, The Mallory Award as well as The SIDA, The Hartford and Miller Lite Beer Consensus Football All American honors. He was a GTE Football Academic All American and one of twelve scholar athletes recognized by The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. In baseball, he was selected as an honorable mention All American as well as All Ivy and All EIBL. No other orthopaedic surgeon has been named both 1st team Division I Football All American and Academic All American.

After graduation he was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and played in Super Bowl XVII. Besides Doctor Diana, no other orthopaedic surgeon has ever played in the Super Bowl. He retired from the NFL to attend Yale School of Medicine where he graduated in 1987. He completed his orthopaedic residency training at Yale-New Haven Hospital and then received fellowship certification in orthopaedic sports medicine from long time Boston Red Sox team physician Arthur Pappas at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. After completing his fellowship, he worked with The Boston Red Sox for six years as an Orthopaedic consultant.

Doctor Diana is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. In 2006 and in each consecutive year he has been named to Dr. Stephen Sinatra’s esteemed Top 100 Doctors in America. He has been in practice with CO since 1993 and one of the managing partners since 1995. Dr. Diana is currently a Clinical Instructor and attending surgeon at Yale-New Haven Hospital and an attending surgeon at Yale-New Haven Hospital St. Raphael’s Campus. He is or had been a collegiate orthopaedic sports consultant at Yale, Quinnipiac and Southern Connecticut State University and a high school orthopaedic sports consultant at Hamden High School, Cheshire High School, North Haven High School, Staples High School, Wilbur Cross High School, North Branford High School and Shelton High School. He has written articles in medical and sports related books and journals. He is author of the soon to be released book, The Joint-Healthy Lifestyle.

An alumnus of Hamden High School, Doctor Diana has been inducted into Hamden’s Distinguished Alumni and Athletic Hall of Fames. He is a 1993 inductee of The New Haven Gridiron Club Hall of Fame and was nominated for the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

Over the past 2 decades he has been honored for substantial community service as a Distinguished American by The New Haven Chapter of The National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, Chamber Choice Award recipient by The Chamber of Commerce, Paul Harris Award honoree by The Rotary foundation of Rotary International, Distinguished Service Award recipient by The Unitas Club, Gold Key Award recipient by Connecticut Sports Writers, Unsung Hero Award recipient by The All American Football Foundation, Gold Bat Award recipient by W.H. Twilight, National Scholar Athlete Alumni Association Platinum Member and Elm City Legends Award recipient by The March of Dimes.

Doctor Diana continues to play an active role in the community by volunteering his services to help various local athletic programs. Through The Diana Family Charitable Trust he enthusiastically supports the community.

Dr. Richard Diana lives in Hamden, CT with his wife, Ann and children, Jack and Megan.

Associations

  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Awards

  • 1994 National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame New Haven Chapter Distinguished American
  • 1996 Chamber of Commerce Chamber Choice Award
  • 1998 Rotary Foundation of Rotary International Paul Harris Award
  • 2000 Unitas Distinguished Service Award
  • 2001 CT Sports Writers Gold Key Award
  • 2002 All American Football Foundation Bill Wade Unsung Hero Award
  • 2002 Hamden Education Foundation Distinguished Alumnus Award
  • 2003 Established The Vincent Diana Fitness Center at Hamden High School
  • 2004 Hamden Education Foundation Athletic Hall of Fame
  • 2004 W.H. Twilight Gold Bat Award
  • 2005 Nomination for National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame
  • 2008-2010 National Scholar Athlete Alumnus Association Platinum Member
  • 2010 March of Dimes Elm City Legends Award
  • 2019 Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Research and Publications

  • Healthy Joints for Life: An Orthopedic Surgeon’s Proven Plan to Reduce Pain and Inflammation, Avoid Surgery and Get Moving Again