Ralph J. Napolitano Jr., DPM, CWSP, FACFAS
Podiatrist & Wound Care Specialist
Treating Patients in New Albany & Pickerington
Dr. Napolitano is a double board-certified podiatrist, wound care specialist physician and award-winning researcher with publications spanning over two decades on wound care and healing, surgical limb preservation and wound healing technology. He specializes in medicine, surgery and wound care of the foot, ankle and leg.
He is the Director of Wound Care and Healing at OrthoNeuro.
He is also an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Podiatry at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Dr. Napolitano is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and the American Board of Wound Management.
He is also a member of the American Limb Preservation Society. He was the first podiatrist in the state of Ohio to earn the board certification Certified Wound Specialist Physician (CWSP). He remains active publishing and lecturing locally, nationally and internationally on wound care and healing.
Recently he was awarded 3rd prize at the 2024 Great Debates and Updates Diabetic Foot Symposium for his work with a new all-in-one wound dressing used in conjunction with negative pressure wound therapy systems. Also in 2024, Dr. Napolitano and his research team won the “People’s Choice Award” at the 2024 Fall Symposium on Advanced Wound Care for their abstract “Bioactive Glass Effectively Heals Complex Lower Extremity Wounds: A Case Series,” Their work stood out among nearly 400 entries to secure first place.
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Napolitano enjoys spending time with his family. His broad interests include music, golf, fishing, and mountain biking. Of particular interest is jazz music. His main instrument is the trumpet. Over the years he has studied, performed, and recorded with members of The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra and the Saturday Night Live Band.
Affiliations
Riverside Methodist Hospital
Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital
Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital
Grant Medical Center
Dublin Methodist Hospital
Licking Memorial Hospital
Grove City Methodist Hospital
New Albany Surgery Center
Central Ohio Surgical Institute
Riverside Methodist Hospital Critical Limb and Wound Center
Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Wound Center
Licking Memorial Hospital Wound Clinic
American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons (Fellow Status)
American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery (Diplomate Status)
American Board of Wound Management (Diplomate Status)
American Podiatric Medical Association
Ohio Foot and Ankle Medical Association
Publications and Research
Karlock A, Napolitano R (2020) Closed-Incision Negative Pressure Therapy in Place of Surgical Drain Placement in Plantar Fibroma Excision Surgery: A Case Series. Cureus 12 (7):e9110.
Napolitano R. August 2020, Advances in Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Dressings: Sealing the deal with V.A.C. DERMATAC™ Drape; available at dialoguesinwoundmanagement.com.
Carr A, Long J, Napolitano R, Cheney, N, Gittins, J. (2019) Tandem Specialty Management of Complex Lower Extremity Wounds: A Report of Three Cases. Cureus. 11 (11):e6193.
Napolitano R. (2018) Treatment of Acute Compartment Syndrome Sequela of the Leg: A Case Report Demonstrating Negative Pressure Wound Therapy with Instillation and Dwell Utilizing a Novel Dressing and Serial Automated Suction Blister Epidermal Harvesting and Grafting. Cureus. 10 (10):e3443.
Karlock A, Napolitano R (2020) Closed-Incision Negative Pressure in Plantar Fibroma Excision Surgery: A Case Series. Presented at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, Fall 2020 Virtual.
Napolitano R. Wound Bed Preparation of Lower Extremity Wounds Using Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation: Taking Cost Into Consideration. Pending presentation at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care; July 2020; Charlotte, NC.
Kharkar P, Napolitano R, Obst MA, Lantis J, Pennington M, Harrison J, Reider K, Faust E, Speyrer M, West J, Cole W. Assessment of a Novel Drape Containing Acrylic and Silicone-based Adhesives When Using Negative Pressure Wound Therapy. Presented at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care; November 2019; Las Vegas, NV.
Napolitano R. Early Use of a Novel Acrylic-Silicone Hybrid Drape With Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in Lower Extremity Wounds. Presented at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care; November 2019; Las Vegas, NV.
Napolitano R. Clinical Experience With Single-Use, Mechanically Powered Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device for Outpatient Management of Lower Extremity Wounds. Presented at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care; November 2019; Las Vegas, NV.
Napolitano R. Outpatient Management of Lower Extremity Wounds Using a Mechanically Powered Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device. Presented at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care; November 2018; Las Vegas, NV.
Napolitano R. Complex Lower Limb Wound Cleansing With Negative Pressure Wound Therapy With Instillation and Dwell Time. Presented at: Symposium on Advanced Wound Care; November 2018; Las Vegas, NV.
Napolitano R. Managing Lower Extremity Wounds with a Mechanically Powered Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Device in the Outpatient Setting. Presented at: American College of Wound Healing and Tissue Repair; October 2018; Chicago, IL.
Board Certifications
- American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery
- American Board of Wound Management
Undergraduate
- Baldwin Wallace University
Medical School
- Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (formerly Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine)
Residency
- Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Heritage Valley Health System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
From Our Patients
Dr. Napolitano always appreciates feedback from our valued patients.
Please read what others are saying about Dr. Napolitano.
4.8 based on 125 reviews
Videos
Locations
New Albany
5040 Forest Dr.
New Albany, OH 43054
Pickerington
1030 Refugee Rd., Suite 180
Pickerington, OH 43147
“I truly appreciate Dr Napolitano in taking care of my foot problem. No pain now. He was very efficient. The office staff were also very kind. Thank you.”
Susan W.
