Vinay Rao, MD, MPH

Vinay Rao, MD, MPH, is a hand and plastic surgeon with the Brown Health Medical Group and the director of pediatric hand surgery within the department of plastic surgery. Dr. Rao specializes in the care of both adult and pediatric patients with hand and upper extremity conditions. He has specific expertise in the management of complex pediatric hand conditions, including brachial plexus birth injuries, congenital hand differences, and pediatric upper extremity trauma. He also serves as the assistant program director for the plastic surgery residency program at Brown University.

Dr. Rao earned his medical degree at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Society. He then completed a residency in plastic and reconstructive surgery at Brown University. Dr. Rao completed a fellowship in hand and microvascular surgery at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He also completed an additional fellowship in pediatric hand surgery at the renowned Shriners Children’s Hospital Philadelphia. As a result, Dr. Rao is one of a few hand surgeons with dedicated pediatric hand surgery training in the country.

Dr. Rao has written more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters. He is an expert in public health with a focus on quality improvement in hand and plastic surgery, earning a master’s degree in public health from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice at Dartmouth College.

Dr. Rao is a member/candidate member of the American Medical Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, the American Association for Hand Surgery, Pediatric Hand Study Group, and the Rhode Island Medical Society.