Barbara A. Payne Rockett, MD

Barbara A. Payne Rockett, MD

Dr. Barbara A. Rockett, MD, is a practicing surgeon in Newton, Massachusetts who works with her husband Dr. Francis X. Rockett, a neurosurgeon. She has a long and distinguished history of service to the profession of medicine and will help identify new opportunities in her role as a member of the AMA Foundation Board of Directors, to which she was appointed to in January 2001.

Currently, she is on the medical staff of Newton-Wellesley Hospital, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and New England Baptist Hospital. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Newton Wellesley Hospital, Newell Corporation, Tufts University, Dexter School and Southfield School, and a member of the Board of Overseers of Tufts University Medical School.

As a recognized leader in organized medicine, Dr. Rockett serves as an AMA Delegate for Massachusetts and is the Chair of the Massachusetts AMA Delegation. She was the Vice Chair and Chair of the AMA’s Council on Legislation. She is a Past President of the Massachusetts Medical Society, which she served for an unprecedented two years. She is Past President of the Norfolk District Medical Society and the Tufts Medical Alumni Association. She is the immediate past Chair of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Judicial Committee and the immediate past Chair of the Professional Liability Committee.

Dr. Rockett received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and her doctorate in medicine from Tufts University School of Medicine. She received honorary degrees from Emmanuel College, Stonehill College and King’s College. She was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) at the request of the Tufts medical students who submitted her name for the Honorary Alumnus Award. She received the Tufts Distinguished Service Award, the Massachusetts Medical Society Medical Student Section Award, the AMA’s Young Physician Section “Young at Heart Award”, the Massachusetts Medical Society Presidential Citation for Outstanding Leadership and the Award for Distinguished Service to the Massachusetts Medical Society. She has lectured at several schools, colleges, and civic groups and has delivered several commencement addresses. She has appeared on several radio and television programs discussing medical subjects and proposed legislation.

She is the mother of five children including one who is a General Surgeon, and one who is an Orthopedic Surgeon married to a Family Practitioner.