Who Is Dr. Frank Scafuri?
Dr. Frank Scafuri is a Staten Island-based infectious disease specialist and internist with over 27 years of clinical experience. He operates two private practice locations under Scafuri & Associates, holds hospital privileges at three major New York health systems, and serves on the board of directors at Richmond University Medical Center. His practice accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and more than 100 commercial insurance plans.
That’s the short version. Here’s why it actually matters.
His Credentials — and What “DO” Really Means for Your Care
There’s a question that surfaces in patient forums constantly: is Dr. Scafuri an MD or a DO, and does it matter?
He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999 — the same institution now listed in his Doximity profile as NYIT COM. He completed his internship at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn (2000), his internal medicine residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center of Richmond (2001–2002), and a fellowship in Infectious Diseases at New York Medical College at St. Vincent’s in Jamaica, Queens, finishing in 2004.
A DO and an MD are not the same credential — but in clinical practice, they’re functionally equivalent. Both are fully licensed physicians in the United States. Both can prescribe medications, specialize, and hold hospital privileges. The training difference is philosophical: DO programs add coursework in osteopathic manipulative medicine. For an infectious disease specialist, that distinction has almost no practical impact on your care.
What most directory pages skip entirely: Dr. Scafuri has been connected to Staten Island medicine since he was 15 years old, when he began working in the microbiology lab at St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center — the same institution that later became Richmond University Medical Center. That’s not a throwaway biographical detail. It means his clinical roots in this borough predate his medical degree by nearly a decade.
Dr. Frank Scafuri, a Staten Island-based infectious disease specialist, is a DO affiliated with Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital at Northwell Health, and The Mount Sinai Hospital. He has operated Scafuri & Associates — a multi-location private practice — for over two decades, treating conditions including complex bacterial infections, HIV/AIDS, recurrent UTIs, and undiagnosed febrile illnesses.
Most people assume a specialist’s biography is just marketing. The data says otherwise — according to a 2024 Healthgrades study, 92% of healthcare seekers read a physician’s bio before booking, and over half say understanding a provider’s background directly influences their decision.
Locations, Hours, and the Fastest Way to Actually Book
This is where patients lose the most time. Dr. Scafuri runs two locations, and if you’ve tried calling and can’t get through on the first attempt, you’re not alone — it’s a consistently reported experience at both offices. Here’s what you need to know.
Victory Boulevard — Primary Location
2177 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314
(718) 370-3730
Open 7 days: Mon–Wed 8:30 AM–8:00 PM · Thu 8:30 AM–7:00 PM · Fri 7:30 AM–6:00 PM · Sat 7:30 AM–1:00 PM · Sun 8:30 AM–2:00 PM
Richmond Avenue — Second Location
4143 Richmond Ave (Lower Level), Staten Island, NY 10312
(718) 966-5556
Mon–Thu 8:30 AM–8:00 PM · Fri 8:30 AM–6:00 PM · Sat 7:30 AM–1:00 PM · Sunday: Closed
Quick note: the practice now offers a text-line appointment system at 718-370-3730. You can text to request an appointment or prescription refill without waiting on hold. It’s a real improvement for a high-volume office.
To book an appointment with Dr. Scafuri at Scafuri & Associates:
- Text (718) 370-3730 with your name and appointment request — no hold time required.
- Call Victory Blvd at (718) 370-3730 or Richmond Ave at (718) 966-5556 during listed hours.
- Visit drscafuri.com to submit an online appointment request.
- Verify your specific insurance plan using his NPI number (1588641849) on Healthgrades before your visit.
Victory Blvd vs. Richmond Ave: Victory Blvd is better suited for most patients because it’s open 7 days a week including Sundays, and handles the full scope of both infectious disease and internal medicine. Richmond Ave works better when Victory Blvd is fully booked. The key difference is Sunday availability — Richmond Ave is closed.
Insurance, Hospital Affiliations, and the Referral Question
Dr. Scafuri accepts more than 100 insurance plans at Scafuri & Associates, including Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, United Healthcare, and Humana. You can verify your specific plan using NPI 1588641849 on Healthgrades, or call the office directly before your visit.
His hospital affiliations:
- Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) — primary affiliation; he also serves on the RUMC board of directors
- Staten Island University Hospital at Northwell Health
- The Mount Sinai Hospital
On referrals: infectious disease is a specialty that typically requires a physician referral for your insurance to cover the visit. If you’re coming for general internal medicine or primary care services — which Scafuri & Associates also handles — a referral is usually not required. Check with your plan before assuming either way.
According to Doximity and verified NPI records, Dr. Frank Scafuri holds affiliations with Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital at Northwell Health, and The Mount Sinai Hospital. His board membership at RUMC reflects involvement that goes beyond clinical practice — it’s an institutional leadership role in Staten Island’s largest independent hospital.
What Patients Actually Report — the Honest Picture
Here’s where I’ve seen conflicting data. Some platforms aggregate his reviews at 3.0 stars; others show 3.6 or higher. My read is this: the discrepancy tracks almost perfectly with whether the reviewing patient saw Dr. Scafuri personally or was seen by a physician assistant or nurse practitioner.
The praise, when it appears, is consistent. Long-term patients describe him as attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely engaged — someone who knows their history without consulting the chart first.
The criticism is also consistent. And it’s almost never about clinical quality.
It’s about access.
Patients who’ve tried to reach the office urgently, or who specifically wanted to see Dr. Scafuri and not an advanced practice provider, report difficulty getting those appointments directly with him. At a high-volume multi-location practice, that’s an operational reality more than a clinical failing. Several reviewers across Yelp, RateMDs, and WebMD explicitly name Christina Ashton, NP, and a practitioner called Fina as excellent — so if you’re comfortable with a qualified NP or PA handling your visit, the reported experience jumps noticeably.
Some might argue that a specialist who’s rarely available in person is effectively a lower-quality provider — and that’s a fair point if you’re paying a specialist copay expecting the doctor. The counterargument is that the clinical outcomes being described by long-term patients are strong, and the PA staff appears to be competent and well-regarded in their own right.
Or maybe I should say it this way: the practice functions well for patients who are proactive and direct about their needs at booking.
Look, if you need to see Dr. Scafuri specifically, say that when you text or call to book. Don’t assume the appointment type is implied by the reason for your visit.
Quick Comparison
| Factor | Victory Blvd | Richmond Ave |
|---|---|---|
| Days Open | 7 days/week | Mon–Sat |
| Sunday Hours | 8:30 AM–2:00 PM | Closed |
| Phone | (718) 370-3730 | (718) 966-5556 |
| Text Scheduling | Yes | Same number |
| Specialty Scope | ID + Internal Med | ID + Internal Med |
Is This Practice Right for Your Situation?
Not every patient is the right fit for a high-volume multi-location practice. Acknowledging that is more useful than a generic endorsement.
This practice works well for you if:
- You have a complex, recurring, or unresolved infection that primary care hasn’t solved
- You need a Staten Island-based ID specialist with privileges at both RUMC and SIUH
- You’re comfortable being seen by an NP or PA for routine follow-ups and reserving Dr. Scafuri for complex presentations
- You want 7-day access without resorting to an urgent care facility
This may not be the right fit if:
- You need guaranteed same-appointment access to the physician himself on short notice
- You’ve previously had a negative experience with the front desk staff — this complaint appears across multiple independent platforms
- You’re looking for a primarily telehealth-based relationship; as of the most recent profile data, virtual visit availability is limited
Disclaimer: This article is informational only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed physician for diagnosis and treatment decisions.
Most people assume that a specialist with mixed online reviews reflects inconsistent medical quality — but the data says otherwise in this case. According to the rater8 Patient Preferences Survey (December 2024, n=1,008 U.S. adults), 84% of patients check online reviews before booking a new provider, and 61% say negative reviews would override a personal referral. That makes context essential: reading why the negative reviews exist tells you more than the star number alone.
5 Questions Patients Ask — Answered Directly
What’s the best way to book an appointment with Dr. Scafuri in Staten Island?
Text (718) 370-3730 with your name and appointment request — no hold time. You can also call either location or submit a request at drscafuri.com. Victory Blvd is open seven days a week including Sundays.
How do I know if Dr. Scafuri accepts my insurance?
Search his NPI number — 1588641849 — on Healthgrades to check plan participation. He accepts over 100 plans including Medicare, Medicaid, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and United Healthcare. Always call to confirm your specific plan before visiting.
Should I see Dr. Scafuri or a PA at the practice?
For a first-time infectious disease consultation or a complex unresolved case, request Dr. Scafuri by name when booking. Routine follow-ups, prescription refills, and general wellness visits are handled well by the NP and PA staff, based on patient reports.
Why does Dr. Scafuri have mixed reviews online?
Negative reviews cluster around front-desk access and wait times to see the physician directly — not clinical outcomes. Patients who see him in person consistently rate the experience highly. The gap between the two groups drives the mixed aggregate score.
When should I see an infectious disease specialist instead of my primary care doctor?
When symptoms persist despite standard treatment, when you have a recurring or unusual infection, when a culture result requires specialist interpretation, or when your primary care physician specifically refers you — ID specialists handle what general practitioners cannot resolve.
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