Leon Root was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on June 15, 1929. He received a bachelor of science degree from Rutgers University in 1951 and a medical degree from New York Medical College in 1955. He joined the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan in 1967. Three years later he was made chief of pediatric orthopedics, a post he held for 27 years. While there, he created an ambitious program to screen children for disorders of the bones and joints.
He wrote several books during his lifetime including No More Aching Back: Dr. Root's New Fifteen-Minute-a-Day Program for a Healthy Back and Beautiful Bones Without Hormones: The All-New Natural Diet and Exercise Program to Reduce the Risk of Osteoporosis and Keep Your Bones Healthy and Strong written with Betty Kelly Sargent. He died from complications of a low blood count on September 21, 2015 at the age of 86.
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