Dr. David J. Novak is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, bringing 21 years of experience to OrthoVirginia’s professional team. His areas of specialization include sports medicine, shoulder arthroplasty, and arthroscopy of the shoulder and knee. In addition to his medical and surgical expertise, he is also focused on having an immediate impact on patients’ lives by taking away their pain and helping them get back to doing the activities they love.
To achieve this important goal, a source of great personal satisfaction, Dr. Novak applies the latest technological advances to provide treatments in a less painful and invasive manner, providing patients with better quality of life results. He trains other orthopedic surgeons in advanced shoulder arthroscopy and participates in important clinical research, while taking the time to serve as a team physician at several local high schools. He currently serves as a team physician for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania, he completed his medical studies at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., one of the country’s leading medical schools, where he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Medical Honor Society. He remained at Georgetown to complete a residency in orthopedic surgery, later completing advanced fellowship training in sports medicine and arthroscopy at Los Angeles’ Southern California Orthopedic Institute.
Having worked alongside some of the country’s best sports and arthroscopic surgeons during his fellowship training, Dr. Novak acquired the skills and passion that make him a distinguished surgeon able to perform advanced arthroscopic techniques and procedures for a wide range of orthopedic conditions. As a knee and shoulder specialist, he treats complex conditions involving shoulders, knees and elbows. These include arthroscopic rotator cuff repair, arthroscopic shoulder stabilization, ACL and ligament reconstruction, meniscus repair, cartilage restoration of the knee, and joint reconstruction of the shoulder and knee, among other procedures.
Recognizing that the technical aspects of surgery are constantly evolving, Dr. Novak is committed to applying the most current technology in favor of his patients’ wellbeing. He has developed significant experience in shoulder and knee replacement surgery, including MAKO robot-assisted partial and total knee replacements and GPS-navigated anatomic and reverse shoulder replacements. It is the use of this state-of-the-art technology that makes surgery less invasive, reduces pain and recovery times, and helps patients return to their normal activities.
Dr. Novak is board certified in both orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy Association of North America, National Football League (NFL) Team Physicians Society, Medical Society of Virginia, and Virginia Orthopedic Society. He has received several awards, including being voted Top Doctor by Northern Virginia Magazine, Virginia Living Magazine, and Washingtonian Magazine on numerous occasions since 2011.
Dr. Novak joined OrthoVirginia as an orthopedic surgeon in 2005 and has been a member of the OrthoVirginia board since 2014. A Pennsylvania native, he resides with his family in Washington, D.C.
