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Thomas M. Novella, DPM

Podiatry
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About Dr. Novella

Dr. Thomas Novella opened his practice in 1982 and has been on staff at Hospital for Special Surgery since being recruited in 1994. Dr. Novella’s educational and practice background is diverse. Although his practice targets conservative management of both common and enigmatic foot/ankle problems and body-alignment problems related to the foot, his training has immersed him in all aspects of clinical care.

His surgical residency included hundreds of foot cases, as well as orthopedic, plastic, thoracic, abdominal and vascular surgery, and emergency room duties. His orthopedic/pediatric fellowship included research in thermography and electromagnetic bone healing, dance medicine research (ongoing to this day), extensive teaching and clinical duties, and was conducted under the tutelage of Richard Schuster, DPM, and Herman Tax, DPM, both widely considered to be the fathers of podiatric biomechanics and podopaediatrics.

At the dawn of the Sports Medicine era, Dr. Novella was recruited into two group practices, one treating Olympic and world champion track and field athletes, another treating professional dancers from the world’s most renowned dance companies. Since then he had over 45,000 recreational and elite-level dancer and athlete patient encounters.

In 1984, Dr. Novella began teaching his protocol to measure dancers’ ankle ranges of motion. It is now commonly used around the world. Dr. Novella’s practice also heavily includes non-athletic patients, many presenting with theretofore-insoluble problems. Dr. Novella’s resume includes hundreds of domestic and international lectures on foot/ankle-related athletic and dance issues (see www.thomasnovelladpm.com/). He attained Professorship at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine in 1998, where he has continuously taught since his residency. Dr. Novella’s extensive diagnostic experience and teaching credentials help him advise patients of their best treatment path, whether it be an evidence-based, yet innovative conservative approach, or a consultation with one of the world’s top physicians or surgeons such as we have at HSS.

Departments

Podiatry, Performing Arts Medicine (Dance)

Specialized Centers

Performing Arts Medicine Collaborative

Special Expertise

Difficult cases already seen by multiple specialists
Overuse injuries
Injuries not amenable to surgery
Surgical iatrogeny
Gait anomalies interfacing with microtraumata
Sports and dance injuries

Patient Stories

Insurance

If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.

Credentials

Appointments

Consultant, Department of Medicine, Hospital for Special Surgery
Consultant, Department of Orthopedics, Mount Sinai Health System
Adjunct Professor, Department of Orthopedics, New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Adjunct Instructor, Fashion Institute of Technology (ergonomics of athletic footwear design)
Consultant, New York City Ballet 
 

Affiliations

  • Diplomate, American Podiatric Medical Association, 1978-present
  • Member, NY Podiatric Medical Society, 1978-present
  • Fellow, American College of Podiatric Orthopedists, 1980-present
  • Member, American College of Sports Medicine, 1981-present
  • Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Orthopedists, 1985-present
  • Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine, lifetime
  • Member, American College of Podiatric Sports Medicine, 1989-present
  • Member, International Association for Dance Medicine & Science, 1999-present

Certification

Podiatric Orthopedics

Education

DPM, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, New York, 1978

Residency

Surgical Resident, Hospital for Joint Diseases and New York College of Podiatric Medicine, 1978

Fellowship

  • Fellow, Department of Orthopedics, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, 1980
  • Fellow, Department of Biomechanics, Hospital for Joint Diseases, 1980
  • Fellow, Department of Pediatrics, New York College of Podiatric Medicine, 1981

State Licensure

Languages

English

Publications by Dr. Novella

Patient Education

Selected Journal Articles

Editorial Appointments

Medical Editor, Pointe Magazine
Editorial Consultant, Journal of Dance Medicine and Science
 

Research

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.

As of May 31, 2023, Dr. Novella reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.

HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.