David E. Attarian, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.A.O.A. 

Chief Medical Officer, Duke Private Diagnostic Clinic

Professor and Executive Vice Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

David was born and raised in Albany, New York. He attended Princeton University ‘76 (AB- Biochemistry; Certificate- Science in Human Affairs) and Duke University School of Medicine ‘80 (MD, AOA). He obtained his surgical and orthopaedic training at the Duke University Medical Center and Affiliated Hospitals (1980-1986). He received additional physician executive leadership training at the Wharton Business School through the Cleveland Clinic Foundation’s physician executive leadership program (1990’s).

From 1986 – 1989, he served as USAF Major and Orthopaedic Surgeon at Carswell AFB, Texas, and Orthopaedic Director for USAF-NATO strategic hospital, Zweibruken Germany. Upon honorable discharge, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. During that time, he established one of the first Orthopaedic PA training programs for the USAF; he also taught orthopaedic anatomy to orthopaedic residents at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas.

From 1989 – 1999, David was the Chair of Surgery and Orthopaedic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Ft Lauderdale. He was the Team Orthopaedic Surgeon for the NHL Florida Panthers and consulted for the Miami Dolphins, the Florida Marlins, the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees. He provided volunteer physician services for the International Swimming Hall of Fame national swimming and diving teams, the US Olympic Diving team, and several high school sports teams in Broward County.

Dr. Attarian returned to the Duke Orthopaedic faculty in 1999 to develop outreach orthopaedic services within the Triangle region. He has served on numerous leadership and strategic planning committees for the Health System and Duke PDC. His clinical practice currently focuses on adult reconstruction of the hip and knee. In addition to his responsibilities as CMO for the PDC, and Executive Vice Chair for Orthopaedic Surgery, he is the Medical Director for hospital based clinics at Duke University Hospital, the Medical Director for DUHS Orthopaedic Co-Management, and a member of the Board of Directors for Project Access of Durham.

He is a member or fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Orthopaedic Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons, and the Piedmont Orthopedic Society. He is an oral examiner for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He also serves as a Commissioner for the American Joint Replacement Registry. He is a member of the Board of Advisors of OMeGA Medical Grants Association in support of graduate orthopaedic education.