New Orthopedic Surgeon at GRMC

Grinnell Regional Medical Center welcomes Clifford C. Novak, MD, orthopedic surgeon to the GRMC medical staff.

Novak will begin seeing patients on Tuesday, Sept. 4, in the new Grinnell Regional Orthopedics clinic, located on the second floor of the Ahrens Medical Arts Building.  His practice encompasses knee arthroscopy and replacement surgery, shoulder arthroscopy, rotator cuff repair, and carpel tunnel and trigger finger release surgeries. He also has advanced training and will perform revision and reconstruction surgery for ineffective knee replacements.  Primary care physicians often refer patients to orthopedic surgeons; however, a physician’s referral is not required.

“Dr. Novak will be a full-time orthopedic surgeon,” says Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “The addition of full-time orthopedic care is a critical piece in the future of GRMC. We are thrilled to have an excellent orthopedic surgeon here to care for residents. The native of Cedar Rapids has an excellent, compassionate personality and extremely gifted surgical skills.”

Novak completed a bachelor’s of science and medical degree from the University of Iowa and University of Iowa College of Medicine. He completed a surgery internship and orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.  He also finished a fellowship in adult reconstruction at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Ill.

Novak spent the past two years as an assistant clinical professor at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center in conjunction with the University of Minnesota. He also performed orthopedic care with the Physicians Clinic of Iowa in Cedar Rapids before practicing in Minnesota.

“After residency, I had the opportunity to train with some of the best surgeons in the world doing joint replacement surgery and reconstruction of previous knee replacement surgery. The training allows me to customize my knee replacement to each individual patient,” says Novak. “I like to fix things – a hands-on person. As a patient you can expect that I will provide you with education and an outline of all their options. It’s more than just surgery. With orthopedics, patients have surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. Patients can make decisions based on the situation. Returning the patient back to the activities they enjoy, in a pain-free manner, is my goal with each individual.”

Novak’s interest in becoming an orthopedic physician evolved from his love of science and he had a landscaping job in high school. He whimsically comments that orthopedics is a lot like landscaping but for the body.

He explains why he accepted the position in Grinnell, “While I enjoyed living in the Twin Cities, I miss my native state. I take great pride in caring for the people of Iowa,” Novak says. “Both of our families live in Iowa so my wife, Jessica, and I feel this is where we want to raise our family.”

To schedule an appointment, call Grinnell Regional Orthopedics at 641-236-2010. Grinnell Regional Orthopedics is located at 210 4^th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112.