Richard D. Battista, MD

Prior to joining OAA Orthopaedic Specialists as a premier hand surgeon in 2004, I served with distinction achieved by the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy. My career was marked by numerous personal, as well as unit awards & medals for meritorious service. I was the Chief of Orthopaedics/General Surgery while stationed at the Naval Hospital Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Most recently, I served as the Assistant Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD – The President’s Hospital.

My experience in caring for members of the Congress/Senate and military leadership, as well as combat casualties during Operation Iraqi Freedom, augmented my sincere appreciation for how precious and vital our arms and hands are in everyday life. Now, my practice focuses exclusively on the treatment of hand, finger, wrist, and upper extremity conditions.

Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, I attended Jefferson Medical College and completed orthopaedic surgery residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia. I also completed a Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in 2001. I hold academic appointments as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and as Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the Penn State College of Medicine. I am Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and hold a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hand Surgery. I maintain a variety of memberships in related professional organizations.