D. Nicole Deal, MD

Dr. Nicole Deal is a Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Virginia and holds a dual appointment with the Department of Plastic Surgery. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia, attended medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina, and completed Orthopaedic Surgery Residency and a Hand Fellowship at Wake Forest University. In 2009, Dr. Deal was excited to join the Orthopaedic Hand faculty at the University of Virginia.

Since joining the faculty, Dr. Deal has received many faculty achievement awards including the Dean’s Award for Clinical Excellence in 2013, the Dean’s Award for Teaching Excellence in 2015, was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Educators in 2016, and received the Resident Teaching Award for Orthopaedics in 2018. Dr. Deal served as the President for the Virginia Orthopaedic Society for the 2020-2021 term.

Dr. Deal has authored 35 peer-reviewed journal articles and 28 book chapters. Her research interests include peripheral nerve repair and regeneration, denervation injury, and nerve regeneration and muscular re-innervation. She has received two prestigious Coulter Foundation grants for her collaboration with faculty from the Department of Biology to develop novel techniques to stimulate nerve growth.

Co-Director, UVA Hand Center

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Virginia

Professor of Plastic Surgery, University of Virginia

Vice Chair for Faculty Development

Specialty: Orthopedics

Subspecialty: Hand and Upper Extremity

Education: University of Virginia, Bachelor of Arts
Medical University of South Carolina, Doctor of Medicine

Residency: Post Doctoral NIH Physician Scientist Research Fellowship

Internship, Department of General Surgery, Wake Forest University

Residency, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,Wake Forest University

Fellowship: Upper Extremity and Microsurgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wake Forest University

Upper extremity trauma and reconstruction
Microvascular Surgery
Upper extremity arthroscopy

Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Resident Research Award 2000Eastern Orthopaedic Association
Resident Research Award 2001North Carolina Orthopaedic Association
Resident Research Award 2001Wake Forest University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Academic Excellence Award 2003American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Clinician Scientist
Development Program Attendee 2005

Board Certified in Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Certificate of Added Qualification for Surgery of the Hand

Licensed to practice in Virginia and North Carolina

Dr. Deal’s main research interest is nerve healing and regeneration.  She has studied different nerve repair techniques and has presented her work at numerous meetings including the American Society for Surgery of the Hand and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery.

Publications