Wendy Novicoff, PhD

Wendy Novicoff, Ph.D. is a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Public Health Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and serves as the Director of Clinical Trials for Orthopaedic Surgery. She grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and came to the East Coast for college, receiving her undergraduate degree at Duke University and her graduate degrees from the University of Virginia. Wendy works with many groups at the University of Virginia, including serving as Faculty for the School of Data Science, as the Education Director for the Be Safe Program (UVA’s patient safety program), as the lead Evaluator for UVA’s Clinical and Translational Science Award program, and as Program Director for both the Master of Science in Clinical Research and the Graduate Certificate in Public Health Sciences programs.

Beyond Orthopaedics
“I am very involved in local theater and I serve on the Boards of the Four County Players and the Virginia Theatre Association. I also perform in several shows each year. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our very fluffy cats.”

Office Location:
Department of Public Health Sciences and Orthopaedic Surgery
University of Virginia School of Medicine
P.O. Box 800717, HSC
Charlottesville, Virginia  22908

Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine
Education Director, Be Safe Program, School of Medicine

Dr. Novicoff has done extensive work in the areas of health system quality and performance improvement, including work on the refinement of measurement systems and reporting mechanisms and standardization of clinical practices. She is also a faculty member for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), where she teaches performance improvement techniques. Dr. Novicof is a certified Lean Sensei, a certified Change Agent, and a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt. To date, she has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles.

1. Health services research and outcomes evaluation
   • Patient decision-making
   • Function after major surgery
   • Comparative effectiveness research
   • Use of evidence-based medicine
2. Health system quality and performance improvement
   • Refinement of measurement systems and reporting mechanisms
   • Integration of instruction on quality, performance improvement, and research methods into undergraduate and graduate medical education
   • Standardization of clinical practice
3. Hospital and health system administrative data quality and integrity

2019-2024 – Evaluation Lead: Clinical Translational and Science Award – iTHRIV (funded by the National Institutes of Health). UVA Principal Investigators: Karen Johnston, MD and Donald Brown, Ph.D.

2015-2020 – Project Manager: Comparative Effectiveness of Pulmonary Embolism Prevention after Hip and Knee Replacement (PEPPER): Balancing Safety and Effectiveness – $625,000 (funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute). UVA Principal Investigator: James A. Browne, MD.

2015-2020 – Project Manager: Surgical Weight-Loss to Improve Functional Status Trajectories Following Total Knee Arthroplasty (SWIFT) – funded by Ethicon Endo-Surgery. UVA Principal Investigator: James A. Browne, MD.