Dana Curtis Covey, MD

Dana Covey, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. He specializes in sports medicine with an emphasis on knee and shoulder injuries. Dr. Covey sees patients with knee ligament tears and shoulder dislocation. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Dr. Covey served with distinction as a Navy orthopaedic surgeon prior to joining the UC San Diego faculty.

He is a decorated combat veteran who made multiple, lengthy deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a leader of Marine Corps forward surgical teams responsible for saving the lives and limbs of Marines and Sailors severely wounded on the battlefield. He was also chairman and orthopaedic surgeon at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, where he treated complex sports-related injuries in service members including elite warrior-athletes in the Marine Corps and Navy SEALs.

Dr. Covey was awarded the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Award for Excellence in Military Medicine as the nation's top military physician, received the prestigious American Orthopaedic Association North American Traveling Fellowship, was elected to Sigma Xi, the scientific honorary, was awarded the Sir Henry Wellcome Medal and Prize for outstanding medical research, and received the Colonel Brian Allgood Memorial Award for Excellence in Military Orthopaedic Leadership.

Dr. Covey received his medical degree with honors from the University of Washington, completed his orthopedic surgery internship and residency at Louisiana State University, and an orthopedic surgery fellowship in sports medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Covey is a diplomate and oral examiner of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a member of the American Orthopaedic Association and a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, where he serves on the Board of Councilors.

He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters ranging from basic and clinical science to operational medicine, and has received large research grants.

Outside of work, Dr. Covey enjoys outdoor sports and other activities with his wife, Lynn, and their children.

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For more information, see Orthopedics and Sports Medicine.