About me
Colonel (retired) Steven Svoboda, MD is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with a sub-specialty certification in orthopedic sports medicine by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Svoboda is associated with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center and serves as a team physician for the NHL’s Washington Capitals, Major League Rugby's Old Glory DC Rugby Club, and Prince George’s County High Schools.
Dr. Svoboda practices at the MedStar Orthopaedic and Sports Center at Lafayette Centre, where he works to build a better healthcare environment in the Washington, D.C. area. Joining MedStar Health after a 23-year military career, with the last 10 years at the United States Military Academy at West Point’s Keller Army Community Hospital, Dr. Svoboda seeks to apply what he has learned caring for American soldiers to the community in the District, Maryland, and Virginia.
An accomplished clinician-scientist, Dr. Svoboda firmly believes that evidence-based outcomes assessment of patient care is essential to improving orthopaedic sports medicine care. Dr. Svoboda serves as the Director of Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Research at MedStar Health at Lafayette Centre. He is helping to lead MedStar Health’s efforts in patient-reported outcomes assessment within the orthopaedic sports medicine domain.
A native of Bowie, MD, Dr. Svoboda attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where upon graduation, he was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree and commissioned as an officer in the United States Army. He graduated from medical school at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, in Baltimore. Dr. Svoboda completed a Transitional Internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, in Washington, D.C., and a Fellowship in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine at the COL John A. Feagin, Jr. Sports Medicine Fellowship in West Point.
Dr. Svoboda’s research regarding major knee joint injuries in the athletic population of Cadets at the United States Military Academy has won the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine O’Donoghue Award for Sports Injury Prevention and has received multiple United States patents. While leading the John A. Feagin Sports Medicine Fellowship at West Point, Dr. Svoboda was also the site Principal Investigator on the NCAA-DoD Grand Alliance CARE Consortium studies on concussion in college-level athletes.
During his military career, Dr. Svoboda served as Chief of Orthopaedic Sports Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center and the Director of Orthopaedic Research, US Army Institute for Surgical Research, both located at Fort Sam in Houston, Texas, from 2005-2007. He was the Program Director of the COL John A. Feagin, Jr. Sports Medicine Fellowship, the Department of Defense’s only program of this type, at West Point from 2009 to 2017. In that role, he was responsible for training all of the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine sub-specialists in the US Army.
Dr. Svoboda is a member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and has been a member of its Fellowship Accreditation Task Force and its Enduring Education Committee, and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA) and has been a member of its Advocacy Committee. He is a member of the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). He is also a reviewer for the American Journal of Sports Medicine, the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, and the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Clinical areas of focus
- Acromioclavicular Dislocation Treatment
- Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation, Knee
- Cartilage Injury
- Clavicular Fracture Treatment
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Knee Arthroscopy With Meniscectomy
- Knee Injection
- Knee Injury Treatment
- Knee Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Knee Meniscus Injury
- Knee Realignment
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Osteotomy, Proximal Tibia, With Fibular Excision
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears
- Rotator Cuff Disorder
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Instability Repair
- Sports Injuries
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injury
- Arthritis
- Arthropathy
- Bone Discontinuity
- Bursopathy
- Cartilage Damage
- Cartilage Disorder
- Cartilage Injury
- Complications Of Procedures
- Dorsopathies
- Elbow And Forearm Injury
- Elbow Joint And Ligament Dislocation And Sprain
- Enthesopathies
- Enthesopathy Of Lower Limb
- Flexor Tendonitis
- Forearm Fracture
- Forearm Strain
- Forearm Tendon Injury
- Hand Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Hip And Thigh Tendon Injury
- Hip Bursitis
- Hip Flexor Strain
- Hip Flexor Tendonitis
- Hip Impingement
- Hip Labral Tear
- Hip Osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory Myositis
- Joint Derangement
- Joint Derangement Of Knee
- Joint Disorder
- Knee Dislocation
- Knee Fracture
- Knee Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Knee Meniscus Injury
- Knee Pain
- Labral Tears
- Lateral Meniscus Injury
- Limb Deformity
- Lower Leg And Ankle Fracture
- Lower Leg Fracture
- Lower Leg Injury
- Muscle Disorders
- Patella Tracking Disorder
- Rib And Sternum Fracture
- Rotator Cuff Disorder
- Rotator Cuff Strains
- Rotator Cuff Tears
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Muscle, Fascia, And Tendon Injury
- Shoulder And Upper Arm Tendon Injury
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Shoulder Fracture
- Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
- Shoulder Joint And Ligament Sprain
- Shoulder Tendonitis
- Sports Injuries
- Superficial Knee Injury
- Synovium And Tendon Disorder
- Tendinitis
- Tendinous Disorders
- Toe Joint Sprain
- Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) Tear
Procedures I perform
- Acromioclavicular Dislocation Treatment
- Ankle Fracture Treatment
- Ankle Ligament Repair
- Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Treatment
- Anterior Tibial Tubercleplasty
- Arthroscopy Knee Loose Body Removal
- Arthroscopy With Chondroplasty
- Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation, Knee
- Bone Graft
- Bone Repair
- Cast Removal
- Clavicular Fracture Treatment
- Claviculectomy
- Elbow Pain Treatment
- Glenohumeral Joint Capsulorrhaphy
- Heel Tendon Repair
- Hip Arthritis Treatment
- Joint Arthroscopy
- Knee Arthroscopy With Meniscectomy
- Knee Injection
- Knee Injury Treatment
- Knee Pain Treatment
- Knee Realignment
- Knee Replacement
- Open Ulnar Fracture Treatment
- Osteotomy, Proximal Tibia, With Fibular Excision
- Posterior Cruciate Ligament (PCL) Tears
- Shoulder Arthroscopy
- Shoulder Dislocation Treatment
- Shoulder Instability Repair
- Shoulder Pain Treatment
- Tenotomy
- Tibiofibular Joint Treatment
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- CIGNA PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CareFirst EPO
- United Student Resources
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Choice Fund PPO
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- IH-HMO
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- TRICARE for Life East
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- IH-POS Plus
- Employee Health Plan
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- MultiPlan, Inc
- CIGNA EPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Choice POS
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- TRICARE East Select
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- OA Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Network OA
- First Health PPO
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- HighMark
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- TRICARE East Prime
- CareFirst Administrators
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Medicare FFS
- IH-Open POS II
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Aetna HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- POS OA
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Optimum Choice
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- BlueChoice Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- First Health PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- United Healthcare Choice
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- IH-POS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- IH-PPO
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Sentara Health
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst NASCO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- Beech Street PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Choice POS II
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Navigate
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Tricare Reserve Select
- UHC Passport
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Medicare Direct
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- IH-Open HMO
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
Videos
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Sports Medicine
Board Certification: American Board of Orthopedic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: Keller Army Community Hospital (2005)
Residency: National Capital Consortium Graduate Medical Education (2002)
Internship: National Capital Consortium Graduate Medical Education (1996)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (1995)
Awards
- O’Donoghue Research Award, 2012 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
- First Place Poster Award Winner for the paper, 2011 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
- 2006 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) Aircast Award for Basic Science
- 2001 J. Leonard Goldner, MD, Award for the Outstanding Basic Science Study
- Young Investigator Award Winner presented for Changes in serum biomarkers for cartilage turnover following ACL injury, Atlanta, GA, 4-5 November 2010
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Leadership Fellow, Class of 2009-2010 AAOS Leadership Fellows Program (LFP)
- Aircast Fellow Research Award in Clinical Science, 2015 American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)
- US Army Health Professions Scholarship Recipient, August 1990-May 1995
- MAJ William C. Whitehead, Jr. Memorial Award for the Graduating West Point Varsity Football Letterman with the Highest Class Rank, 1989
- Military Awards
- Bronze Star Medal (Permanent Order 166-003, 14 June 2008)
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (Five awards)
- Army Achievement Medal
- National Defense Medal (Two awards)
- Iraqi Campaign Medal
- Global War on Terrorism Service Ribbon
- Korean Defense Service Ribbon
- Army Service Ribbon
- Overseas Service Ribbon
Team Affiliations
- Team physician for the Washington Capitals (NHL).
- Team physician for the Major League Rugby's Old Glory DC Rugby Club.
Hospital affiliations
News and publications
Svoboda SJ, Harvey TM, Owens BD, Brechue WF, Tarwater PM, Cameron KL. (2013). Changes in serum biomarkers of cartilage turnover after anterior cruciate ligament injury. Am J Sports Med. Sep;41(9):2108-16.
Svoboda SJ, Owens BD, Harvey TM, Tarwater PM, Brechue WF, Cameron KL. (2016). The Association Between Serum Biomarkers of Collagen Turnover and Subsequent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture. Am J Sports Med. Jul;44(7):1687-93.
Svoboda SJ. (2014). ACL injury and posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Clin Sports Med. Oct;33(4):633-40
Cameron KL, Driban JB, Svoboda SJ. (2016). Osteoarthritis and the Tactical Athlete: A Systematic Review. J Athl Train. Nov;51(11):952-961.
Cameron KL, Thompson BS, Peck KY, Owens BD, Marshall SW, Svoboda SJ. (2013). Normative values for the KOOS and WOMAC in a young athletic population: history of knee ligament injury is associated with lower scores. Am J Sports Med.Mar;41(3):582-9.
Lanzi JT Jr, Felix J, Tucker CJ, Cameron KL, Rogers J, Owens BD, Svoboda SJ. (2016) Comparison of the Suture Anchor and Transosseous Techniques for Patellar Tendon Repair: A Biomechanical Study. Am J Sports Med. Aug;44(8):2076-80.
Cameron KL, Hsiao MS, Owens BD, Burks R, Svoboda SJ. (2011) Incidence of physician-diagnosed osteoarthritis among active duty United States military service members. Arthritis Rheum. Oct;63(10):2974-82.
Shoulder
Pickett A, Svoboda S. (2017). Anterior Glenohumeral Instability. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. Sep;25(3):156-162.
Dickens JF, Owens BD, Cameron KL, DeBerardino TM, Masini BD, Peck KY, Svoboda SJ. (2017). The Effect of Subcritical Bone Loss and Exposure on Recurrent Instability After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair in Intercollegiate American Football. Am J Sports Med. Jul;45(8):1769-1775.
Owens BD, Cameron KL, Peck KY, DeBerardino TM, Nelson BJ, Taylor DC, Tenuta J, Svoboda SJ. (2015). Arthroscopic Versus Open Stabilization for Anterior Shoulder Subluxations. Orthop J Sports Med. Jan 23;3(1):2325967115571084.
Owens BD, Cameron KL, Peck KY, DeBerardino TM, Nelson BJ, Taylor DC, Tenuta J, Svoboda SJ. (2015). Orthop J Sports Med. Jan 23;3(1):2325967115571084.
Cameron KL, Mountcastle SB, Nelson BJ, DeBerardino TM, Duffey ML, Svoboda SJ, Owens BD. (2013). History of shoulder instability and subsequent injury during four years of follow-up: a survival analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am. Mar 6;95(5):439-45.
Owens BD, Cameron KL, Clifton KB, Svoboda SJ, Wolf JM. (2016). Association Between Serum Relaxin and Subsequent Shoulder Instability. Orthopedics. Jul 1;39(4):e724-8.
Concussion
Asken BM, Bauer RM, Guskiewicz KM, McCrea MA, Schmidt JD, Giza CC, Snyder AR, Houck ZM, Kontos AP, McAllister TW, Broglio SP, Clugston JR; CARE Consortium Investigators, Anderson S, Bazarian J, Brooks A, Buckley T, Chrisman S, Collins M1, DiFiori J, Duma S, Dykhuizen B, Eckner JT, Feigenbaum L, Hoy A, Kelly L, Langford TD, Lintner L, McGinty G, Mihalik J, Miles C, Ortega J, Port N, Putukian M, Rowson S, Svoboda S. Immediate Removal From Activity After Sport-Related Concussion Is Associated With Shorter Clinical Recovery and Less Severe Symptoms in Collegiate Student-Athletes. Am J Sports Med. 2018 May;46(6):1465-1474.
Overtraining
Chachula LA, Cameron KL, Svoboda SJ. Association of prior injury with the report of new injuries sustained during CrossFit training. Athl Training Sports Health Care. 2016 Jan;8(1):28-34.
View Dr. Svoboda's publications on PubMed.