Joseph Novak, DO
Joseph Novak, DO

New Chief of Anesthesia at PH Brookville

Penn Highlands Brookville is pleased to announce the appointment of Joseph Novak, DO, board certified anesthesiologist, as Chief of Anesthesiology. Novak has been employed as a staff anesthesiologist at Penn Highlands DuBois since June 2013. Novak brings more than 20 years of clinical experience to the operating rooms at PH Brookville and will offer a full range of anesthesia services.

We’re extremely pleased that Dr. Novak is now part of the Penn Highlands Brookville surgical team,” Julie Peer, PH Brookville President, said. “We offer the residents of our region a broad list of surgical options at their hometown hospital and are proud of the quality physicians we’ve been able to recruit as part of Penn Highlands Healthcare.”

Novak earned his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, Pa. He completed an internship at the Community General Osteopathic Hospital in Harrisburg, Pa. He completed his anesthesia residency at the Warren General Hospital in Warren, Ohio and a family practice residency at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa. He has dual board certifications in both anesthesia and family medicine.

In addition to his work at Penn Highlands DuBois, Novak has also worked as an anesthesiologist at Titusville Hospital in Titusville, Pa., and UPMC Northwest in Seneca, Pa.

“Dr. Novak has been a valuable part of our success within the anesthesia department at Penn Highlands DuBois. He brings a positive work attitude and believes in the “team” concept of patient care,” Aaron DeVallance, CRNA, Penn Highlands Anesthesia Service Line Director, said. “Our expectation is that Dr. Novak and his team will provide a very high level of quality anesthesia care and outstanding patient safety practices to the patients choosing to have their surgery in Brookville. I believe that surgical services at Brookville will continue to expand due to Dr. Novak’s excellent reputation and the reputation of the surgeons.”

PH Brookville provides many surgical services and has a proven safety record and quality outcomes that rank among those found at most larger hospitals.

Daniel Perri, DO, performs a wide range of general, vascular and laparoscopic surgeries, while urological surgeries at PH Brookville are performed by Kumaresan Ganabathi, MD. In addition to those full-time surgeons, Bonny Beck, MD, board certified ophthalmologist, performs surgeries at PH Brookville, as well as board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Algie LaBrasca, DO. Podiatrists Tom Miller, DPM and John Thomas Wagner, DPM round out the staff.

“We believe we have a very fine surgical services team at Penn Highlands Brookville,” Peer said. “Residents needing surgical care in any of these areas should feel good knowing that they don’t have to travel to receive great care. The addition of Dr. Novak solidifies Penn Highlands Brookville as a leader in quality surgical care.”