VOA is pleased to welcome spine surgeon Christopher Howe, M.D., hand and wrist surgeon John Howlett, M.D., and foot and ankle surgeon Erik Novak, M.D., Ph.D. to its medical staff.

Dr. Howe joins VOA spine specialists B. Daniel Chilczuk, M.D., Kaya Hasanoglu, M.D., Mark Remington, M.D., Ph.D. and Jason Thompson, M.D.

Dr. Howe received fellowship training in spine surgery at Harborview Medical Center/University of Washington (UW). He completed additional training with UW Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, and UW Department of General Surgery. Dr. Howe received his medical degree from University of North Dakota School of Medicine. He has volunteered at a rural hospital in Bangladesh, Tabatha Homeless Shelter and  with Doctors Ought to Care. He will practice at VOA’s Renton and Covington clinics.

Dr. Howlett received fellowship training in hand and microvascular surgery from UW Affiliated Hospitals. Additional training completed at UW Affiliated Hospitals includes a residency in orthopedic surgery and an internship in general surgery. He received his medical degree from University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Howlett will practice at VOA’s Renton clinic and newly added Newcastle location.

Dr. Novak joins foot and ankle surgeon Robert Veith, M.D. at VOA Foot & Ankle Center.

Dr. Novak received foot and ankle fellowship training from the Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Harborview Medical Center/Universityof Washington and completed an orthopedic surgery residency at University of California, San Francisco. He received his Doctor of Philosophy degree in molecular and cellular biology (immunology) and medical degree from UW School of Medicine. Dr. Novak speaks fluent Swedish and will practice  at VOA’s Renton and Covington clinics.

Drs. Howe, Howlett and Novak are now accepting new patients and are all members of the orthopedic medical staff at Valley Medical Center. Call 425-656-5060 to schedule an appointment.