Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Ozgur Dede, MD Appointed Chief, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UPMC Children's Hospital

It is our pleasure to announce that Ozgur Dede, MD has been appointed Chief, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, effective September 1, 2024.

Ozgur Dede, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh

Dr. Dede is a double fellowship trained, board-certified pediatric orthopaedic and spine surgeon at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and an associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He will lead all aspects of development for the nationally ranked division across the educational institution and expansive clinical operations of UPMC Children’s and UPMC pediatric-related orthopaedic services.

The division continues to grow, providing services in the greater Pittsburgh area and across the region encompassing western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and northern West Virginia as well as partnerships with Shriners Children’s Erie and UPMC International.

Dr. Dede earned his medical degree from Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey in 2001 where he also completed his orthopaedic surgery residency training. He pursued subspecialty training in pediatric orthopaedic surgery and spine surgery in the United States and completed four years of surgical fellowship training at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware, and the UCSF Spine Center.

His clinical interests include treatment of spinal problems in children including scoliosis, spondylolysis, spondylolisthesis, cervical instability, disc herniation and spinal stenosis. He also treats neuromuscular conditions including cerebral palsy and spina bifida, arthrogryposis and other syndromic afflictions. His research interests include the non-operative and operative management of all types of pediatric scoliosis as well as management of hip and lower extremity deformities in children with spasticity.

Dr. Dede is a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), and the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA).

W. Timothy Ward, MD, will step down as chief following decades of exemplary service to the division to continue with some clinical services. During his time as Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Ward led our team to become one of the top programs nationally. The pediatric orthopaedic division has grown tremendously, including offering an after-hours Orthopaedic Urgent Care.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Dede on his appointment as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at UPMC Children’s and thanking Dr. Ward for his incredible leadership to the department.