Ortho Spotlight: David Supik, DO & M Health Fairview Edina

Behind every successful clinic, there's a team of outstanding providers and ancillary staff working hard to ensure the highest quality of care for patients.

Join us as we highlight the collaborative efforts and individuals who continuously uplift our department and orthopedic care.

Spotlight: David Supik, DO

Dr. David Supik is a board-certified primary care sports medicine physician. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Supik's journey to becoming a physician reflects both his Midwestern roots and a unique academic path. He completed his undergraduate degree in zoology, with minors in neuroscience and business management, followed by a master’s degree in biomedical sciences at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While not a traditional trajectory into medicine, this path helped nurture his research interests and laid a strong foundation for his future in healthcare.

A proud Midwesterner, Dr. Supik earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Midwestern University in Chicago, where his passion for sports medicine blossomed. His exposure to events like the Chicago Marathon and other local races, combined with influential mentorship, solidified his career focus. Supik then pursued a family medicine residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he honed his expertise in adolescent development and sports medicine.

In a fitting full-circle moment, Dr. Supik returned to Cleveland to complete his sports medicine fellowship at Cleveland Clinic. His academic and professional journey led him to join the University of Minnesota's Department of Orthopedic Surgery in 2017, where he continues to provide sports medicine care to the Twin Cities community. 

So, you practice at the M Health Fairview Edina Clinic a few days a week. What kind of patients do you typically see in your practice, and is there a common injury you tend to see or treat?

Supik: Yes, I've been practicing in Edina for roughly three years. I see patients across the age spectrum, from infants under one year old—which isn’t typical for all sports medicine providers—all the way up to people in their nineties. In fact, I even have a couple of patients over 100 years old! Sports medicine is a bit of a misnomer because it’s not just about sports; it’s really about functional medicine. My goal is to help people live up to their physical potential, whether that’s in a sport or simply reaching certain activity goals. I do tend to see a lot of osteoarthritis, as well as tendon-related conditions, like tendonitis and tendinopathy.

How do you typically approach treating tendon conditions, and are there any newer procedures you're excited about?

Supik: Most tendon conditions can be treated non-surgically from start to finish, so I’m able to manage a wide range of cases. This includes overseeing rehabilitation and using various types of injections. In terms of newer procedures, there’s one I’m particularly excited about called TENEX™.  It is a percutaneous tenotomy procedure, which is a minimally invasive non-surgical option for treating those really recalcitrant or difficult tendinopathies that can sideline many of our aging athletes.  

I do bring patients from Edina to M Health Fairview’s Clinics & Surgery Center in Minneapolis to complete this procedure. Ultimately, our hope is to be able to perform it on-site at Edina or Burnsville, just to provide a little more proximity for our south suburban patients. 

You’re currently the only faculty member from the Department of Orthopedic Surgery practicing at the M Health Fairview Edina location. What attracted you to this particular clinic?

Supik: Edina was essentially an untapped space with an extraordinary amount of potential. There are so many people in the area who need care within the M Health Fairview system, and it’s been a real pleasure to fill that gap. We started from the ground up about three years ago, and since then, we've been steadily building, gaining momentum, and attracting talent. There’s a significant need for primary care sports medicine here, and we’ve just recently hired Dr. Lola Abdul, who started this past week. So now, we have two primary care sports medicine physicians at this location!

What unique capabilities or services does the Edina location offer, and how closely do you collaborate with other medical providers there?

Supik: We have a really skilled physical therapy and occupational therapy team on the Edina campus, which is a huge asset. In my clinic, we also have ultrasound capabilities and a well-equipped procedure room. We offer orthotics and prosthetics services, which are sometimes essential for bracing needs and other durable medical equipment (DME). Having these resources on-site is incredibly helpful. I work closely with the physical therapy team, and we’re in constant communication. We also have an excellent hand therapist, Kathleen Strawn, who’s been integral to many of my patients’ recovery.

Outside of your clinical practice, you also serve as the Medical Director for the Twin Cities Marathon, which just happened earlier in October. What drew you to get involved in supporting this major event?

Supik: Before becoming the Medical Director, I volunteered many times for the Marathon and also served as the Medical Director for a smaller, shorter local race called the Hot Dash. I’ve been involved with numerous running events throughout medical school and residency, as well.

I’m enamored by marathoners and their incredible ability to push themselves mentally and physically. That’s what draws me in and keeps me coming back to support the event—seeing people compete at that level is truly inspiring.

What are your responsibilities as Medical Director?

Supik: I first took on the role of Medical Director in 2022, so I just completed my third year. My primary responsibility is overseeing all medical coverage for the entire marathon weekend. With around 21,000 runners on Sunday and nearly 10,000 on Saturday, it’s crucial to ensure everything runs smoothly.

There are a lot of moving parts, and it’s similar to running a cabinet. I have Dr. Jake Kastner as my Assistant Medical Director, and we work with a Medical Operations Committee, where each member is responsible for different aspects of the race. We also have physical therapists involved, a Course Medical Director focusing specifically on the course itself, and about 275 medical volunteers staffing 14 medical tents along the route.  At the finish line, I oversee our main 55-bed medical tent. It’s a huge coordination effort, but incredibly rewarding.

What are the most common ailments you tend to see on Marathon Day?

Supik: Temperature plays a big role in determining the types of conditions we see. On hot days, we usually deal with heat stroke, heat-related illnesses, and electrolyte imbalances from excessive sweating. This year, with temperatures in the 60s, we saw a few cases of both hypothermia and hyperthermia.

Beyond that, there’s the standard set of ailments you expect in a marathon—stress-related injuries like stress fractures and sprains, as well as chafing, blistering, fatigue, nausea, and exercise-associated collapse, which is common in any long-distance race. Thankfully, we have an amazing team to treat most of these issues directly on-site!

If someone is looking to receive care, where can they find you?

Supik: I practice at three M Health Fairview locations including Edina, the Clinics & Surgery Center, and occasionally Maple Grove.

Learn more about M Health Fairview Edina Clinic | View Dr. Supik's M Health Profile