Skip navigation

David Reese O'Brien, MD

  • Spine
  • Orthopaedics
AboutConditions & TreatmentsLocationsCredentialsInsurancesResearch InterestsBack to Top

About

Practicing Specialties

Languages

English

Biography

“My team specializes in the diagnosis of various spine, sports and musculoskeletal injuries and pain. We focus on minimally invasive, non-surgical treatments to improve patients’ quality of life.”

Dr. David O’Brien, Jr., is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain medicine. Conditions he treats include spine and sports injuries, disc herniations, joint pain, arm or leg pain and sciatica. He specializes in the non-operative evaluation and treatment of various back, neck and joint problems. He performs minimally invasive procedures, injections and tests to evaluate and treat patients with numbness, weakness or pain in their joints, arms, legs or spine.

He is an associate professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation and in the Department of Neurosurgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He is chief of medical spine and the fellowship director for interventional spine and musculoskeletal medicine. Dr. O’Brien serves in multiple leadership positions for Atrium Health, including the spine center of excellence executive and steering committees.

Dr. O’Brien’s research focuses on spine and back pain.

He is the director of the only interventional spine and musculoskeletal fellowship recognized by the North American Spine Society in the Carolinas.

He has served as course chair and faculty for dozens of courses in at least 8 countries and has presented over 120 times nationally and internationally on back pain, sports injuries and healthcare policy.

Currently, Dr. O’Brien serves on the board of directors for the North American Spine Society. He was a past board member of the International Pain and Spine Intervention Society. In addition to publishing numerous articles and book chapters, he serves on the editorial board for the publications The Spine Journal and Interventional Pain Medicine.

He received his medical degree at Indiana University. He completed residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Cincinnati and a fellowship at Portner Orthopaedic Rehabilitation.

Away from work, he and his family enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, golfing and being on the water.

Conditions and Treatments

Ratings and Reviews

Locations

Credentials

Education

Indiana University School of Medicine, MD, 1991

Positions

Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation (Winston-Salem), Associate ProfessorWake Forest School of Medicine, Associate Professor, Neurological Surgery (Winston-Salem)Section Head for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Spine, Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation

Accepted Insurance

This chart is a list of the most common health insurance plans we accept. This list is subject to change. Please check your individual plan to confirm their participation and the coverage allowed.

Due to the different physician groups and hospitals within the Wake Forest Baptist system, physician services and hospital services are billed separately. Please remember that health insurance coverage varies, so some services may not be covered.

If you don’t see your plan or you have questions, please call our Customer Service Center at 877-938-7497. We will do our best to work with you and your plan.

Key

WFUHS - Wake Forest University Health Sciences (professional services)
NCBH
- North Carolina Baptist Hospital (Includes Davie)
LMC
- Lexington Medical Center
CHC
- Cornerstone Healthcare
Wilkes
- Wilkes Regional Medical Center
HPR
- High Point Regional
N/A
- Not applicable to services provided at facility and/or CHC
NC
-Not Contracted, very low to no volume for facility and/or CHC


Wake Forest Baptist Health Managed Care/MA Contracts - April 2024

AETNA CONNECTED NC ACA/Exchange: Accepted at all locations

AETNA NC PREFERRED+: Accepted at all locations

AETNA (PPO & HMO): Accepted at all locations

AETNA MEDICARE: Accepted at all locations

AETNA WHOLE HEALTH: Accepted at all locations

ALIGNMENT HEALTHCARE MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at all locations

AMBETTER OF NC: Accepted at all locations

AMERIHEALTH CARITAS NEXT ACA/Exchange: Accepted at all locations 

BCBSNC (PPO & HMO): Accepted at all locations

BCBS HIGH PERFORMANCE (NATIONAL NETWORK): Accepted at all locations

BLUE LOCAL WITH ATRIUM HEALTH: Accepted at all locations

BLUE MEDICARE: Accepted at all locations

BLUE VALUE: Accepted at all locations

CAROLINA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and CHC (not applicable to services provided at LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

CIGNA: Accepted at all locations

CIGNA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and High Point (not applicable to services provided at LMC, CHC and Wilkes)

CIGNA HEALTHSPRING MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, LMC, CHC and High Point (not applicable to services provided at Wilkes)

CIGNA LIFESOURCE (TRANSPLANTS): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point) 

CRESCENT PPO (ASHEVILLE): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

DEVOTED HEALTH (MEDICARE ADVANTAGE): Accepted at all locations

DIRECT NET:
Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, LMC, Wilkes and High Point (not contracted, very low to no volume for CHC)

FIRST HEALTH NETWORK: Accepted at NCBH, LMC, Wilkes and High Point (not contracted, very low to no volume for WFUHS and CHC)

FIRSTCAROLINACARE (PINEHURST, NC): Accepted at NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for WFUHS, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

GATEWAY HEALTH ALLIANCE (VIRGINIA): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point) 

HEALTHGRAM (formerly PRIMARY PHYSICIAN CARE): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and LMC (not contracted, very low to no volume for CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

HEALTHTEAM ADVANTAGE: Accepted at all locations

HUMANA CHOICECARE: Accepted at all locations

HUMANA MEDICARE ADVANTAGE: Accepted at all locations

LIBERTY ADVANTAGE (MEDICARE ADVANTAGE): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

MAGELLAN (BEHAVIORAL HEALTH): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and CHC (not applicable to services provided at LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

MEDCOST: Accepted at all locations

MEDCOST ULTRA: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, LMC, Wilkes and High Point (not applicable at CHC)

PHCS/MULTIPLAN: Accepted at NCBH, CHC, LMC and High Point (not contracted, very low to no volume for WFUHS and Wilkes)

OPTUMHEALTH (TRANSPLANTS - APPLICABLE TO NCBH/WFUHS ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not applicable to services provided at LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

PREFERRED CARE OF VA INC: Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

SOUTHERN HEALTH SVCS (COVENTRY-PPO ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH and CHC (not contracted, very low to no volume for LMC, Wilkes and High Point)

TWIN COUNTY (VIRGINIA): Accepted at WFUHS and NCBH (not contracted, very low to no volume for LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

UNITED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Accepted at WFUHS, NCBH, CHC and High Point (not applicable to services provided at LMC and Wilkes)

UNITED BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT PROGRAM (WFUHS ONLY): Accepted at WFUHS (not applicable for services provided at NCBH, LMC, CHC, Wilkes and High Point)

UNITED HEALTHCARE: Accepted at all locations

UNITED HEALTHCARE ESSENTIALS ACA/EXCHANGE: Accepted at all locations

UNITED HEALTHCARE MEDICARE: Accepted at all locations

VA CCN: Accepted at all locations

WELLCARE (MEDICARE ADVANTAGE): Accepted at all locations

 

LMC ONLY: Contracts specific to support Lexington employer groups, low volume
NATIONAL PROVIDER NETWORK/MEDICAL RESOURCES

 

CHC ONLY: Contracts specific to support CHC
TRICARE


Key 

WFUHS - Wake Forest University Health Sciences (professional services)
NCBH - North Carolina Baptist Hospital (Includes Davie)
LMC - Lexington Medical Center
CHC - Cornerstone Healthcare
Wilkes - Wilkes Regional Medical Center
HPR- High Point Regional
N/A - Not applicable to services provided at facility and/or CHC
NC - Not Contracted, very low to no volume for facility and/or CHC

Research Interests

Spine

Publications