Paul J. Switaj, MD

Specialties

Physician assistants / nurse practitioners

OrthoVirginia Offices

Dr. Paul Switaj specializes in foot and ankle surgery. He was drawn to orthopedic surgery since it gives patients relief quickly and chose foot and ankle surgery since it allows him to work with a wide variety of patients who have many different conditions. Getting to know his patients as individuals is the most rewarding part of his job. He also likes the collegial atmosphere of orthopedics and working as part of a team to get his patients back to doing what they love.

Read Dr. Switaj’s full bio

Paul J. Switaj, M.D.

Make an Appointment with Dr. Switaj

for Foot & Ankle, Trauma Care

using MyChart

Or call
703-277-2663

Bio

As far back as he can remember, Dr. Switaj wanted to practice medicine. He always loved science and considered medical school a natural fit. After rotating through every specialty, he opted for orthopedics because it produces tangible results for patients in a short period of time. He was drawn to foot and ankle surgery for the variety of conditions he could treat including sports injuries, fractures, arthritis and tendon disorders.

Dr. Switaj is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame and earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he received the John N. Delahay Award for Outstanding Achievement in Orthopaedic Surgery. He returned to the Midwest to complete his orthopedic surgery residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, where he was selected Chief Resident. This was followed by a fellowship at the internationally renowned Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore under the tutelage of surgeons Rebecca Cerrato, MD; John Campbell, MD; Clifford Jeng, MD; and Mark Myerson, MD.

As a foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Switaj enjoys the variability in his practice and the wide range of patients he interacts with every day – from children with painful flatfeet to grandmothers with ankle arthritis. Getting to know his patients as individuals is the most rewarding part of his job. He also likes the collegial atmosphere of orthopedics and working as part of a team to get his patients back to doing what they love.

He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. When not at work, Dr. Switaj spends as much time as possible with his wife and three young daughters. He also enjoys hiking, golf and tennis.

Education & Training

  • Mercy Medical Center, Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction, Fellowship
  • Northwestern University, Residency
  • Georgetown University, Medical Degree
  • University of Notre Dame, Bachelor’s Degree

Certifications

  • Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery

ABOS board certified in orthopedic surgery

Hospital & Team Affiliations

  • Fair Oaks Hospital
  • Reston Hospital Center
  • Stone Springs
  • Team Physician, Westfield High School

Organizations & Awards

  • Voted Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine, 2023
  • Voted Top Doctor by Virginia Living Magazine 2022
  • John N. Delahay Award for Outstanding Achievement in Orthopaedic Surgery (Georgetown University School of Medicine)
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Resident Scholarship
  • Chief Resident, Northwestern University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Membership Committee Member
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Young Physicians Committee Member

Treatments

  • Achilles tendon rupture and tendonitis surgeries
  • Ankle and hindfoot reconstruction
  • Ankle arthroscopy
  • Ankle sprain and fracture surgeries
  • Arthritis (foot and ankle) surgeries
  • Bony stress reactions/stress fractures surgery
  • Broken collarbone surgery
  • Bunion correction
  • Cartilage reconstruction procedures
  • Cartilage restoration
  • Cartiva for hallux rigidus
  • Cheilectomy
  • Diabetic charcot reconstruction
  • Diabetic foot issues
  • Fixation of pathologic fractures
  • Foot and ankle – clubfoot, flatfoot
  • Foot and ankle surgery
  • Foot callus/corns surgery
  • Foot pain treatments
  • Foot ulcers and lesions
  • Fractures of the talus surgery
  • Geriatric orthopedics – fragility fracture care
  • Hammertoe repairs
  • Hand, wrist and elbow trauma
  • Heel pain treatments
  • Lisfranc fracture/dislocation surgery
  • Minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair
  • Minimally invasive bunion repair
  • Non-operative arthritis (foot and ankle) treatment
  • Non-operative bony stress reactions/stress fractures treatment
  • Non-operative bunion treatment
  • Non-operative claw and hammer toe treatments
  • Non-operative flat foot treatments
  • Non-operative foot and ankle treatments
  • Non-operative foot callus/corn treatment
  • Non-operative fracture of the talus treatment
  • Non-operative hand fracture treatment
  • Non-operative knee arthritis treatment
  • Non-operative Lisfranc fracture/dislocation treatment
  • Non-operative posterior tibial tendonitis treatment
  • Non-operative stiff big toe
  • Non-operative tarsal tunnel syndrome treatment
  • Non-operative wrist fracture treatment
  • Olceranon fracture surgery
  • Orthopedic trauma surgery
  • Osteoarthritis treatment
  • Osteoporosis care
  • Periarticular fracture care
  • Periprosthetic fracture care
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy
  • Posterior tibial tendonitis
  • Post-surgical problem fractures – nonunion and malunion treatments
  • R.I.C.E. – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate
  • Shin splints treatment
  • Shockwave therapy
  • Tendon joint injections
  • Tenex/FAST procedures
  • Total ankle replacement

Video: Get to Know Dr. Switaj

As far back as he can remember, Dr. Switaj wanted to practice medicine. He always loved science and considered medical school a natural fit. After rotating through every specialty, he opted for orthopedics because it produces tangible results for patients in a short period of time. He was drawn to foot and ankle surgery for the variety of conditions he could treat including sports injuries, fractures, arthritis and tendon disorders.

Dr. Switaj is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Notre Dame and earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine, where he received the John N. Delahay Award for Outstanding Achievement in Orthopaedic Surgery. He returned to the Midwest to complete his orthopedic surgery residency at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, where he was selected Chief Resident. This was followed by a fellowship at the internationally renowned Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore under the tutelage of surgeons Rebecca Cerrato, MD; John Campbell, MD; Clifford Jeng, MD; and Mark Myerson, MD.

As a foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Switaj enjoys the variability in his practice and the wide range of patients he interacts with every day – from children with painful flatfeet to grandmothers with ankle arthritis. Getting to know his patients as individuals is the most rewarding part of his job. He also likes the collegial atmosphere of orthopedics and working as part of a team to get his patients back to doing what they love.

He is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society. When not at work, Dr. Switaj spends as much time as possible with his wife and three young daughters. He also enjoys hiking, golf and tennis.

  • Mercy Medical Center, Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction, Fellowship
  • Northwestern University, Residency
  • Georgetown University, Medical Degree
  • University of Notre Dame, Bachelor’s Degree

Certifications

  • Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery

ABOS board certified in orthopedic surgery

  • Fair Oaks Hospital
  • Reston Hospital Center
  • Stone Springs
  • Team Physician, Westfield High School

  • Voted Top Doctor by Washingtonian Magazine, 2023
  • Voted Top Doctor by Virginia Living Magazine 2022
  • John N. Delahay Award for Outstanding Achievement in Orthopaedic Surgery (Georgetown University School of Medicine)
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Resident Scholarship
  • Chief Resident, Northwestern University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
  • American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Membership Committee Member
  • American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Young Physicians Committee Member

  • Achilles tendon rupture and tendonitis surgeries
  • Ankle and hindfoot reconstruction
  • Ankle arthroscopy
  • Ankle sprain and fracture surgeries
  • Arthritis (foot and ankle) surgeries
  • Bony stress reactions/stress fractures surgery
  • Broken collarbone surgery
  • Bunion correction
  • Cartilage reconstruction procedures
  • Cartilage restoration
  • Cartiva for hallux rigidus
  • Cheilectomy
  • Diabetic charcot reconstruction
  • Diabetic foot issues
  • Fixation of pathologic fractures
  • Foot and ankle – clubfoot, flatfoot
  • Foot and ankle surgery
  • Foot callus/corns surgery
  • Foot pain treatments
  • Foot ulcers and lesions
  • Fractures of the talus surgery
  • Geriatric orthopedics – fragility fracture care
  • Hammertoe repairs
  • Hand, wrist and elbow trauma
  • Heel pain treatments
  • Lisfranc fracture/dislocation surgery
  • Minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair
  • Minimally invasive bunion repair
  • Non-operative arthritis (foot and ankle) treatment
  • Non-operative bony stress reactions/stress fractures treatment
  • Non-operative bunion treatment
  • Non-operative claw and hammer toe treatments
  • Non-operative flat foot treatments
  • Non-operative foot and ankle treatments
  • Non-operative foot callus/corn treatment
  • Non-operative fracture of the talus treatment
  • Non-operative hand fracture treatment
  • Non-operative knee arthritis treatment
  • Non-operative Lisfranc fracture/dislocation treatment
  • Non-operative posterior tibial tendonitis treatment
  • Non-operative stiff big toe
  • Non-operative tarsal tunnel syndrome treatment
  • Non-operative wrist fracture treatment
  • Olceranon fracture surgery
  • Orthopedic trauma surgery
  • Osteoarthritis treatment
  • Osteoporosis care
  • Periarticular fracture care
  • Periprosthetic fracture care
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy
  • Posterior tibial tendonitis
  • Post-surgical problem fractures – nonunion and malunion treatments
  • R.I.C.E. – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate
  • Shin splints treatment
  • Shockwave therapy
  • Tendon joint injections
  • Tenex/FAST procedures
  • Total ankle replacement

Visit
Dr. Switaj's Full Website