About Dr. David Earle
Dr. Earle founded the New England Hernia Center as a private practice, specifically to allow him the ability to practice quality over quantity, a concept increasingly uncommon in large medical centers. His clinical practice has been focused on hernia disease since 1996, and emphasizes a patient-focused approach, centered on the principle of establishing and aligning the goals of the individual patient with the health care team. His unique algorithm can be used for virtually any type of hernia. In addition to being the Director of the New England Hernia center, Dr. Earle is an Associate Professor of Surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine, and has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed publications in medical journals, book chapters, and invited lectures at national and international conferences. He has edited a surgical textbook as well as an online program that is an American Board of Surgery requirement for all graduating General Surgery trainees (FLS) in the United States. He served six years on the Board of Governors for the Americas Hernia Society and has worked as a Medical Officer for the US Food and Drug Administration, and is involved in the development of several new surgical devices, many associated with hernia repair.
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He has been a longstanding Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, and member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He has been involved in hundreds of peer reviewed scientific and clinical journal articles, scientific meeting presentations, invited lectures, and faculty for surgeon courses around the globe. He has written over a dozen book chapters in the field of minimally invasive surgery and hernia repair, and recently co-edited a textbook of Natural Orifice Surgery. He is also on the editorial advisory board of the popular General Surgery News publication distributed to every general surgeon in the United States.
His interest in surgical education has taken him to the far reaches of the globe, with substantial volunteer surgical experience and education on five continents. In 2017, he spent a year working for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a medical office in the Division of Surgical Devices. He was recently completed his tenure as Chief Medical Officer for the healthcare analytics company Surgical Momentum, which has recently become CQ Insights, and is the Western Massachusetts Regional Medical Advisor for the National Ski Patrol.
Dr. Earle founded the New England Hernia Center as a private practice, specifically to allow him the ability to practice quality over quantity, a concept increasingly impeded in large medical centers. His clinical practice has been focused on hernia disease since 1996, and emphasizes a patient focused approach, centered on the principle of establishing and aligning the goals of the individual patient with the health care team.
His hobbies include spending time with family, mountaineering, mountain biking, snowboarding, photography, and playing guitar.
Testimonials
You’re a magician. Thank you!
AS – Nobody else would have fixed my hernia. I am so grateful.
PC – I’m so glad we came here from overseas. This was so much better than my other hernia operations. Thank you!
SH – I was so worried because my colleagues all had horror stories about hernia surgery. One week after surgery, they were all amazed I was back at work and moving around normally. I’m super impressed. Thank you.
JC – I thank God I found you when I did. And thank you for fixing me.
- I saw several surgeons before coming to Dr. Earle. The last one I saw said I needed to see the Godfather of hernias, and referred me to the New England Hernia Center. Then you found my rare hernia, and I knew I wasn’t crazy. Thank you! – DB
- I’m still waiting for the other doctor to get back to me, but after your surgery, I feel great. Thank you! – YS
- My friends didn’t believe I just had surgery. I told them that’s because I had a magician for a surgeon. – KB
- I hated living like I was, and now I’m a million times better. Thank you! – KB
- I’m very happy I don’t have to press on my groin every time I cough and sneeze. – DE
- 6 other surgeons refused to operate. You fixed me. I am sincerely grateful. – MM
- You are the most thorough doctor I have ever been to. Thank you!
- You literally saved my life by fixing my botched hernia repair. Thank you!
- Compared to the other surgeons I’ve seen, this was like night and day. Thank you!
- I thought the recovery would be a lot worse. It was overall a cool experience. I just want to tell you that you’re the best! — SZ (inguinal hernia repair)
- The whole process was much better than I thought it would be. –EP (inguinal hernia repair)
- My preoperative jabbing pain is completely gone. — PH (inguinal plug mesh removal)
- My discomfort is completely gone and I am able to do everything normal. I am very happy about my decision to have this hernia repaired. — JR (ventral hernia repair)
- Until the day that I die, I will believe it was God that put us together. Thanks Doc! – JL
- My surgery was definitely a success! – VM
- A lot of people think you need to go to Boston for the best care, but you don’t. Thank you for taking care of my hernia, it couldn’t have been better. – GM
- A colleague was having big troubles with failed hernia repairs. I told him to see Dr. Earle, because if he can’t fix it, nobody can. Now it’s fixed and he couldn’t be better. – AC
- My doctor thought I had a hernia that need to be repaired. I saw Dr. Earle, and he said there’s no hernia and I didn’t need surgery. Made my day! – GP
- I was nervous because I never had surgery before. You put me at ease and things turned out better much than expected. Thank you! – JM
“Your legend lives on!”
Thank you for being a beacon of hope to us. 
“I trust you 110%”
You listened when others wouldn’t. Thank you!
Dr. Earle removed my mesh and rebuilt my abdominal wall after years of pain. It has been four years. He gave me my life back.
My trauma surgeon told me that a repair would be risky and carried a good chance of failure; he encouraged me to live with it. A medical colleague recommended that I consult Dr. Earle, to whom his entire countywide surgical group referred their patients with similar hernias. Dr. Earle repaired my hernia, and I can button my pants without lying flat. One year later, I am running, biking, swimming, and am ready to take on my stand up paddleboard.
Thank you all for everything you have done. You have given my life back and appreciate everything you all have done for me.
It may have been something simple to you… but it meant everything to me.
Thank you for listening to me and going ahead with the surgery even though all the tests kept coming back negative. You are truly patient driven and I’m so grateful you were able to determine the source of my pain. Thank you for all of your humor during my visits, phone calls, the day of surgery & post-op appt. I have not ever met a team that kept striving for an answer. Thank you for all you have done!
- Thanks for another year of caring!
Thank you for moving up my surgery and taking care of me during surgery. (Also Pre & Post) Just a gift for you and your family. Enjoy! You are the best!
Thank you so much for the wonderful job done on my surgery. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, Enjoy!
Thanks for all you have done over the years and not giving up on me. Always your #1 fan.
Merry Christmas to you Dr. Earle. You are special to me. I hope by the grace of God you live a good and special life.
Just want to thank you for all the help and info you gave to me and my daughter.
I will be forever grateful to you for the surgery you performed a year ago. Having the operation, at long last, changed my life. Thank you again.
Dear Dr. Earle, Not only have you given me a new life, you have given me a happy and quality life. Thank you and God bless.
Thank you so very much for your expert and wonderful care. I appreciate everything – especially my new body!!
You are an excellent surgeon and our daughter learned so much from you during the last year. One of the most important skills she observed was your willingness to listen to your patients and your incredible ability to connect to them as people.
I can’t believe what you were able to accomplish by using Dysport to repair my hernias.
You have been wonderful to me, you saved my life and I will always remember that. You have not only been my doctor, but a friend to me for the rest of my life.
We want to thank you so much for everything you did. Dr. Earle you’re wonderful. God blessed you with your talent. Your staff is so kind and willing to help.
On my way home from my one-year follow-up appointment, I kept thinking about how lucky I am to have had you repair my ventral hernia. It had been bothering me for years & and now I don’t ever have to think about it! I want to tell you how much I appreciate your skill & how much you care! It’s really obvious to me that your work means a great deal to you. P.S. I love your sense of humor too! THANK YOU!!
I would like to thank everyone for treating me well, during the time with my office visits & surgery. I am doing very well so far.
Thank you so much. I was really pleased with your care and expertise, because this was much more than a hernia to me.
Thank you very much for making a vast improvement in my life.
I was just cleaning up some old files and came across his written report of my operation. I looked him up and found this place to do a review. He did a great job explaining what was wrong and what the operation and recovery would be like. It has been almost five years and all is well. Highly recommend him.
“I am so fortunate to have found you”
I had surgery performed by him on a massive hernia that other doctors turned their backs on including those at Mass General. He was confident, professional and made me feel at ease where others left me wondering. Excellent work, no issues and great bedside manor. Continues to follow up with me.
“He is a surgical expert who is knowledgeable in Groin hernia, Hiatal hernia, Hernia repair, Hernia, Gastroesophageal reflux disease. We are fortunate to have him.”
“Thank you a thousand, million times.”
As a wife, I will tell you my husband is one tough nut to crack, but he really heard you! Your caring and deep knowledge are a blessing to us.
I’m thrilled I did it, and it was an impressively quick recovery.
The best of the best!
Throughout my life, you were an important chapter.
Thank you so very much for your dedication and patience. How we wish most doctors were like you and your staff.
THANK YOU for the successful surgery. It has given him back his confidence and quality of life.
Thank you for listening, and treating us like intelligent adults.
I am able to play my saxaphone again, and am thrilled. Thank you!
My regular doctor told me it was too risky to fix my hernia and relieve my pain, but you fixed it, and now I am pain free. You are the best doctor I’ve had since I was a little girl.
4 1/2 years ago you performed life-saving surgery on me, for which I am eternally grateful!
You are the best doctor I have seen in the past 25 years. I’m serious.
Given the complexity of this recurrent hernia, I think it would be best to get a second opinion from Dr. David Earle at the New England Hernia Center.
What you did to fix my hernia is like a miracle. I’ve seen so many doctors, and waited so long. Now that it’s done, I’m so happy, I just want to cry.
Thank you for your wonderful care and expertise for bilateral inguinal hernias. We appreciate your 100% patient oriented approach. You are our favorite doctor.
As far as I’m concerned, you’re a miracle worker.
“Truly an asset to the Medical Community. A true national leader in General Surgery.”
I can’t thank you enough. I’m so glad I found you. I thought I was going to have to live the rest of my life like this.
I feel so much better than with my previous hernias repairs. And this one worked! What’s not to love?
I suffered with heartburn for 20 years, frequently waking up at night choking on acid from my stomach. After I had my hiatal hernia repaired, my symptoms are gone! I only wish I did this years ago.
For 20 years I suffered, and everyone told me NO, even in Boston. You listened and operated for my pain, adhesions, and hernias. The results were better than I could have imagined, and I can’t thank you enough.
Now I can bend over and pick something up without pain, and there’s no more lump – it’s perfect.
Thank you so much.
You made a very difficult situation much easier. You are a wonderful man and excellent surgeon.
Thank you!
It was worth the trip from Rhode Island. I made this magnet for you to say thank you.
This was the best surgery I’ve ever had.
“You are amazing. You are the best doctor I’ve ever seen in my life.”
I felt like my concerns were heard, and everything was taken care of before the operation. This was much better than any of my previous operations on all levels.
“Thank you for listening to me”
I can’t remember a lot of things these days, but I’ll never forget November 18th, 2021. That was the day my life changed for the better. Thank you!
“Besides his astonishing skills as a surgeon, he communicated with me to an extent no other surgeon ever has”.
“I was hoping I would find someone like you”. 
“I will 1000% return to him with any future issues or needs and would absolutely refer him to anyone needing care”
We are amazed you were able to do what we were told was not possible by one of the best hospitals in the country. THANK YOU!
Out of all the operations and complications I had, your hernia repair was the best. It’s still holding and I have no pain after all these years. — April 2023
I left the other surgeon’s office crying after being told how bad it was, then I saw you. “You gave me my life back – THANK YOU”.
“You are my most favorite doctor ever”
“I’m in the medical field, and I’m going to say you are the best there is”.
Dr. Earle is the best in all of New England, maybe more.
“That was the best explanation of a medical issue I’ve ever heard by a doctor.”
You helped me tremendously, that’s why I’m back. I have full confidence in you – 100%.
– May 2023
Every doctor I’ve ever seen has given up on me, but not Dr. Earle. It’s like a miracle…for me. 
I don’t trust any other surgeons. They all didn’t do what they said they would do.
Dr. Earle actually did.
So thank you.
I saw 7-8 General Surgeons in New Hampshire and Massachusetts,
and they all said it couldn’t be fixed.
Dr. Earle fixed it.
I am fully back to all normal activity, including work, after you repaired my previous failed hernia operations. My previous surgeon told me nothing could be done and I couldn’t lift anything over 40 lbs. for the rest of my life. Thank you for giving me my life back.
I didn’t realize how much my hernia hurt until it was gone. Thank you!
“You’ve taught me more about hiatal hernias than any doctor I’ve ever seen”.
Dr. Earle did an A+++ job.
Gracias!
“It’s like a dream to have met you. It’s our lucky day”.
“I tell everyone I know about your expertise in hernia repair”.
“Please accept my sincere thankfulness for your surgery on me in Mongolia”
Of course I’m happy I repaired my hernia. Now I don’t have to worry about it anymore.
“I feel like a found a diamond in the rough”.
Thank you!
None of my doctors listened to me for over a year. You did. Then you fixed the problem, and now I’m better. Thank you!
I’m so glad I found you. I put off hernia repair way too long, and should have listened to my wife. Now that my hernias are fixed, everything is perfect. Thank you!
Before I went to the New England Hernia Center, 4 nurses, 2 surgeons, 1 PA and 1 primary care all told me nothing was wrong. After my surgery with Dr. Earle, I am almost completely better. I can’t thank you enough.
Thank you for your outstanding explanation. I would have thought someone would have done that before with all my previous hernia repairs and complications. I finally understand.
Do you know how rare you are?
I really appreciate the time you’ve taken and the way you’ve explained everything. 
I wouldn’t be in the place I am if it wasn’t for you. I am now hiking with friends who are trying to keep up with me. Thank you!
Resource Library
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a hernia?
A hernia is a natural or man-made hole (from a previous operation) in the muscles and connective tissue that keep our abdominal organs in place. Organs and tissue can protrude through the hole, and appear as a lump under the skin, or just cause pain. The hole can be in the groin (inguinal or femoral hernia), front of the abdominal wall (ventral, umbilical or incisional hernia), or diaphragm (hiatal hernia). There are many other types of less common hernia types and locations as well.
How do I know if I have a hernia?
Most hernias can be diagnosed by your primary care provider. A thorough evaluation by an experienced hernia surgeon is sometimes necessary. Typically there is a lump under the skin that increases in size when standing, and decreases when lying down. If you can push on the lump and have it “disappear”, it may be a hernia. The lump may or may not be painful. Sometimes it can even sound like there is air and liquid in the lump, suggesting part of the intestine is protruding
How do you treat hernias?
The only treatment for a hernia is surgical repair. However, not all hernias necessarily need to be repaired. And there are many types of repair techniques available. What happened with a hernia to someone you know, or even to yourself previously, is frequently not what would happen here. We will apply our unique algorithm to your unique situation to see what is best for you.
What of I think I have a problem from a previous hernia repair?
The first call if you think there is a problem from a hernia repair should be to the surgeon that performed the repair. If you think additional or ongoing diagnosis and possible treatment is necessary, we would be happy to see you for a consultation to help sort out the problem.
Can I still see you for a consultation if you are not listed as a doctor with my insurance company?
Yes you can. We see many patients from outside of our area, including those that are out of network. We can usually get an out-of-network approval before your visit. Just call ahead of time, and we can help you navigate this process.
What if I need an operation, and you are not listed as a doctor with my insurance company?
We operate on many patients from outside of our area, including those that are out of network. We can usually get an out-of-network approval before your operation. We will get all the information necessary at the time of consultation if an operation would be best for you.
Will I have my operation at the initial visit?
No. The initial visit is a consultation to determine your unique situation, your specific goals, and what options are available. While we can repair almost any hernia, not all hernias need to be repaired. Additionally, we see some patients previously diagnosed with a hernia, that actually do not have a hernia.
Contact The Office
Get in Touch
Reach the Office
Address
73 Princeton Street, Suite 207A, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01854
Easy access from Route 3. Plenty of free parking. Enter at the West Entrance, and take the elevator or stairs to the second floor. We’re about halfway down the hallway, just past the big red wheel. There’s also a restaurant adjacent to the building that serves good food.
contact@NewEngland-Hernia.com
Phone
(978) 893-7662
Fax
(978) 267-6625
