Mr Der Tavitian embarked on a career in orthopaedic surgery in 1996. He spent a year as an orthopaedic research fellow at Leicester/ Glenfield hospital and then 6 years as a higher surgical trainee at the Leicester Orthopaedic Trainees Association. After completing his FRCS in Orthopaedics in 2002, Mr Der Tavitian completed two upper limb fellowships. The first was in Perth, Australia, working with Dr Peter Hales while the second was for 6 months at Wrightington Hospital, an internationally renowned upper limb centre.

Mr Der Tavitian has presented research work at national and international meetings. He has published in peer reviewed medical journals. He trains junior doctors and orthopaedic surgeons in training. He is a member of the British Elbow and Shoulder Society and the British Orthopaedic Association.

He has a particular interest in upper limb sport injury, including joint instability and tendon and ligament injuries.