Thomas Kuivila, MD

Thomas Kuivila, MD, is Staff Physician, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic. He is the Vice Chair for Education of the Orthopaedic & Rheumatologic Institute and is the Residency Program Director in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Kuivila’s special interests include congenital and developmental spinal disorders to include scoliosis, kyphosis and sponylolysis and lithesis. He is also an expert in pediatric orthopaedic traumatology. His research interests include bioabsorbable fixation and minimally invasive scoliosis surgery.

He did his orthopaedic surgery residency at Cleveland Clinic, served as an A-O international orthopaedic traumatology fellow in Graz, Austria and was a pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellow at Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I. Dr. Kuivila then spent six years in the United States Air Force Medical Corps. There, he served as Orthopaedic Department Chairman at Keesler U.S.A.F. Medical Center in Biloxi, Miss., and subsequently as the Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at Wilford Hall U.S.A.F. Medical Center in San Antonio, Tex.

While in San Antonio, he was also the U.S.A.F. residency program director in orthopaedic surgery and a consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General. Dr. Kuivila brings to the department considerable experience and expertise in the management of complex acquired and congenital pediatric and adolescent orthopaedic disorders of the spine and extremities.

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1995

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine
Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
Providence, RI USA
1989

Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Orthopaedic Surgery
Cleveland, OH USA
1988

Fellowship - Universitat Klinik fur Unfallchirugie, Landeskrankenhaus
Traumatology
Graz,
1987

Internship - Cleveland Clinic
Orthopaedic Surgery
Cleveland, OH USA
1984

Medical School - Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine
Portland, OR USA
1983

Undergraduate - Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR USA
1979

Professional Highlights

Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program, Cleveland Clinic
Distinguished Teaching Award, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Golden Apple Teaching Award

Certifications

Orthopaedic Surgery

Specialty Interests

CPediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Spinal Surgery; Pediatric Orthopaedic Trauma and Post-Traumatic Deformity

Awards & Honors

Best Doctors in America, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, 2003-2011

Memberships

American Orthopaedic Association
Fellow, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons

Research & Publications

See publications for Thomas Kuivila, MD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 6/9/2017, Dr. Kuivila has reported no financial relationship with industry that is applicable to this listing. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

59 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall		Star Ratings 4.9 out of 5
Explains	4.9
Listens	4.9
Courtesy, Respect & Concern	4.9
Knows Medical History	4.8
Time Spent with Patient	4.8
Patient Rating of Doctor	4.8

6 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Oct 20, 2017

Dr. Kuivila and his team are amazing! he's very knowledgeable about my sons illness and I'm so glad we started going to him

Reviewed on Jul 18, 2017

Doctor Thomas E. Kuivila is the best doctor in Cleveland Clinic. He brought the smile on my daughter face. Thank you so much!

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2017

Dr. Kuivila was excellent. His bedside approach should be the model for all surgeons.

Reviewed on Jun 27, 2017

Dr. Kuivila and his staff are excellent and caring. Dr. Kuivila spent a lot of time answering our questions & concerns.

Reviewed on May 2, 2017

Dr. K and his nurse, as was as the hospital staff were all amazing with my 4 year old. Thank you to them!!!

Reviewed on Apr 28, 2017

MD Kuivila & staff are very professional. All health care facilities should be this efficient!

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About Thomas Kuivila, MD