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Department Orthopaedic Surgery
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Children & Adolescents Only
Languages English
Surgeon Yes
Locations
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Primary Location

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Appointment:
216.444.2606
Desk:
216.444.2741
Fax:
216.445.3585
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Adolescent Orthopaedics
  • Benign Soft Tissue Tumor Surgery
  • Deformity Correction
  • Department of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Fracture Care
  • Interventional Spine Procedures
  • Knee Osteotomy
  • Lumbar Fusion
  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Orthopaedics
  • Pediatric Fracture Treatment
  • Pediatric Hip Surgery
  • Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Pediatric Orthopaedics
  • Scoliosis Surgery
  • Spinal Deformity Surgery
  • Spinal Surgery
  • Trauma Reconstruction
View all 18 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Clubfoot
  • Flatfoot in Children
  • Knee Injuries
  • Knee Pain
  • Kyphosis
  • Leg Length Inequality
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease
  • Marfan Syndrome
  • Muscular Dystrophy
  • Pediatric and Adolescent Hip Disorders
  • Pediatric Knee Injuries
  • Pediatric Knee Pain
  • Pediatric Scoliosis
  • Pediatric Spine Tumors
  • Scoliosis
  • Spina Bifida
  • Spinal Fractures
  • Spinal Muscular Atrophy
  • Spine Pain
  • Spondylosis
View all 20 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About 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 spondylolysis and listhesis. 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

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1995

Education & Fellowships

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

Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Orthopaedic Surgery
Cleveland, OH
1988

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

Internship - Cleveland Clinic
Orthopaedic Surgery
Cleveland, OH
1984

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

Undergraduate - Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR
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

Pediatric, 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

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

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 9/19/2024, Dr. Kuivila has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. 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

52 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
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Time Spent with Patient 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

13 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Sep 13, 2024

Dr. Kuivila is outstanding. He is a wonderful and very knowledgeable doctor and always goes above and beyond to make sure that his patient is treated and cared for properly. I highly recommend him with zero doubt.

Reviewed on Sep 13, 2024

Dr Kuivila is wonderful... His communication, both with the patient and the parent is amazing. Can was looking forward to seeing him. My son was initially very concerned with his fractured toe since he is very active in sports but talking to Dr Kuivila helped him so much. It was a great patient experience for us both clinically and non-clinically in each and every step.

Reviewed on Aug 20, 2024

Very caring. A thorough and knowledgeable exam. Great suggestions to help problem. Dr. Kuivila is the best!!

Reviewed on Aug 16, 2024

Dr. Kuivila is amazing. Thank you.

Reviewed on Aug 9, 2024

The dr was more than amazing. He took time with my son. Talked to him and explained everything to the both of us. Providers like him are extremely hard to find. I would highly recommend him

Reviewed on Jul 26, 2024

Dr Kuivila & his staff has been amazing

Reviewed on Apr 30, 2024

Dr. K and all of his staff are amazing! We come from Erie to receive the best care!

Reviewed on Apr 26, 2024

Dr. K is so great at what he does. He connects with the kids and is always so calm and kind.

Reviewed on Apr 16, 2024

Such a great and so knowledgeable doctor. We net him when Mariya was 5 years. Now she is almost 18

Reviewed on Apr 16, 2024

Honestly, I work at another major hospital in Cleveland and the care here and quickness to get an appointment was unmatched. The nurse Elizabeth was outstanding and Daniel the cast tech also made the experience calm and comfortable for my son when he was worried about his broken arm. The physician took more than adequate time to answer all of our questions and put our mind at ease about our sons bone healing.

Reviewed on Apr 12, 2024

Dr kuiliva Is very Knowledgeable he also he also works through complicated issues and comes up with a reasonable rational way of handling any medical concerns and issues. He listens to the patient he works diligently to make the best decision for my child's needs. He is much appreciated and I would recommend him to everyone I know.

Reviewed on Feb 2, 2024

I would definitely recommend Dr. K office and staff they all work together seamlessly.

Reviewed on Jan 5, 2024

Dr. Kuivila was very thorough, knowledgeable and helpful. Highly recommend him, definitely top notch!

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