Thomas Kuivila, MD
Primary Location
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
- Appointment:
- 216.444.2606
- Desk:
- 216.444.2741
- Fax:
- 216.445.3585
Additional Locations
Orthopaedic Surgery
Beachwood Family Health Center
26900 Cedar Road
Beachwood, OH 44122
Driving Directions
- Appointment:
- 216.444.2606
- Desk:
- 216.444.2741
- Fax:
- 216.445.3585
Center for Spine Health
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
Driving Directions
- Appointment:
- 216.444.2606
- Desk:
- 216.444.2741
- Fax:
- 216.445.3585
Orthopaedic Surgery
Mentor Medical Office Building
7060 Wayside Drive
Mentor, OH 44060
Driving Directions
- Appointment:
- 216.444.2606
- Desk:
- 216.444.2741
- Fax:
- 216.445.3585
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
Specialty in Diseases & Conditions
- Club Feet
- Flatfoot in Children
- Fractures
- 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
- Pediatric Trauma
- Scoliosis
- Spina Bifida
- Spinal Fractures
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Spine Pain
- Spondylosis
Insurance
Is Cleveland Clinic Part of Your Insurance?
Review a list of accepted insurance plans for our Northeast Ohio locations or learn more about purchasing a contracted managed care plan.
View All PlansAbout Thomas Kuivila, MD
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 Education - 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
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
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 7/16/2020, 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.
91 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Explains | 5 | |
| Listens | 5 | |
| Courtesy, Respect & Concern | 5 | |
| Time Spent with Patient | 5 | |
| Patient Rating of Doctor | 5 |
13 Patient Comments
© 2021 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be altered, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, by photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Cleveland Clinic.
Reviewed on Apr 16, 2021
Dr. Kuivila. Great bedside manner. Knowledgeable. We feel safe as parents when our daughter is in his care.
Reviewed on Apr 16, 2021
best doctor and his nurse Daby Coster
Reviewed on Mar 19, 2021
Dr. Kuivula is an amazing doctor. He is knowledgeable and connects with the kids in such a fun way. He always listens and is so personable!
Reviewed on Mar 2, 2021
*Dr. Kuivila is awesome. Listens, respectful, helpful and honest. Have recommended him a few time already.
Reviewed on Feb 12, 2021
he is by far the best doctor we have had. his staff Debbie rn is wonderful and so quick to respond to messages! he has provided the best care and compassion for our child
Reviewed on Feb 12, 2021
best doctor we could ask for. he truest is compassionate about his work and cares for his patients .
Reviewed on Dec 18, 2020
We have a great doctor! We are so happy that we have great experience. We recommend this care provider to others.
Reviewed on Nov 3, 2020
Great experience from all aspects. Dr. Kuivila was very thorough in his exam and informative in answering all questions and concerns. would highly recommend.
Reviewed on Oct 6, 2020
Fast appt times; no long wait for appt; Dr was wonderful - we are very impressed
Reviewed on Aug 7, 2020
He was absolutely amazing. I would give him 10's if I could. He was very kind and actually listened. Fantastic doctor!!
Reviewed on Jul 31, 2020
every experience with Dr Kuivila has been phenomenal, we are so thankful for him and his care of our child
Reviewed on Jul 31, 2020
i am beyond impressed with our Doctor and his approach.
Reviewed on Jun 30, 2020
he made everything very easy and made us feel comfortable. my daughter cries anytime she sees a nurse or doctor but not on Tuesday! she didn't cry till they had to put the boot on her.