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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

  • Club Feet
  • 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 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

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

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 5/15/2023, 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

79 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 5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Time Spent with Patient 4.3
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

14 Patient Comments

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!

Reviewed on Sep 22, 2023

The Dr. Was very kind and understanding of my son's needs. We were very happy with our virtual visit.

Reviewed on Sep 12, 2023

The doctor was so nice and explained everything the he was going to do at this appointment and in the future for my son. I would definitely recommend him!!

Reviewed on Sep 12, 2023

I will definitely recommend this staff and doctor to others! They were awesome!

Reviewed on Aug 8, 2023

Marked "fair" because we waited for almost 45 minutes for the doctor to appear.

Reviewed on Jun 9, 2023

Dr Kuivila was excellent in every way and so personable!

Reviewed on May 26, 2023

Dr. Kuivila is excellent. We feel very lucky to be able to see him and hope he stays for a long time to come.

Reviewed on May 16, 2023

We love Dr Kuvila

Reviewed on May 9, 2023

Dr. Kuivila was attentive, patient, answered our questions and explained the procedure and alternatives with care. He led the team that cared for Bryce with confidence and in a kind way.

Reviewed on Apr 28, 2023

Dr. Kuivila, nurse Debbie and the assistant were all very attentive toHarrison. Dr. Kuivila provided a very thorough examination making sure to discuss results, answer questions and give direction concerning care and our next appointment. Nurse Debbie always made sure Harrison was comfortable and provided attention and care alongside Dr. Kuivila. We never felt rushed or dismissed. Providing great care and attention every visit seem important to Dr. Kuivila and his staff. We greatly apprciate it!

Reviewed on Apr 28, 2023

Dr. Kuivila, nurse Debbie and the assistant were all very attentive to Nathan. Dr. Kuivila provided a very thorough examination making sure to discuss results, answer questions and give direction concerning care and our next appointment. Nurse Debbie always made sure Nathan was comfortable and provided attention and care alongside Dr. Kuivila. We never feel rushed or dismissed. Providing great care and attention every visit seem important to Dr. Kuivila and his staff. We greatly apprciate It.

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2023

Dr K always answers our questions until we are on the same page.

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2023

No issues. If there were, we wouldn't return. The Dr and his staff are all amazing!

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