Posts by Thomas Francis Holovacs, MD
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Research Advances from Mass General Orthopaedics
Researchers from the Department of Orthopaedics discuss the clinical and translational work they are doing at Massachusetts General Hospital.
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Improving Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Performance with Highly Cross-linked Polyethylene Implants
For reverse shoulder total arthroplasty (rSTA) patients, highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) shoulder implants may improve longevity and performance while reducing the need for revision surgeries.
Biography
Why is Dr. Holovacs a shoulder surgeon? His first exposure to the field of orthopaedics and shoulder surgery was from shoulder pain and instability he had as an elite teenage swimmer. As a young adult, Dr. Holovacs had four shoulder surgeries, which gives him a unique perspective into both the patient side and doctor/surgeon side of shoulder problems.
Dr. Holovacs' earned his BA at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a four-year letterman in swimming. As a senior he was elected team captain of the men's varsity swim team. Dr. Holovacs earned his MD from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he was selected to be a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society.
Dr. Holovacs completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Duke University Medical Center. While at Duke, he was an assistant resident team physician for all Duke athletic teams, including the 2001 NCAA National Championship men's basketball team. As a resident, Dr. Holovacs honed his shoulder expertise and sports medicine skills at Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, NC.
After residency, Dr. Holovacs developed additional expertise in shoulder and sports medicine surgery when he was selected as the prestigious Intercontinental Shoulder Fellow. He gained more shoulder specialization through fellowships at the Mass General Harvard Shoulder Service and the University of Zurich, Balgrist Hospital in Switzerland.
Dr. Holovacs joined the Dept of Orthopaedic Surgery at Mass General in 2002 as a member of both the Shoulder Service and the Sports Medicine Service. His personal passion for shoulder problems as a teenager and young adult is now the focus of his career - specialized, expert shoulder and sports medicine care for athletes and active/athletic patients of all ages.
Orthopaedic Care at Mass General
At Mass General, our world-class physicians and surgeons treat the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions throughout the body, from sprains and strains on the athletic field to carpal tunnel syndrome. Our team offers innovative, research-based treatments that range from limb-saving oncological procedures to complex spinal reconstruction.