Dr. Thomas Holovacs specializes in Shoulder & Sports Medicine. He treats patients and athletes of all ages from teens to seniors. Using state of the art arthroscopic and reconstructive techniques, he helps patients achieve their activity and athletic goals.
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 Univ 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 Orthopaedic 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.
Motley GS, Osbahr DC, Holovacs TF, Speer KP. An arthroscopic technique for confirming intra-articular subluxation of the long head of the biceps tendon: the ramp test. Arthroscopy. 2002 Nov-Dec;18(9):E46.
Singh H, Osbahr DC, Holovacs TF, Cawley PW, Speer KP. The efficacy of continuous cryotherapy on the postoperative shoulder: a prospective, randomized investigation. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2001 Nov-Dec;10(6):522-5.
Pearsall AW 4th, Holovacs TF, Speer KP. The intra-articular component of the subscapularis tendon: anatomic and histological correlation in reference to surgical release in patients with frozen-shoulder syndrome. Arthroscopy. 2000 Apr;16(3):236-42.
Pearsall AW 4th, Holovacs TF, Speer KP. The low anterior five-o'clock portal during arthroscopic shoulder surgery performed in the beach-chair position. Am J Sports Med.1999 Sep-Oct;27(5):571-4.
Pearsall AW 4th, Holovacs TF, Speer KP. Efficacy of a Low Anterior Portal Established with Outside-In Technique for Arthroscopic Shoulder Surgery. Arthroscopy.1998;25.
Reviews: Comments and Ratings
4.6out of 5(194 Ratings, 72 Comments)
February 2025
Dr. Holovacs is a terrific surgeon!
February 2025
Dr. Holovacs is an excellent surgeon. This is my second surgery with him.
February 2025
Dr. Holovacs spent over an hour with me going through my medical history and taking the time to clearly understand everything. He was incredibly comforting, professional, and extremely knowledgeable.
February 2025
Dr. Holovacs and his team are incredible! Exactly what I needed. And they moved mountains to fit in my surgery. I could not be any happier with all their care.
February 2025
He was superb. Thoughtful, thorough, and caring.
February 2025
Showed concern about another medical problem I have and advised me accordingly on what to do, that's what separates him from other doctors. I am fortunate to have him as my doctor.
February 2025
Extremely professional & knowledgeable in all aspects of examining my right shoulder medical concerns.
February 2025
Everyone from Dr. Holovacs, to the PA [redacted] and [redacted] the Clinical Scheduler were so friendly, helpful and informative. They were generous with their time and answered all of our questions in very clear and understandable terms. They were highly recommended to us, and I am very happy that they will be doing my surgery.
January 2025
Best surgeon I've ever met with. He very much cares about the patients.
January 2025
I thought my doctor, Holovacs, was very good, very conscientious, understood what I needed and tried to help me.
Please join us in congratulating the 13 Mass General orthopaedic surgeons named Top Doctors by Boston magazine for 2022. This impressive achievement is a testament to the commitment of our clinical team to providing safe, high-quality care while ensuring an exceptional patient experience.
Dr. Holovacs is a terrific surgeon!
Dr. Holovacs is an excellent surgeon. This is my second surgery with him.
Dr. Holovacs spent over an hour with me going through my medical history and taking the time to clearly understand everything. He was incredibly comforting, professional, and extremely knowledgeable.
Dr. Holovacs and his team are incredible! Exactly what I needed. And they moved mountains to fit in my surgery. I could not be any happier with all their care.
He was superb. Thoughtful, thorough, and caring.
Showed concern about another medical problem I have and advised me accordingly on what to do, that's what separates him from other doctors. I am fortunate to have him as my doctor.
Extremely professional & knowledgeable in all aspects of examining my right shoulder medical concerns.
Everyone from Dr. Holovacs, to the PA [redacted] and [redacted] the Clinical Scheduler were so friendly, helpful and informative. They were generous with their time and answered all of our questions in very clear and understandable terms. They were highly recommended to us, and I am very happy that they will be doing my surgery.
Best surgeon I've ever met with. He very much cares about the patients.
I thought my doctor, Holovacs, was very good, very conscientious, understood what I needed and tried to help me.