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
4.7out of 5(192 Ratings, 71 Comments)
May 2025
Very good experience. I saw Dr Holovacs about 10 years ago, and he was the first Dr. I thought of when I injured my shoulder recently. The consultation with him and his assistant [redacted] was very informative. All my questions and concerns were addressed, not only with the physical part of it, but also with the effects of surgery to your ... Read More
Very good experience. I saw Dr Holovacs about 10 years ago, and he was the first Dr. I thought of when I injured my shoulder recently. The consultation with him and his assistant [redacted] was very informative. All my questions and concerns were addressed, not only with the physical part of it, but also with the effects of surgery to your personal life afterwards.
April 2025
Excellent, very professional with a great personality
April 2025
Thomas Holovacs was amazing, wonderful, wonderful personality, very thorough, explained everything so well, great personality and he knew my history and it was just a delight to see him. So I'm very thrilled and so happy. Thank you.
April 2025
Smart useful insights about my issues
April 2025
He was very professional. Everybody in the office was very professional. He explained everything, answers every question. I would highly recommend him to someone if they needed him.
April 2025
He could not have been more caring, complete, clear. I cannot say enough good things about him. Even though Dr. Holovacs was very clear about the fact that since my shoulder is in the shape it is, there really isn't anything that he could not do. But he was very clear about that and very compassionate. And he also explained things in a way that I ... Read More
He could not have been more caring, complete, clear. I cannot say enough good things about him. Even though Dr. Holovacs was very clear about the fact that since my shoulder is in the shape it is, there really isn't anything that he could not do. But he was very clear about that and very compassionate. And he also explained things in a way that I understood. I would highly recommend him to anyone. I really appreciate his spending the time and his compassion and his understanding.
April 2025
The office was very professional and friendly. Doctor listened and was thoughtful but I still don't understand why I am not getting an MRI with contrast [redacted]
April 2025
Excellent. Showed concern and compassion
April 2025
The time with the doctor was limited but I did spend time with a resident. That was a surprise to me when the resident walked through the door and not the surgeon. My appointment was almost 90 minutes with perfunctory apology after I asked.
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.
Very good experience. I saw Dr Holovacs about 10 years ago, and he was the first Dr. I thought of when I injured my shoulder recently. The consultation with him and his assistant [redacted] was very informative. All my questions and concerns were addressed, not only with the physical part of it, but also with the effects of surgery to your ... Read More
Excellent, very professional with a great personality
Thomas Holovacs was amazing, wonderful, wonderful personality, very thorough, explained everything so well, great personality and he knew my history and it was just a delight to see him. So I'm very thrilled and so happy. Thank you.
Smart useful insights about my issues
He was very professional. Everybody in the office was very professional. He explained everything, answers every question. I would highly recommend him to someone if they needed him.
He could not have been more caring, complete, clear. I cannot say enough good things about him. Even though Dr. Holovacs was very clear about the fact that since my shoulder is in the shape it is, there really isn't anything that he could not do. But he was very clear about that and very compassionate. And he also explained things in a way that I ... Read More
The office was very professional and friendly. Doctor listened and was thoughtful but I still don't understand why I am not getting an MRI with contrast [redacted]
Excellent. Showed concern and compassion
The time with the doctor was limited but I did spend time with a resident. That was a surprise to me when the resident walked through the door and not the surgeon. My appointment was almost 90 minutes with perfunctory apology after I asked.
All my experiences here have been exemplary.