Family Practice Center of Westerville

Thomas Joseph Kovack, DO, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon who specializes in shoulder, elbow, and knee surgery. He is the CEO and Founder of the New Advantage Orthopedics practice in Westerville, Ohio. He provides surgical services to people living in Columbus, Ohio at Advantage Orthopedics. Dr. Kovack not only provides established surgical procedures for common shoulder, elbow, and knee problems, but is one of the few orthopedic surgeons offering the latest advanced techniques such as total shoulder resurfacing, arthroscopic biologic shoulder replacement, and robotic-assisted knee replacement.Dr. Kovack completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Pittsburgh before attending the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating with his medical degree, Dr. Kovack undertook an internship at Ohio University at the Doctors Hospital in Columbus and stayed to complete his residency in orthopedic surgery. Having developed a particular interest in shoulder and elbow surgery, Dr. Kovack went to Florida Orthopaedic Institute at Tampa General Hospital in Tampa, Florida, for his fellowship.Dr. Kovack is one of the leading shoulder, elbow, and knee surgeons in the country, and specializes in surgery that's technically highly advanced yet causes minimal tissue damage to patients. Such is his expertise that he's developed a method of carrying out complex surgeries such as partial and total joint replacement and joint resurfacing as same-day or outpatient procedures. He also has superior skills in preserving bone and restoring cartilage.When he's not busy caring for his patients, Dr. Kovack enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He's an accomplished athlete who used to work as a personal trainer and took part in competitive bodybuilding. He believes his experience in sports health and nutrition, along with his exceptional expertise as an orthopedic surgeon, help him provide outstanding services to all his patients.EDUCATIONFellowship:Florida Orthopaedic Institute (2007)Tampa General HospitalTampa, FloridaShoulder and Elbow SurgeryResidency:Ohio University (2006)Doctors Hospital, Columbus, OhioOrthopaedic SurgeryInternship:Ohio University (2002)Doctors Hospital, Columbus, OhioTraditional RotatingDoctor of Osteopathy:The Kansas City University of Medicineand Biosciences (2001)Kansas City, MissouriBachelors of Science:University of Pittsburgh (1996)Greensburg, Pennsylvania(Biology)Publications (Recent)Kovack TJ, Long A, Techniques in Shoulder & Elbow Surgery - Arthroscopic Biological Total Shoulder Resurfacing: An Alternative Surgical Technique and Treatment Option for Arthritic Shoulder Pain in Young to Middle-aged Adults - Volume 19, Number 1, March 2018Kovack TJ, Idoine JD, Jacob PB, Proximal Biceps Tenodesis: An Anatomic Study and Comparison of the Accuracy of Arthroscopic and Open Techniques Using Interference Screws - Published Online February 21, 2014. Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine. ojs.sagepub.comKovack TJ, Jacob PB, Mighell MA, Elbow Arthrodesis - A Novel Technique. Orthopedics. May 2014. Volume 37, Issue 5: 313-319.Mighell M, Kovack T, "Elbow Arthrodesis". Operative Techniques in Orthopaedic Surgery, Edited by Williams, G., Ramsey, M..Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins 2007. Chapter 49, pp. 3462-3466.

History of the NREMT It has been nearly four decades since President Lyndon Johnson's Committee on Highway Traffic Safety recommended the creation of a national certification agency to establish uniform standards for training and examination of personnel active in the delivery of emergency ambulance service. The result of this recommendation was the inception of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT ) in 1970. Since that time, pre-hospital emergency medical care has continually evolved and improved. The EMT has been acknowledged as a bonafide member of the health care team. Excellent training programs have been developed and a vital focus has been placed on continuing education. National standards have been established. Ambulance equipment essentials have been set. National accreditation of paramedic programs has been achieved, and professional associations for the EMT have been organized. Through every change, the NREMT has remained steadfast in upholding its mission to provide a valid, uniform process to assess the knowledge and skills required for competent practice required by professionals throughout their careers and by maintaining a registry of certification status. The organization has done what was necessary to establish, implement and maintain uniform requirements for the certification and recertification of emergency medical technicians. The NREMT has also been involved in numerous national projects and its staff participates on major national committees, playing an active part in the ever-continuing process of improving standards of emergency medical services. President Lyndon Johnson's Committee on Highway Traffic Safety recommends the creation of a national certification agency to establish uniform standards for training and examination of personnel active in the delivery of emergency ambulance service. This resulted in the appointment of a Task Force by the American Medical Association's Commission on EMS to study the feasibility of a National Registry for EMTs. The Task Force was headed by Oscar P. Hampton, Jr., M.D., a physician recognized for his pioneering work with the American College of Surgeons' Committee on Trauma. Representatives of organizations actively involved in emergency medical service attend the first meeting of the Task Force on January 21, 1970. Organizations invited to participate were: On June 4, 1970, the Task Force was dissolved and was immediately reconvened as the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians. Roddy A. Brandes of the Ambulance Association of America was elected the Board's first Chairman. The NREMT calls a meeting of national EMT-Paramedic leaders and educators to develop initial guidelines for the national EMT-Paramedic curriculum. Continuing education requirements for recertification are established for EMT-Ambulance and EMT-Non Ambulance personnel.