Experience
Dr. Thomas Falls is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. A student of biomedical engineering, Thomas also researched Orthopaedic tissue engineering, something that would foster a passion for his future role in the medical community. After receiving his Master of Science in 2007 from Case Western, Thomas went on to receive his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 2011. From there, Thomas followed his healthcare journey to the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed his residency in Orthopaedic Surgery. It was during this time that Thomas became increasingly interested in deformity correction.
After realizing the most interesting and complex cases were also the ones most surgeons didn’t want to take on, Thomas was Ignited with a newfound passion for his profession. After this, he completed his residency with stand-out status and moved on to a fellowship at the Hospital for Special Surgery where he was trained in the art and science of limb lengthening and complex reconstruction.
After completing his fellowship, Dr. Thomas Falls went on to Kentucky One Orthopaedic Associates where he worked at Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital and Jewish Hospital in Louisville, KY. Because of his work, Thomas has received a number of awards, most notably the O.J. Hurt Resident Award for highest in-service examination score for two consecutive years. He also received the Gerhard Kuntscher resident teaching award. But above his accolades, Thomas’ favorite part about his profession is the opportunity it allows him to help people who believe they have no hope of healing. Having performed successful limb salvage in countless patients who were told amputation was the only way forward, Thomas knows well the look in someone’s eyes when they realize they’ve been given a second chance — a second chance at a wonderful, normal life.
Trained in special techniques such as the Ilizarov method, Thomas is one of a small number of U.S. based surgeons who are proficient and successful in limb lengthening and deformity correction. Many surgeons opted for the more lucrative and traditional route within the field of orthopedic surgery, Dr. Falls decided to take the unconventional route where he could save lives and help patients regain the hope they lost when they were injured.
With a combined eight years of hands-on experience, Dr. Thomas Falls has developed a skill that is far beyond his years, and a passion that won’t burn out. His procedures are often longer than most orthopedic surgeries, but that has never stopped him from fighting for his patients while saving limbs, bones, and functionality as much as humanly possible.
As can be expected, Dr. Thomas Falls puts patient care above all else. The pride he takes in bringing new life to limbs that were once thought unsalvageable is unparalleled. Thomas chose the challenging field of joint replacement to improve the quality of life for his patients and to give them the chance of having the fulfilling lives his patients thought they had lost.
Thomas is an active Member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons since 2011. While it is rare to find him detached from orthopedic surgery and research, he loves spending time with his family. Travel and photography are his chief interests outside of surgery. His wife, who also works in the medical field, accompanies him frequently on trips together to relieve stress and enjoy the great outdoors. Recently they traveled to Tanzania and Uganda specifically to photograph the wildlife while on a safari. In addition to Africa, they have traveled to France as well as Iceland to photograph the Northern Lights.
Past Positions
Kentucky One Orthopaedic Associates|2017-2018
Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital and Jewish Hospital, Louisville, KY
Hospital for Special Surgery|2017
Limb lengthening and complex reconstruction fellowship, New York, NY
University of Louisville School of Medicine|2016
Orthopaedic surgery residency, Louisville, KY
Awards
- Gerhard Kuntscher award – resident teaching award, University of Louisville Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, June 2016
- O. J. Hurt Resident award – highest in-service examination score, University of Louisville Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, June 2016
- O. J. Hurt Resident award – highest in-service examination score, University of Louisville Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, June 2015
- Mid-America Orthopaedic Association education grant for annual meeting, April 2015
- University of Louisville Department of Orthopaedic Surgery resident research award, 2013- 2014
- University of Rochester Office of Medical Education summer community research award, summer 2008
- Case Schools of Engineering and Graduate Studies combined B.S./M.S. program acceptance, 2005-2007
- Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging summer research support grant, summer 2005
Education
Dr. Thomas Falls graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine with his Doctor of Medicine. The University of Rochester Medical Center, (also known as UR Medicine) is located in Rochester, New York, is one of the main campuses of the University of Rochester and comprises the university’s primary medical education, research, and patient care facilities.
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