Dr. John Kovesdi Jr. recognized by Ohio Osteopathic Association
By JOHNNA YOUNG
Fisher-Titus Medical Center
Longtime Norwalk orthopaedic surgeon Dr. John Kovesdi Jr., was recognized with the Ohio Osteopathic Association Distinguished Service Award earlier this spring for his dedication to the practice of osteopathic medicine. The award requires unanimous action by the OOA board of trustees.
“For the past 38 years, Dr. John Kovesdi Jr. has provided high-quality personal care to his patients and our community, served as a leader at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, and has been an advocate and friend to the staff members with whom he has worked,” said Dr. Shankar Kurra, senior vice president-medical affairs.
Kovesdi joined Fisher-Titus Medical Center in December 1980 as the first orthopedic surgeon on the medical staff. A native of Toledo, Kovesdi graduated from Kansas City College of Medicine & Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1972. Prior to joining Fisher-Titus, he was in private practice in Battle Creek, Mich.
Currently, Kovesdi serves as medical director for Fisher-Titus Occupational Health & Wellness division, a role he assumed in 2007 after practicing as an orthopedic surgeon at Fisher-Titus for 27 years.
“Dr. Kovesdi served as an early building block for our small rural hospital and was integral to attracting more specialists to the medical staff helping Fisher-Titus grow to the regional presence it is today,” said Dr. Farid Said, longtime general surgeon at Fisher-Titus. “As one of our earliest specialists and part of a small team, Dr. Kovesdi felt a great responsibility to provide coverage at the hospital. For many years he worked with our community schools’ athletic programs as “team doctor” and instituted the first Saturday injury clinics for athletes.”
As an orthopedic surgeon, Kovesdi is known for many “firsts” at Fisher-Titus including major fracture repair, total hips and total knees, and unicompartmental knee replacements. His expertise allowed patients to receive advanced surgical techniques locally rather than having to seek care in a larger city.
“Dr. Kovesdi always desired the very best for his patients. He treated each patient as an individual and provided a personalized plan of care for each one,” said Karen Likes, RN, assistant vice president-surgical services. “The results were always excellent – as long as patients followed his post-surgery instructions!”
In his office, he was often seen wheeling older patients to the exam room, assisting patients onto the table, and always ensuring they were comfortable. To this day surgical staff members who worked with him describe Kovesdi as a knowledgeable, highly skilled surgeon, caring friend, and a “sounding board” and advocate for the staff.
The transition from the operating room to occupational health was a natural one for Dr. Kovesdi. Many workplace injuries are musculoskeletal and his expertise is a perfect fit in diagnosing injuries and advising preventative measures for patients.
As a member of the Fisher-Titus Medical Staff, Kovesdi has served in numerous leadership roles over the years including ER Committee Chair, Credentials Committee Chair, Chief of Surgery, and Chief of Staff. He also served on the health system’s board of directors for its ambulance service and currently is Medical Director of the Rehabilitation Department.
Kovesdi is a long-standing member of the Ohio Osteopathic Association and the American Osteopathic Association. At Fisher-Titus, he has chaired the Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy Committee since 2005.
Kovesdi plans to continue his health care career with Fisher-Titus well into the future.
Johnna Young is senior public relations specialist at Fisher-Titus Medical Center, 272 Benedict Avenue, Norwalk, fishertitus.org.
