Stephen J. Kovach, MD
About Stephen J. Kovach, MD
Stephen J. Kovach III, MD, is assistant professor of Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Presbyterian Medical Center of Philadelphia, and assistant professor of Orthopedic Surgery. He is also an attending surgeon in the Hand Transplantation Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Combining the expertise of the Penn Transplant Institute and the Hospital’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the Orthopedic Center, the Hand Transplantation program aims to help children who have undergone unilateral or bilateral amputation of arms or hands to regain function and independence. Hand transplantation, or vascularized composite allotransplantation, is a rare procedure performed by only a few surgical teams around the world.
Titles
Attending Surgeon, Hand Transplantation Program
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Assistant Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Certifications
General Surgery – American Board of Surgery
Plastic Surgery – American Board of Plastic Surgery
Awards and Honors
2017 Academy of Master Clinicians, University of Pennsylvania System
2011 Don LaRossa Annual Teaching Award University of Pennsylvania Division of Plastic Surgery
2000 to 2001 Stuber Fellowship for Basic Science Research University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY
2000 Aventis Surgical Scholar, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
1998 to 1999 Resident of the Year, Georgetown University Medical Center, DC General Hospital
Leadership and Memberships
Memberships in Professional Organizations
2016 to present, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, Member
2016 to present, Robert H. Ivy Society of Plastic Surgeons, Treasurer
2016 to present, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, Fellow
2014 to present, Board of Directors, Robert H. Ivy Society of Plastic Surgeons, Member
2014 to present, American Hernia Society, Member
2011 to present, World Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Member
2010 to present, American Council of Academic Plastic Surgeons, Member
2009 to present, Robert H. Ivy Society of Plastic Surgeons, Member
2009 to present, Northeastern Society of Plastic Surgery, Member
2007 to present, American Society of Plastic Surgery, Candidate Member
2006 to present, American Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Member
2002 to present, American College of Surgeons, Candidate Member
Editorial and Academic Positions
2013 to present, Journal of Surgical Oncology, Reviewer
2013 to present, Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Ad-hoc reviewer
2011 to present, Current Orthopaedic Practice, Reviewer
2010 to Present, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Ad-hoc reviewer
Education & training
Medical Degree
MD - George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
Residency
Chief Resident, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC
Surgery Resident - Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC
Chief Surgical Resident - University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY
Surgical Resident - University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY
Surgical Resident - Georgetown University Medical Center Washington, DC
Fellowship
Basic Science Research Fellowship - University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY
Publications
Publications
2017
Momeni A, Kovach SJ. Important considerations in chest wall reconstruction. J Surg Oncol. 2016 Jun;113(8):913-22.
Basta MN, Wu LC, Kanchwala SK, Serletti JM, Tchou JC, Kovach SJ, Fosnot J, Fischer JP. Reliable prediction of postmastectomy lymphedema: The Risk Assessment Tool Evaluating Lymphedema. Am J Surg. 2017 Jun;213(6):1125-1133.e1.
Etkin Y, Kanchwala SK, Low DW, Foley PJ, Jackson OA, Jackson BM. Creation of spliced vein conduit using microvascular anastomotic coupler. J Vasc Surg. 2017 Jun;65(6):1845-1847. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2017.01.047. Epub 2017 Apr 5.
Cho EH1, Bauder AR, Centkowski S, Shammas RL, Mundy L, Kovach SJ, Levin LS, Hollenbeck ST. Preoperative Platelet Count Predicts Lower Extremity Free Flap Thrombosis: A Multi-Institutional Experience. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Jan;139(1):220-230.
Zimmer ZR, Horneff JG 3rd, Taylor RM, Levin LS, Kovach S, Mehta S. Evaluation and Treatment of Open Distal Humerus Fractures. JBJS Rev. 2017 Jan 3;5(1).
2016
Bibbo C, Ehrlich D, Levin LS, Kovach SJ. Maintaining levels of lower extremity amputation. J Surg Orthop Adv. Fall 2016;25(3):137-148.
Basta MN, Bauder AR, Kovach SJ, Fischer JP. Assessing the Predictive Accuracy of the ACS NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator in Open Ventral Hernia Repair. Am J Surg. 2016 Aug;212(2):272-81.
Fischer JP, Basta MN, Mirzabeigi MN, Bauder AR, Fox JP, Drebin JA, Serletti JM, Kovach SJ. A Risk Model and Cost Analysis of Incisional Hernia After Elective, Abdominal Surgery Based Upon 12,373 Cases. Ann Surg. 2016 May;263(5):1010-7.
Shubinets V, Fox JP, Sarik JR, Kovach SJ, Fischer JP. Surgically treated hernia following abdominal based autologous breast reconstruction: Prevalence, outcomes, and expenditures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Mar;137(3):749-57.
Fischer JP, Basta MN, Krishnan NM, Wink JD, Kovach SJ. A Cost-utility Assessment of Mesh Selection in Clean-Contaminated Ventral Hernia Repair (VHR). Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Feb;137(2):647-59.
Chung CU, Nelson JA, Fischer JP, Wink JD, Serletti JM, Kovach SJ. Acute kidney injury after open ventral hernia repair: An analysis of the 2005-2012 ACS-NSQIP datasets. Hernia. 2016 Feb;20(1):131-8.
Basta MN, Fox JP, Kanchwala SK, Wu LC, Serletti JM, Kovach SJ, Fosnot J, Fischer JP. Complicated breast cancer-related lymphedema: evaluating health care resource utilization and associated costs of management. Am J Surg. 2016 Jan;211(1):133-41.
2015
Bibbo C, Nelson J, Fischer JP, Wu LC, Low DW, Mehta S, Kovach SJ, Levin LS. Lower Extremity Limb Salvage After Trauma: Versatility of the Anterolateral Thigh Free Flap. J Orthop Trauma. 2015 Dec;29(12):563-8.
Bibbo C, Newman AS, Lackman RD, Levin LS, Kovach SJ. A Simplified Approach to Reconstruction of Hemipelvectomy Defects with Lower Extremity Fillet Free Flap that Minimizes Flap Ischemia Time. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2015 Dec;68(12):1750-4.
Basta MN, Gerety PA, Serletti JM, Kovach SJ, Fischer JP. A Systematic Review and Head-to-Head Meta-Analysis of Outcomes following Direct-to-Implant versus Conventional Two-Stage Implant Reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Dec;136(6):1135-44.
Pannucci CJ, Basta MN, Kovach SJ, Kanchwala SK, Wu LC, Serletti JM. Loupes-Only Microsurgery is a Safe Alternative to the Operating Microscope: An Analysis of 1,649 Consecutive Free Flap Breast Reconstructions. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2015 Nov;31(9):636-42.
Pannucci CJ, Basta MN, Fischer JP, Kovach SJ. Creation and validation of a condition-specific venous thromboembolism risk assessment tool for ventral hernia repair. Surgery. 2015 Nov;158(5):1304-13.
Bibbo C, Ehrlich DA, Kovach SJ 3rd. Reconstruction of the Pediatric Lateral Malleolus and Physis by Free Microvascular Transfer of the Proximal Fibular Physis. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2015 Sep-Oct;54(5):994-1000.
Pannucci CJ, Kovach SJ, Cuker A. Microsurgery and the hypercoagulable state: A hematologist’s perspective. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Oct;136(4):545e-52e.
Fischer JP, Fox JP, Nelson JA, Kovach SJ, Serletti JM. A Longitudinal Assessment of Outcomes and Healthcare Resource Utilization After Immediate Breast Reconstruction-Comparing Implant- and Autologous-based Breast Reconstruction. Ann Surg. 2015 Oct;262(4):692-9.
Fox JP, Bauder AR, Gross CP, Killelea B, Butler PD, Kovach SJ. The Relationship Between Geographic Access to Plastic Surgeons and Immediate Breast Reconstruction Rates Among Women Undergoing Mastectomy for Cancer. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Oct;136(4 Suppl):91-2.
Bauder AR, Sarik JR, Butler PD, Noone RB, Fischer JP, Serletti JM, Kanchwala SK, Kovach SJ, Fox JP. Geographic Variation in Access to Plastic Surgeons. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Oct;136(4 Suppl):53. doi: 10.1097/01.prs.0000472343.36900.8e.
Basta MN, Fischer JP, Kanchwala SK, Silvestre J, Wu LC, Serletti JM, Tchou JC, Kovach SJ, Fosnot J. A Propensity-Matched Analysis of the Influence of Breast Reconstruction on Subsequent Development of Lymphedema. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Aug;136(2):134e-143e.
Fischer JP, Basta MN, Wink JD, Krishnan NM, Kovach SJ. Cost-utility analysis of the use of prophylactic mesh augmentation compared with primary fascial suture repair in patients at high risk for incisional hernia. Surgery. 2015 Sep;158(3):700-11. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2015.02.030. Epub 2015 Jul 15.
Wes AM, Wink JD, Kovach SJ, Fischer JP. Venous thromboembolism in body contouring: An analysis of 17774 patients from the National Surgical Quality Improvement (NSQIP) databases. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Jun;135(6):972e-980e.
Nelson JA, Fischer JP, Grover R, Kovach SJ, Low DW, Kanchwala SK, Levin LS, Serletti JM, Wu LC. Vein grafting your way out of trouble: Examining the utility and efficacy of vein grafts in microsurgery. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2015 Jun;68(6):830-6.
Nelson JA, Fischer JP, Haddock NT, Mackay D, Wink JD, Newman AS, Levin LS, Kovach SJ. Striving for Normalcy after Lower Extremity Reconstruction with Free Tissue: The Role of Secondary Esthetic Refinements. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2016 Feb;32(2):101-8. doi: 10.1055/s-0035-1558986. Epub 2015 Aug 10.
Mirzabeigi MN, Nelson JA, Fischer JP, Kovach SJ, Serletti JM, Wu LC, Kanchwala S. Tamoxifen (selective estrogen-receptor modulators) and aromatase inhibitors as potential perioperative thrombotic risk factors in free flap breast reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Apr;135(4):670e-9e.
Wink JD, Wes AM, Fischer JP, Nelson JA, Stranksy C, Kovach SJ 3rd. Risk factors associated with early failure in complex abdominal wall reconstruction: a 5 year single surgeon experience. J Plast Surg Hand Surg. 2015 Apr;49(2):77-82.
Pannucci CJ, Gerety PA, Nelson JA, Fischer JP, Kovach SJ. Use of intercostal perforating veins and long arterial grafts for latissimus myocutaneous free flap reconstruction of radiated low back wounds. J Reconstr Microsurg. 2015 Jun;31(5):396-400. Epub 2015 Mar 13.
Mirzabeigi MN, Wilson AJ, Fischer JP, Basta M, Kanchwala S, Kovach SJ, Serletti JM, Wu LC. Predicting and managing donor-site wound complications in abdominally based free flap breast reconstruction: improved outcomes with early reoperative closure. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Jan;135(1):14-23.
Editorials, Reviews, Chapters
2016
Arash Momeni, Stephen J. Kovach and L. Scott Levin. “Skeletal Reconstruction” in Plastic Surgery 4th edition, Elsevier, Ltd., editors: Peter Nelligan, David Song. 2016
Christopher Bibbo DO, David J. Polga MD, Samir Mehta MD, Stephen J. Kovach MD. General principles of limb salvage versus amputation in adults. Atlas of amputations and limb deficiencies. Krajbich JI, Pinzur MS, Potter BJ, Stevens PM, editors. 2016, p. 41-60.
2015
Christopher Bibbo DO, Stephen J. Kovach MD, and L. Scott Levin “Limb salvage techniques following failed total ankle replacement” in Primary and revision total ankle replacement. Springer, 2015, p. Pages 407-413.
Christopher Bibbo DO, and Stephen J. Kovach MD. “Management of infected total ankle replacement” in Primary and revision total ankle replacement. Springer, 2015, p. Pages 283-294
Christopher Bibbo DO and Stephen J. Kovach. “Managing wound healing complications after total ankle replacement” in Primary and revision total ankle replacement. Springer, 2015, p. 153-167
2014
Stephen J. Kovach and David Low. “Major Tissue Flaps” in Intensive Care Unit Manual 2nd edition, Elsevier, Ltd., editor: Lanken
2013
Hani Sbitany, Alexander Au, Stephen J. Kovach, L. Scott Levin. “Orthoplastic Approach to Composite Tissue Loss” in Reconstructive Surgery of the Lower Extremity, Quality Medical Publishing, editors: Jamie Levine, Fu-Chan Wei, 2013, p 1025-1045
2012
Stephen J. Kovach and L. Scott Levin. “Skeletal Reconstruction” in Plastic Surgery 3rd edition, Elsevier, Ltd., editors: Peter Nelligan, David Song. 2012.
2007
Stephen J. Kovach, and L. Scott Levin. “Treatment of Venous and Combined Ulcers with Free Tissue Transfer for Limb Salvage “ in Venous Ulcers, Elsevier, Ltd., editors: Cynthia Shortell, John Bergan. 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0-12-373565-2