Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky biography covers the Florida surgeon’s career, education, and the malpractice case where he allegedly removed a patient’s liver instead of spleen, leading to manslaughter charges.
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is an American surgeon who gained national attention in 2024 after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of his spleen during what was meant to be a routine splenectomy, resulting in the patient’s death on the operating table. In April 2026, a grand jury in Walton County, Florida indicted Shaknovsky on second-degree manslaughter charges in connection with the death of 70-year-old William Bryan of Alabama.
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Shaknovsky immigrated to the United States as a child with his family and later built a career as a general and colon and rectal surgeon in Florida’s Emerald Coast region. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserve, reaching the rank of Major. His medical licence has been suspended in Florida, Alabama, and New York following the fatal surgery and allegations of previous surgical errors involving other patients.
Quick Facts About Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Thomas J. Shaknovsky |
| Age | 44 (as of April 2026) |
| Place of Birth | Minsk, Belarus |
| Nationality | American (naturalised) |
| Profession | General Surgeon, Colon and Rectal Surgeon |
| Medical Degree | Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University (2009) |
| Residency | Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey |
| Fellowships | Burn Surgery/Wound Care (John Stroger Hospital); Minimally Invasive/Robotic Surgery (Richmond University Medical Center) |
| Military Service | U.S. Army Reserve, Major |
| Practice Location | Destin/Crestview, Florida |
| Hospital Affiliations | Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital; HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital |
| Licence Status | Suspended in Florida, Alabama, and New York |
| Criminal Charge | Second-degree manslaughter (indicted April 2026) |
Early Life and Immigration to America
Thomas Shaknovsky was born in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, during the Soviet era. At the age of ten, he immigrated to the United States with his family, reportedly seeking religious freedom. The family settled in the Chicago metropolitan area, where Shaknovsky spent his formative years. Growing up in the Midwest, he developed an interest in medicine and service that would later define his career.
Shaknovsky attended Loyola University Chicago for his undergraduate education. During his sophomore year, shortly after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, he made the decision to join the United States Army. This commitment to military service would continue throughout his medical career, with Shaknovsky serving in the U.S. Army Reserve and attaining the rank of Major.
Medical Education and Training
After completing his undergraduate degree at Loyola University Chicago, Shaknovsky pursued medical education at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, graduating in 2009.
Shaknovsky then undertook residency training in General Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. During his residency, he developed a particular interest in surgical intervention and completed a fellowship in Burn Surgery and Wound Care at John Stroger Hospital in Chicago.
Following residency, Shaknovsky pursued additional specialisation in minimally invasive techniques. He completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Flexible Endoscopy, and Robotic Surgery at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York. This training prepared him for a career performing complex surgical procedures using the latest technologies and techniques.
Career Timeline
| Period | Position/Milestone |
|---|---|
| Born ~1981-1982 | Born in Minsk, Belarus |
| ~1991-1992 | Immigrated to the United States with family |
| Early 2000s | Attended Loyola University Chicago; joined U.S. Army after 9/11 |
| 2009 | Graduated from Midwestern University with DO degree |
| 2009-2014 | General Surgery residency, Hackensack University Medical Center |
| During residency | Burn Surgery/Wound Care fellowship, John Stroger Hospital |
| Post-residency | Minimally Invasive/Robotic Surgery fellowship, Richmond University Medical Center |
| 2016 | Obtained Alabama medical licence |
| ~2016-2020 | Practised general surgery in southeast Alabama |
| Unknown | Associate Professor, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine |
| ~2020 onwards | Relocated to Florida’s Emerald Coast |
| August 2024 | Fatal surgery on William Bryan |
| September 2024 | Florida medical licence suspended |
| Late 2024 | Alabama medical licence suspended |
| 2025 | New York medical licence suspended |
| January 2025 | Bryan family filed malpractice lawsuit |
| April 2026 | Indicted on second-degree manslaughter; arrested |
Medical Career and Specialisations
Dr. Shaknovsky practised as a general surgeon and colon and rectal surgeon for over 15 years. His areas of expertise included colonoscopy, mastectomy, colon removal, treatment of intestinal obstruction, obstructed inguinal hernia repair, and port placements. He was trained in minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques, as well as flexible endoscopy, wound care, and dialysis access procedures.
After completing his fellowship training, Shaknovsky spent approximately four years practising general surgery in southeast Alabama. During this period, he held a position as Associate Professor at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine and was affiliated with 21st Surgical Associates. Having become familiar with Florida’s Emerald Coast through various military training exercises, he later relocated to the Destin area to continue his surgical practice.
In Florida, Shaknovsky was affiliated with Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach and HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville. He accepted multiple insurance plans and maintained privileges at these facilities. Patient reviews prior to the fatal incident frequently mentioned a caring and compassionate approach. Shaknovsky was actively involved in clinical research and authored scientific papers during his career.
Throughout his medical career, Shaknovsky continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserve. He participated in various military training exercises and maintained his commission at the rank of Major.
Personal Life
Dr. Shaknovsky is married and has three children. He resided in Destin, Florida, with his family prior to his arrest. In his free time, he reportedly enjoyed outdoor activities with his family, including fishing and hiking. His residential address was listed as Olde Plantation Place in Destin.
The Fatal Surgery: William Bryan Case
On 21 August 2024, Dr. Shaknovsky performed surgery on William Bryan, a 70-year-old Navy veteran from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Bryan and his wife Beverly had been visiting their rental property in Okaloosa County, Florida when Bryan began experiencing severe pain on his left side. Beverly took her husband to the emergency room at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach.
A CT scan revealed a mass on Bryan’s spleen, and he was admitted to the hospital for further studies. According to Beverly Bryan, Dr. Shaknovsky and the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Christopher Bacani, informed the couple that immediate surgery was necessary. Beverly later stated that she had expressed a preference to return home to Alabama for the procedure, but was told her husband would “bleed to death” before they could make it home.
The surgery was scheduled as a laparoscopic splenectomy — a procedure to remove the spleen using minimally invasive techniques. However, according to investigators, Dr. Shaknovsky removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen during the operation. The error resulted in catastrophic blood loss, and Bryan died on the operating table.
Following the surgery, Shaknovsky allegedly told Beverly Bryan that her husband had suffered a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm that caused him to bleed to death. He allegedly described the organ as severely diseased and enlarged to four times its normal size. However, an autopsy later revealed that Bryan’s spleen remained intact and in its normal position, while his liver had been removed. The autopsy found no evidence of a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm.
According to the Florida Department of Health investigation, operating room staff observed events during the surgery that contradicted Shaknovsky’s explanation. The emergency order suspending his licence stated that Shaknovsky allegedly ordered staff to mislabel the removed organ as a “spleen” and repeatedly insisted that a splenic artery aneurysm had ruptured. Staff reported feeling that the doctor “was attempting to convince them that this is what occurred, even though they witnessed something different.”
Prior Malpractice Allegations
The filing from the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners seeking Shaknovsky’s licence suspension accused him of two other instances of malpractice, one of which allegedly led to the death of another patient.
In May 2023, Shaknovsky allegedly removed part of a patient’s pancreas during what was supposed to be a routine surgery to remove the patient’s left adrenal gland. When confronted about the error, Shaknovsky allegedly claimed that the patient’s adrenal gland had “migrated” to a different part of the body. This incident allegedly resulted in the patient’s death.
These prior allegations raised serious concerns about Shaknovsky’s competence and contributed to the decision by medical authorities to suspend his licences across multiple states.
Licence Suspensions and Regulatory Actions
Following William Bryan’s death, multiple state medical boards took action against Dr. Shaknovsky’s licences to practise medicine.
In September 2024, Florida’s Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, issued a 21-page emergency order suspending Shaknovsky’s osteopathic physician licence. The order determined that allowing him to continue practising medicine would present an “immediate, serious danger to the health, welfare, and safety of the public.” Investigators concluded that “due to the scope and severity of the issues with Dr. Shaknovsky’s treatment of patients,” anything less than suspension would be “inadequate to protect the public.”
The Alabama Medical Licensure Commission temporarily suspended Shaknovsky’s Alabama medical licence later in 2024. A hearing was scheduled for 18 December 2024 to determine whether his licence should be permanently revoked. Shaknovsky had been licensed in Alabama since 2016.
In 2025, Shaknovsky’s New York medical licence was also suspended. As of April 2026, his medical licences in all three states where he was licensed — Florida, Alabama, and New York — had been suspended or surrendered.
A spokesperson for Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast stated that “Dr. Shaknovsky was never a Sacred Heart Emerald Coast employee and has not practiced at any of our facilities since August 2024.”
Criminal Indictment and Arrest
In January 2025, William Bryan’s family filed a lawsuit against Dr. Shaknovsky and the hospital, citing gross negligence and medical malpractice. The family was represented by Zarzaur Law, a firm specialising in medical malpractice cases.
On 13 April 2026, a Walton County grand jury returned an indictment charging Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky with second-degree manslaughter in connection with William Bryan’s death. The indictment followed an extensive investigation conducted by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in coordination with the Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit and additional state and medical authorities.
Shaknovsky was arrested on the morning of 14 April 2026 in Miramar Beach, Florida. He was taken into custody and transported to the Walton County Jail. He made his first court appearance on 15 April 2026 and was released on $75,000 bond.
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson stated: “Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favour. The Grand Jury has spoken, and our responsibility is to ensure the charges are carried out through the proper legal process. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family and their unspeakable loss.”
The case is being prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit. If convicted of second-degree manslaughter, Shaknovsky could face significant prison time under Florida law.
The Victim: William Bryan
William Bryan was a 70-year-old Navy veteran from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He had been married to his wife Beverly for 33 years at the time of his death. The couple owned a rental property in Okaloosa County, Florida, which they were visiting when Bryan began experiencing abdominal pain that led to his hospitalisation and subsequent surgery.
Bryan’s family has described his death as a preventable tragedy caused by gross medical negligence. Through their attorney Joe Zarzaur, the family has characterised the case as “one of the most egregious cases of medical malpractice” they have ever encountered.
Final Thoughts
The case of Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky represents a disturbing failure in patient safety that cost a Navy veteran his life. What began as a routine surgical procedure to remove a spleen ended in tragedy when the wrong organ was allegedly removed entirely. The subsequent allegations of attempted cover-up and the revelation of prior similar incidents have raised serious questions about medical oversight and accountability. As Shaknovsky awaits trial on manslaughter charges, the case serves as a stark reminder of the trust patients place in their surgeons and the catastrophic consequences when that trust is violated. The Bryan family’s pursuit of justice, both through civil litigation and criminal prosecution, may help prevent similar tragedies in the future by holding medical professionals accountable for fatal errors.
FAQs About Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky
Who is Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky?
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is an American surgeon born in Belarus who practised in Florida. He gained notoriety after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of spleen during a 2024 surgery, resulting in the patient’s death and criminal charges.
What did Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky do?
Shaknovsky allegedly removed the liver instead of the spleen of 70-year-old William Bryan during a scheduled splenectomy on 21 August 2024. The error caused catastrophic blood loss and Bryan died on the operating table. Shaknovsky has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Where did Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky go to medical school?
Shaknovsky received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois, graduating in 2009. He completed his residency at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Has Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky been accused of malpractice before?
Yes. The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners accused Shaknovsky of two other instances of malpractice, including a May 2023 incident where he allegedly removed part of a patient’s pancreas instead of the adrenal gland, which also allegedly resulted in the patient’s death.
What is Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s current legal status?
As of April 2026, Shaknovsky has been indicted on second-degree manslaughter charges by a Walton County grand jury. He was arrested on 14 April 2026 and released on $75,000 bond. His medical licences in Florida, Alabama, and New York have all been suspended.
Who was William Bryan?
William Bryan was a 70-year-old Navy veteran from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He was married to his wife Beverly for 33 years. He died on the operating table at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital on 21 August 2024 after Dr. Shaknovsky allegedly removed his liver instead of his spleen.
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