Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky Biography: Age, Arrest & Career
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky — Florida surgeon arrested for manslaughter after removing a patient’s liver instead of the spleen in a fatal 2024 surgery.
Dr. Thomas J. Shaknovsky is an American osteopathic surgeon who became the subject of national headlines following his arrest in April 2026 on a charge of second-degree manslaughter. The charge stems from the August 2024 death of 70-year-old William Bryan, an Alabama man who died on the operating table after Shaknovsky allegedly removed his liver instead of his spleen during a laparoscopic splenectomy. The case triggered the suspension of his medical licences across multiple states and a grand jury indictment.
Once a practising general and colorectal surgeon based in Destin, Florida, Shaknovsky served patients for over 15 years before his career unravelled amid mounting allegations of surgical errors, fabricated medical records, and gross negligence. His story has raised serious questions about physician oversight and hospital credentialing in the United States.
Quick Facts About Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Thomas J. Shaknovsky |
| Age | 44 years old (as of 2026) |
| Profession | Osteopathic Surgeon (General & Colorectal) |
| Education | Loyola University Chicago (undergraduate); Midwestern University — Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (DO, 2009) |
| Residency | Palisades Medical Center / Hackensack University Medical Center |
| Practice Location | Destin, Florida |
| Military Service | U.S. Army, rank of Major |
| Florida Licence | Suspended September 2024 |
| Alabama Licence | Suspended 2024 (voluntarily surrendered) |
| New York Licence | Suspended 2025 |
| Criminal Charge | Second-degree manslaughter (indicted April 2026) |
| Bond | Released on $75,000 bond |
Early Life and Background
Thomas Shaknovsky grew up in the Midwest, where he developed an interest in medicine from an early age. He pursued his undergraduate degree at Loyola University Chicago, one of the city’s most respected Jesuit institutions. During his sophomore year of college, he made a significant decision that would shape his personal character — he enlisted in the U.S. Army, a commitment he maintained, eventually rising to the rank of Major.
His military background instilled in him a sense of discipline and service. Friends and early colleagues described him as driven and purpose-oriented. He carried his faith into his professional philosophy, once stating that superior results come from a combination of strong interpersonal relationships, surgical skill, and prayer.
Education and Medical Training
Shaknovsky earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University, graduating in 2009. Following graduation, he completed his residency training at Palisades Medical Center, affiliated with Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey — a well-regarded programme in general surgery.
He became board certified in general surgery and was first licensed to practise medicine in Florida in 2020, having previously held licences in Alabama since 2016 and in New York. He held surgical privileges at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Florida, and was affiliated with HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville.
Medical Career
Over a career spanning more than 15 years, Shaknovsky built a practice focused on general and colorectal surgery. He treated conditions including intestinal obstruction, inguinal hernias, colon-related diseases, and performed procedures such as colonoscopies, mastectomies, port placements, and colon resections.
Patient reviews on medical platforms reflected generally positive experiences, with many noting his caring approach and strong communication. His Healthgrades rating for likelihood of recommendation stood at 4.6 out of 5. He was particularly noted for treating obstructed inguinal hernias and performing port placements more frequently than comparable providers in his region.
Beyond clinical work, Shaknovsky balanced his surgical practice with his continued military service as a U.S. Army Major, a dual commitment that spoke to his sense of duty both in uniform and in the operating room.
Worth, NGO & Activism" loading="lazy" width="180" height="120">The 2024 Fatal Surgery and Arrest
The most consequential moment of Shaknovsky’s career came on the evening of August 21, 2024, at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Florida. William Bryan, a 70-year-old veteran from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, had arrived at a nearby rental property with pain on his left side. Shaknovsky informed Bryan and his wife Beverly that surgery was immediately necessary, telling her that her husband would bleed to death without it.
Beverly Bryan later stated she had asked to return to Alabama for treatment, but Shaknovsky insisted there was no time. The surgery — a laparoscopic splenectomy — was scheduled late in the evening with only a skeletal operating room crew available. Staff reportedly raised concerns about the timing and about Shaknovsky’s skill level before the procedure began.
During the operation, a megacolon allegedly burst, flooding the abdomen and severely limiting visibility. Shaknovsky reportedly fired a stapling device blindly into the abdomen, removing an organ he presumed to be the spleen. He later admitted he had been unable to properly identify the organ due to the chaos in the operating room. Staff watched in shock as he removed the patient’s liver — an organ distinct from the spleen in size, colour, and location. The patient died on the operating table.
Shaknovsky informed staff that the cause of death was a ruptured splenic artery aneurysm and allegedly instructed that the removed organ be labelled as a “spleen” in pathology records. An autopsy later revealed that Bryan’s spleen was intact and his liver had been removed.
Prior Surgical Errors and Licence Suspensions
The 2024 death was not the first time Shaknovsky faced allegations of serious surgical errors. Florida’s Surgeon General, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, issued a 21-page emergency order suspending his Florida osteopathic licence in September 2024, citing “egregious surgical errors” and the fabrication of medical records.
The order referenced two additional incidents. In May 2023, Shaknovsky allegedly removed part of a patient’s pancreas during a procedure that was supposed to involve removal of the left adrenal gland. He reportedly claimed the adrenal gland had “migrated” to another part of the body. That patient suffered permanent injuries including loss of fingers and organ damage; the case was settled for $400,000. In a separate July 2023 procedure, he allegedly removed a portion of a patient’s intestine, causing a gastrointestinal perforation.
Alabama suspended his licence in 2024 following the fatal surgery, and he voluntarily surrendered it before revocation proceedings concluded. New York suspended his licence in 2025. Florida’s Surgeon General wrote that Shaknovsky’s continued practice “constitutes an immediate, serious danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the citizens of the State of Florida.”
A Walton County grand jury returned an indictment in April 2026, and Shaknovsky was arrested and held at Walton County Jail before being released on a $75,000 bond. As of April 2026, criminal proceedings are ongoing.
Military Service
Throughout his medical career, Shaknovsky continued to serve in the United States Army, holding the rank of Major. He joined the Army during his sophomore year at Loyola University Chicago and maintained this dual commitment across his career. His military service has not been the subject of any disclosed disciplinary actions, and it remains a distinct aspect of his biography separate from the ongoing criminal and regulatory proceedings.
Final Thoughts
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky’s story is a sobering reminder of the consequences when medical oversight fails and surgical errors go unchecked. What began as a career defined by service — military and medical — ended in criminal charges, suspended licences, and a family left without a husband and father.
William Bryan’s death and the injuries suffered by other patients have sparked wider conversations about hospital credentialing, the vetting of surgical competency, and the mechanisms that exist to remove dangerous practitioners before tragedies occur. The outcome of Shaknovsky’s criminal trial will be closely watched by medical professionals, regulators, and patient safety advocates across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Who is Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky?
Dr. Thomas Shaknovsky is a 44-year-old osteopathic surgeon formerly based in Destin, Florida. He is best known for being arrested in April 2026 and charged with second-degree manslaughter after allegedly removing a patient’s liver instead of the spleen during a 2024 surgery. All of his medical licences have been suspended or surrendered.
Q2: What happened to William Bryan?
William Bryan, a 70-year-old Alabama veteran, died on the operating table at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast on August 21, 2024. He had been scheduled for a laparoscopic splenectomy, but an autopsy revealed his liver had been removed and his spleen was left intact. His family is represented by Zarzaur Law.
Q3: Why was Dr. Shaknovsky’s medical licence suspended?
Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo issued a 21-page emergency order in September 2024 suspending his Florida licence, citing egregious surgical errors and fabrication of medical records. His Alabama licence was subsequently suspended and later surrendered. His New York licence was suspended in 2025.
Q4: What is Dr. Shaknovsky charged with?
He was indicted by a Walton County grand jury in April 2026 on a charge of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of William Bryan. He was arrested, held in Walton County Jail, and released on a $75,000 bond. Criminal proceedings are ongoing as of April 2026.
Q5: Were there other malpractice incidents before the 2024 death?
Yes. In May 2023, Shaknovsky allegedly removed part of a patient’s pancreas during a procedure meant to address the adrenal gland. That case settled for $400,000. In July 2023, he allegedly removed part of a patient’s intestine during another procedure, causing a gastrointestinal perforation.
Q6: Where did Dr. Shaknovsky train?
He completed his undergraduate studies at Loyola University Chicago and earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in 2009. He completed his residency at Palisades Medical Center, affiliated with Hackensack University Medical Center.
Q7: Is Dr. Shaknovsky still practising medicine?
No. All of his known medical licences — in Florida, Alabama, and New York — have been suspended or surrendered. He is not currently licensed to practise medicine in any of these states. He was released on bond in April 2026 and awaits trial on manslaughter charges.
