Dr Thomas Shaknovsky Biography: Age, Wife, Medical Error
Dr Thomas Shaknovsky biography – Florida surgeon’s career, the fatal William Bryan surgical error, manslaughter indictment, medical license suspensions, and complete profile details.
Who is Dr Thomas Shaknovsky?
Dr Thomas Shaknovsky’s name became internationally known in 2024 under tragic circumstances that transformed him from a respected general surgeon to a defendant facing second-degree manslaughter charges. At 44 years old, this Florida-based physician now stands at the centre of one of the most shocking medical malpractice cases in recent American history.
Born in Minsk, Belarus, Shaknovsky immigrated to the United States at age 10 with his family seeking religious freedom. His American dream journey led him through distinguished medical training, military service, and what appeared to be a promising surgical career. He graduated from Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2009 and completed rigorous residency and fellowship programmes at prestigious institutions.
For over 15 years, Dr Shaknovsky practised general surgery across multiple states including Florida, Alabama, and New York. He served as a Major in the U.S. Army Reserve, combining civilian medical practice with military service. His profile boasted extensive training in minimally invasive surgery, robotic procedures, flexible endoscopy, and wound care.
However, on August 21, 2024, during what should have been a routine laparoscopic splenectomy at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, Florida, Dr Shaknovsky allegedly committed a catastrophic surgical error. He reportedly removed 70-year-old William Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen, causing massive blood loss and the patient’s death on the operating table. This fatal mistake triggered a cascade of legal and professional consequences that culminated in his arrest on April 14, 2026, and subsequent indictment for manslaughter.
Essential Facts About Dr Thomas Shaknovsky
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dr Thomas J. Shaknovsky, DO |
| Age | 44 years old (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | Minsk, Belarus |
| Immigration Age | 10 years old |
| Medical Degree | Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Midwestern University (2009) |
| Graduation Year | 2009 |
| Residency | Hackensack University Medical Center, New Jersey |
| Fellowship | Richmond University Medical Center, Staten Island, New York |
| Specialty | General Surgery, Colon and Rectal Surgery |
| Military Rank | Major, U.S. Army Reserve |
| Years in Practice | 15+ years |
| Family | Married with three children |
| Criminal Charge | Second-degree manslaughter (April 2026) |
| Bond Amount | $75,000 |
Early Life and Immigration Story
Thomas Shaknovsky’s life began in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, during the final years of the Soviet Union. Born into a family seeking religious freedom, his childhood was marked by the challenges common to Soviet-era Belarus before the dramatic political changes of the early 1990s.
At just 10 years old, Thomas immigrated to the United States with his family, part of a significant wave of Eastern European immigrants seeking better opportunities and religious liberty. The family settled in the Chicago land area, where young Thomas adapted to American culture while maintaining connections to his Eastern European heritage.
Growing up in the Midwest, Shaknovsky attended local schools and excelled academically, eventually earning admission to Loyola University Chicago for his undergraduate education. His immigrant background and family’s sacrifices likely instilled in him strong work ethic and determination that would later characterize his educational and professional pursuits.
Educational Path and Military Service
Undergraduate Education
Dr Shaknovsky attended Loyola University Chicago for his undergraduate degree, studying during a transformative period in American history. During his sophomore year in college, shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, he made the significant decision to join the U.S. Army.
This choice reflected his patriotic commitment to his adopted country and demonstrated the values instilled through his immigrant experience. Serving while pursuing higher education required exceptional discipline and time management, qualities that would serve him throughout his medical career.
Medical School
He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in Downers Grove, Illinois, graduating in 2009. During his medical training, Shaknovsky developed a passion for surgical intervention as a means of helping patients overcome ailments.
The rigorous medical curriculum at Midwestern combined with his military commitments demonstrated his capacity for managing multiple demanding responsibilities simultaneously. His osteopathic training emphasized holistic patient care and the body’s natural healing mechanisms alongside conventional medical approaches.
Surgical Residency
Following medical school, Dr Shaknovsky pursued residency training in General Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. This prestigious programme provided comprehensive training in surgical techniques, patient management, and clinical decision-making.
During his residency, he also completed a Burn Surgery and Wound Care fellowship at John Stroger Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, gaining specialized expertise in managing complex burn injuries and chronic wounds. This additional training expanded his clinical capabilities beyond standard general surgery.
Advanced Fellowship
Driven to master the latest surgical techniques, Dr Shaknovsky completed an advanced fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery, Flexible Endoscopy, and Robotic Surgery at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York. This specialized training equipped him with cutting-edge skills in laparoscopic procedures and robotic-assisted surgery.
His comprehensive training portfolio positioned him as a surgeon capable of performing complex procedures using modern minimally invasive approaches that typically offer patients faster recovery times and reduced surgical complications.
Professional Career Before the Incident
Practice in Southeast Alabama
After completing his extensive training, Dr Shaknovsky established his surgical practice in southeast Alabama, where he spent approximately four years. During this period, he performed a wide variety of surgical procedures, applying his training in minimally invasive techniques, robotic surgery, endoscopy, wound care, and dialysis access.
He became affiliated with multiple hospitals and developed a patient base that appreciated his surgical skills and bedside manner. Patient reviews from this period generally reflected positive experiences, with many describing him as caring and compassionate.
Relocation to Florida’s Emerald Coast
Having experienced Florida’s Emerald Coast through various military training exercises during his Army service, Dr Shaknovsky made the decision to relocate his practice to the area. He joined Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, near Destin, Florida.
His practice expanded to include offices in both Destin and Crestview, Florida, where he treated conditions including colonoscopy procedures, mastectomy, colon removal, intestinal obstruction, and obstructed inguinal hernias. He maintained affiliations with multiple healthcare facilities including HCA Florida Twin Cities Hospital.
Academic Involvement
Beyond clinical practice, Dr Shaknovsky held an academic appointment as Associate Professor at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, contributing to medical education and mentoring future physicians. He remained active in clinical research, authoring numerous scientific papers throughout his career.
Continued Military Service
Throughout his civilian medical career, Dr Shaknovsky maintained his commitment to the U.S. Army Reserve, rising to the rank of Major. This dual role required balancing clinical responsibilities with military obligations, demonstrating his dedication to both civilian and military medicine.
The Fatal August 2024 Incident
Patient William Bryan’s Arrival
On August 21, 2024, 70-year-old William Bryan, a Navy veteran from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and his wife Beverly were visiting their rental property in Okaloosa County, Florida, when William began experiencing severe pain on his left side of his abdomen.
The couple sought medical attention at Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast Hospital in Miramar Beach, where tests revealed an abnormality related to William’s spleen. Dr Shaknovsky recommended immediate surgery, though the Bryans initially hesitated and expressed desire to return to Alabama for treatment.
Pressure to Proceed with Surgery
According to court records and statements from the Bryan family’s attorney, Joe Zarzaur of Zarzaur Law P.A., Dr Shaknovsky along with Dr Christopher Bacani, the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer, convinced the reluctant couple that William would experience serious complications and potentially bleed to death without immediate surgical intervention.
Faced with this urgent medical advice from two senior physicians, the Bryans relented and agreed to proceed with the surgery at the Florida facility rather than returning to Alabama as originally planned.
The Catastrophic Surgical Error
On August 21, 2024, Dr Shaknovsky performed what was scheduled as a hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy on William Bryan. During this procedure, according to prosecutors and medical records, the surgeon removed Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen.
This catastrophic error resulted in massive, uncontrollable bleeding that caused William Bryan’s death on the operating table. The removal of the liver, the body’s largest internal organ essential for numerous vital functions, guaranteed fatal blood loss that no emergency intervention could reverse.
The Cover-up Allegations
What makes this case particularly egregious are allegations that Dr Shaknovsky attempted to conceal his error. According to court documents, although other operating room staff members recognized the removed organ as a liver, Shaknovsky ordered it to be labeled as a “spleen” when sent to pathology.
He reportedly told Beverly Bryan that her husband’s spleen had grown to four times its normal size and migrated to the other side of his body due to abnormality. He initially claimed that William died from a ruptured artery aneurysm causing hemorrhaging.
The Truth Emerges
A pathologist examining the specimen discovered that what had been labeled as “spleen” was actually William Bryan’s liver. An autopsy confirmed that Bryan’s spleen remained intact in his body with only a small cyst on its surface. The autopsy definitively established that removal of the liver, not a ruptured aneurysm, caused the patient’s death.
Beverly Bryan learned the true cause of her husband’s death only after receiving the autopsy results, discovering that the surgeon’s explanation had been false and that a preventable error had killed her husband.
Legal and Professional Consequences
Alabama Medical License Suspension
The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners moved swiftly after learning of the incident. In September 2024, they filed a complaint against Dr Shaknovsky, and the Alabama Medical Licensure Commission issued an emergency order to temporarily suspend his medical license.
The suspension order accused him of “repeated egregious surgical errors” and “egregious conduct of fabricating medical records.” The Commission determined that Dr Shaknovsky “may constitute an immediate danger to his patients and the public.”
Following a hearing on December 18, 2024, the Alabama Medical Licensure Commission permanently revoked Shaknovsky’s Alabama medical license. Licensed in Alabama since 2016, he was now prohibited from practising medicine in that state.
Florida License Suspension
Florida authorities also suspended Dr Shaknovsky’s medical license in 2024 following investigations into the William Bryan case and review of his surgical record. This suspension effectively ended his medical practice in the state where the fatal incident occurred.
New York License Suspension
In 2025, New York State also suspended Dr Shaknovsky’s medical license, further restricting his ability to practise medicine anywhere in the United States. The cascading license suspensions across multiple states reflected the severity with which medical regulatory boards viewed his conduct.
Civil Lawsuit
In 2025, Beverly Bryan filed a comprehensive civil wrongful death lawsuit against Dr Thomas Shaknovsky, Ascension Sacred Heart Health System, Dr Christopher Bacani, and four nurses who worked in the operating room during the fatal surgery.
The lawsuit accused all defendants of medical negligence and sought damages for William Bryan’s wrongful death. The civil case was still pending when criminal charges were filed in 2026.
Previous Malpractice Settlement
Investigations revealed that the William Bryan case was not Dr Shaknovsky’s first serious surgical error. In 2024, he settled a malpractice claim regarding a May 2023 incident for $400,000, according to public records from the Florida Department of Health.
The Alabama suspension order mentioned “two other alleged instances of malpractice” beyond the Bryan case, suggesting a pattern of surgical errors rather than an isolated mistake.
Criminal Indictment and Arrest
On April 14, 2026, nearly two years after William Bryan’s death, a Walton County grand jury indicted Dr Thomas Shaknovsky on a charge of second-degree manslaughter following extensive investigation by the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, state attorney’s office, and state medical authorities.
Shaknovsky, then 44, was arrested at his Miramar Beach residence and transported to Walton County Jail. He made his first court appearance on April 15, 2026, and was released on $75,000 bond.
Sheriff Michael Adkinson stated: “The Grand Jury found probable cause to charge that the actions taken in the operating room constituted criminal conduct under Florida law. Our duty is to follow the facts wherever they lead, without fear or favor.”
Personal Life and Family
Dr Thomas Shaknovsky is married with three children. Throughout his career, he balanced demanding professional responsibilities with family life, a challenge familiar to many physicians.
In his limited free time, Shaknovsky reportedly enjoyed outdoor activities with his family including fishing and hiking along Florida’s Emerald Coast. These recreational pursuits provided respite from the high-stress environment of surgical practice.
His family now faces the profound personal and financial consequences of the criminal charges and civil lawsuits stemming from the August 2024 incident. The transformation from respected surgeon to criminal defendant has undoubtedly impacted his spouse and children significantly.
Current Status and Legal Proceedings
As of April 2026, Dr Shaknovsky awaits trial on the second-degree manslaughter charge. If convicted, he faces potential imprisonment under Florida’s criminal statutes.
His medical career effectively ended with the multiple license suspensions across Alabama, Florida, and New York. The combination of civil liability and criminal prosecution has fundamentally altered his life trajectory.
The civil wrongful death lawsuit filed by Beverly Bryan continues through the court system, seeking accountability and financial compensation for William Bryan’s preventable death.
Victim’s Widow Speaks Out
Beverly Bryan has been vocal about seeking justice for her husband’s death. Speaking to media after the indictment, she stated: “When I tell people what happened, it still sounds too awful to be true that that could happen. I still have trouble believing it happened myself. Can you imagine?”
She expressed hope that criminal prosecution would prevent similar tragedies: “He would want his death to prevent someone else from being hurt, which is what I think the criminal charges being brought will do.”
Her courage in pursuing both civil and criminal accountability has brought national attention to this case and raised important questions about surgical oversight and medical accountability.
Common Questions About Dr Thomas Shaknovsky
What is Dr Thomas Shaknovsky accused of?
Dr Shaknovsky is indicted for second-degree manslaughter for allegedly removing William Bryan’s liver instead of his spleen during surgery on August 21, 2024, causing the patient’s death from catastrophic blood loss.
Where did Dr Shaknovsky receive his medical training?
He graduated from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University in 2009, completed residency at Hackensack University Medical Center, and fellowship training at Richmond University Medical Center in Staten Island, New York.
What happened to Dr Shaknovsky’s medical licenses?
His medical licenses were suspended in Alabama and Florida in 2024, and in New York in 2025, effectively ending his medical career across all states where he previously held licensure.
Has Dr Shaknovsky had other malpractice issues?
Yes, he settled a previous malpractice claim from May 2023 for $400,000, and Alabama’s suspension order mentioned two other alleged instances of malpractice beyond the William Bryan case.
What is the current status of the criminal case?
Dr Shaknovsky was arrested on April 14, 2026, indicted on second-degree manslaughter charges, and released on $75,000 bond while awaiting trial.
Is there also a civil lawsuit?
Yes, Beverly Bryan filed a wrongful death civil lawsuit in 2025 against Dr Shaknovsky, Ascension Sacred Heart Health System, Dr Christopher Bacani, and four nurses involved in the surgery.
