Thomas O. Kovacs, MD

Dr. Kovacs graduated from McGill University and completed his internal medicine residency, chief medical residency, and gastroenterology fellowship at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal. He did post graduate training at the Center for Ulcer Research and Education (CURE) with Dr. John Walsh a pioneer in the field of gut hormones and gastric physiology. At CURE, Dr. Kovacs worked on the regulation of gastrin and acid secretion and the effects of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric secretory pathophysiology. Using innovative technology such as monoclonal antibodies to gastrin, led to a better understanding of gastrin’s vital role in the regulation of the various phases of gastric acid secretion.

Dr. Kovacs is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He is a key member of the CURE Hemostasis Research Group and the UCLA Center for Esophageal Disorders. His clinical care interests include general gastroenterology, with a specific focus on esophageal disorders, peptic disease, gastrointestinal bleeding and Clostridium difficile associated disease. He is a member of the American Gastroenterological Association and the American College of Gastroenterology, and is also fluent in French and Hungarian. Dr. Kovacs was selected to be on the Medical Staff for Special Olympics Team USA, the team that will represent the United States at the Special Olympics World Games in the summer of 2015.