Tibor Kovacsovics,
MD
Languages Spoken: English
Dr. Kovacsovics brings to the University of Utah extensive expertise in the clinical management of patients with hematologic malignancies, particularly acute leukemias. In his role at the University of Utah, Dr. Kovacsovics will serve as the Medical Director for the Inpatient Service of the Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies. In his role as Associate Director of Hematologic Malignancy Clinical Research in the HCI Clinical Trials Office, he will establish a phase 1 program in hematologic malignancies, coordinate clinical research in the Division and develop a Clinical-translational Research Network suitable to carry out multicenter investigator-initiated studies in hematologic malignancies, with an emphasis on correlative science. He will also develop relationships with community practices to engage community practices in HCI-based clinical trials and increase the number of patients treated on clinical trials.
Clinical Locations
Clinic 2C/BMT, Blood and Marrow Transplant
801-585-2626
Hematology Clinic
801-585-2626
Specialties
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Hematology/BMT |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.7/ 5
Care provider spoke using clear language
4.7/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.6/ 5
My confidence in care provider
4.7/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.6/ 5
Wait time at clinic
3.6/ 5
Time care provider spent with me
4.5/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.6/ 5
Care provider's friendliness and courtesy
4.7/ 5
Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
January 04, 2019
Dr Kovasovics and his staff are amazing! They are having a hard time trying to determine what is wrong with my blood issues, but he is determined to figure it out! I appreciate him and his staff and completely trust he will figure this out!
UofU Patient
December 21, 2018
Dr. K. is very friendly, professional and caring. We have a very good relationship.
UofU Patient
December 17, 2018
knowledgeable oncologist as well as PA. answered all of my questions and gave me contact information in case I had more.
UofU Patient
December 07, 2018
Care provider-- Dr. Kovoaovics is very knowledgeable, personable, and caring doctor. He is an outstanding care provider who I would recommend to anyone and everyone.
UofU Patient
October 18, 2018
I felt like the appointment was a waste and he was trying to brush me off to another doctor. he keeps calling me a difficult patient
UofU Patient
October 05, 2018
Dr. K is knowledgeable and I trust him totally.
UofU Patient
September 21, 2018
Dr. K and his assistant are a great combination. We look forward to coming.
UofU Patient
September 18, 2018
Dr much more friendly and seemed more caring. He probably was just having a bad day before. Sorry to have listed that. I feel so blessed to have my provider~~
UofU Patient
August 04, 2018
I am somewhat hearing impared and the P A was difficult for me to understand.
UofU Patient
August 03, 2018
I know I have an amazing, intelligent MD. I just don't always feel he cares.
UofU Patient
March 29, 2018
I appreciate these caregivers they care.
UofU Patient
March 23, 2018
Dr. K. is always very kind yet straightforward adout my condition. I have great confidence in him.
UofU Patient
September 18, 2017
I am very grateful for the care & concern he has given me. I enjoy my time with him. he has used good judgement in my care.
UofU Patient
September 14, 2017
Dr K explains my condition, treatment, and results of treatment very well. He is clearly delighted at the effectiveness of the treatment, and communicates that clearly. This is very encouraging.
UofU Patient
September 05, 2017
Felt the doctor was there to help treat my condition and not just tell me about it.
UofU Patient
September 04, 2017
Very happy and confident with Dr Kovacsovics expertise and care. My nurse practioner Mary S. is also exceptional.
UofU Patient
July 14, 2017
Everyone seemed to be doing their job well.
UofU Patient
June 21, 2017
I'm very grateful
UofU Patient
June 16, 2017
Dr. K has always been very clear in his explanations. In our meetings over a period of almost six months he always takes his time in explaining his plan, and in answering my questions and concerns. I have never felt rushed, quite the contrary, always felt that I was treated as a patient whos deserved the time needed for explanations and discussions. And in this meeting he gave me the good news that my cancer was in "complete remssion". I will of course be followed closely for some time, and the situation may change, but, for the time being, it looks like the treatment has been very successful. Thank you very much, Dr. K, for the excellent care I have received from you. I I have great confidence in your judgement and very much appreciate the style in which you have treated me.
UofU Patient
June 04, 2017
Dr. K has been very good with me in keeping me informed about the progress of my condition. He is very warm and I feel that our communication if very good.
UofU Patient
May 18, 2017
This visit was much better than the last one.
UofU Patient
March 27, 2017
Dr. K has always explained everything thoroughly and in a manner that I can understand.
UofU Patient
February 20, 2017
Dr. Kovacsovics and his staff involved in my visits were all wonderful. My condition, future treatment and questions were well addressed in terms I understood. I've never had such a level of trust as I have in Dr. Kovacsovics. He is very thorough and searched for answers until he was sure he had the right answers. There are no words to describe my level of appreciation and gratitude for him.
UofU Patient
February 17, 2017
Dr. K is great. I have confidence in his judgement in regards to my condition
UofU Patient
February 16, 2017
I have the greatest confidence in all of the medical team at Huntsman.
UofU Patient
February 10, 2017
The doctor and his staff were very caring, kind and spoke in lay terms, which I greatly appreciate.
UofU Patient
January 02, 2017
Dr Kovacsovics explained carefully my situation and the process by which he came to decisions on treatment, in particular the meetings with other specialists and the interpretation of test results. Obviously a careful diagnosis. I have great confidence in the doctor and the process.
UofU Patient
December 19, 2016
Dr K explained that more information and consultation with other specialists was needed for proper diagnosis and treatment, and arranged for the necessary follow-up. His plan seemed very reasonable, I came out feeling that I was in good hands.
UofU Patient
October 24, 2016
Always knows my case and well organized.
UofU Patient
October 05, 2016
Dr K is awesome
UofU Patient
September 30, 2016
PA was apologetic about Dr being late, but was able to provide answers to most questions, was courteous and able to address concerns. Previously, Dr K was unwilling to answer questions, stating, "too many questions!, as well as, "how many times do I have to answer these questions?" (or) on several occasions, stated "we will address that when the time comes" On initial admittance, we were told to "ask as many questions as necessary, and if you dont feel confident in the answer, ask again". We felt that we were lost in the process, toward the end, when some of our scheduled appts were apparently lost. Staff was apologetic, we felt left out.
UofU Patient
September 21, 2016
Dr. Kovascovics gave us such good service. He is very thorough, and knowledgeable. He explained things well to my NP daughter and to me in a way I could understand. His friendly, kind manner was very appreciated.
UofU Patient
September 01, 2016
Dr Kovacsovics and Mary are a great team they keep me informed of my condition and are on top of any new treatments available. They are the best.
UofU Patient
August 26, 2016
I was so frustrated by the time the physician saw me that I felt out of time to discuss my concerns adequately.
UofU Patient
August 23, 2016
No problem
UofU Patient
August 22, 2016
Very good experience, very caring and informative visit with Dr. K.
UofU Patient
July 01, 2016
Cant say more!
UofU Patient
June 26, 2016
No bad experiences. Greatly impressed with everyone and everything.
UofU Patient
April 25, 2016
All providers were excellent
UofU Patient
April 22, 2016
I know I am in the best hands around. I have full confidence in all my caregivers.
UofU Patient
April 01, 2016
My only complaint was the hour plus that I had to wait for the doctor for my follow-up appointment after the bone-marrow biopsy the previous week.
UofU Patient
March 28, 2016
excellent experience
UofU Patient
February 26, 2016
They always make me feel good, knowing that there's people there who cares I mean there like family I have a real good Dr. He is the best Dr. K
UofU Patient
December 03, 2015
We had a good experience with Dr. T. He was not in a hurry. He was relaxed and spent plenty of time to examine me and answer any questions.
UofU Patient
October 27, 2015
when I was waiting for Dr to come to see me that I had been waiting for about 40 min Dr came into.
UofU Patient
September 18, 2015
I am very happy Dr. Kovacsovics has agreed to take me as a patient and direct my care in conjunction with my hematologist-oncologist (Dr. KristieBobolis) in California, where I live.
UofU Patient
September 03, 2015
Wish there was a 6 (excellent) I press it.
UofU Patient
August 11, 2015
Dr. K was very apologetic concerning our last visit where we did not see him.... and he was on time and very informative during this visit. He also had good news to impart....
UofU Patient
July 17, 2015
impressed with the doctors
UofU Patient
July 13, 2015
Dr. K did a great job of explaining my labs and the option I had for my treatment. Great Doctor.
UofU Patient
July 04, 2015
Dr K is a very good Dr.
UofU Patient
June 22, 2015
All went very well the staf is very good and we know where we are at and what is going on
UofU Patient
May 29, 2015
We do not have contemplates at all the staff is very good
UofU Patient
May 05, 2015
My Dr is excellent. I feel like he explains things to me so I can understand. I can ask him any questions I have about treatment or meds. I trust his judgement and I feel he is on top of the treatment of Myeloma .
UofU Patient
April 19, 2015
I really like Dr. K. he listens to my wants about my treatment and offers additional help if I want it.
UofU Patient
January 16, 2015
Very, very good experience from access point, etc. I am getting tired, however, of being asked to do a survey at a minimum of once a week.
UofU Patient
November 28, 2014
I like and respect Dr. Kovacsovics, his direct manner, and straightforward manner. I appreciated his comments about re-staging my disease and the tests that would entail. I look forward to being under his care.
UofU Patient
November 04, 2014
We spent probably 20 minutes with the nurse and maybe 1 other person in the exam room before the Doctor came in. I realize he has a lot of people to see each day but he interrupted our comments often as we made statements to him that might better explain our concerns. When we are interrupted like that and that many times, it tells me he thinks his time is worth more than our time. Also, when we are coming to a place like Huntsman for the first time, everyone is not up to speed on everything discussed. In my case, I need it repeated certainly 2 or 3 times so I get the message. In this visit with this doctor, I felt I could not do that.
UofU Patient
October 12, 2014
I have never been treated with such kindness and concern anywhere else. I felt especially well cared for and understood by the doctors. They didn't make me feel like they only had 5 minutes to give me and they made sure we understood everything and was comfortable with all decisions made. This was the most respectful visit with a doctor I have ever had
UofU Patient
July 07, 2014
Dr. Nance and Dr. Kovascovics have been very informative regarding my condition. I feel at ease when they explain test results to me in a manner that I can understand. They are excellent doctors.
UofU Patient
July 06, 2014
Better than the experience at LDS hospital
UofU Patient
June 20, 2014
My bone marrow biopsy was a "pleasant" experience. Renee talked to me the entire time and made me feel at ease during the procedure.
UofU Patient
May 28, 2014
I have the utmost respect for Dr. Kovacsovics. He never seems too busy when he is examining me and any questions or concerns I have regarding my condition, Dr. Kovacsovics always attentively listens then explains things to me in terms I can understand. He is the utmost professional.
UofU Patient
May 20, 2014
I noticed that Dr Tibor J Kovacsovics was a little hurry from questions and some not understand - an inter peter had a little hard time to transferred from English to ASL so hopefully next visit and have Dr Kovacsovics be a little patience and take time.
UofU Patient
May 11, 2014
They take the time to answer all of our questions and concerns. So far the communications about treatment drugs and side-effects have been very good. That helps a lot with this chemo stuff.
UofU Patient
April 13, 2014
Was a good experience
UofU Patient
April 08, 2014
Dr. Kovacsovics was very courteous and explained my results and further care options clearly. Since the results so far are quite positive, I have good confidence in his judement and care recommendations.
UofU Patient
December 07, 2013
Great.
UofU Patient
October 07, 2013
I have already recommended the Huntsman to others. I have been to several hospitals because of my cancer and I can honestly say that this is the first hospital where I feel at home. This is also one of the only hospitals where i have not felt like I had to be my own Doctor. I trust my team and know they are keeping close watch on me. This really takes a lot of stress off my shoulders.
UofU Patient
October 05, 2013
Excellent doctor!
UofU Patient
September 25, 2013
I appreciated the cautious approach rather than just jumping into Chemo. I'm glad there will be more tests done and evaluated before a diagnosis and treatment plan will be advised.
UofU Patient
August 23, 2013
As an inpatient when I expressed concern on a certain issue to my treatment I was very impressed that they had a specialist from every possible area come talk to me about my options.
UofU Patient
April 21, 2013
good
UofU Patient
April 16, 2013
Dr K spoke to other people about choices in my treatment but I only know of the one choice that I was told, I would really like to try something less harmful to my body.
Dr. Kovacsovics graduated from the University of Geneva Medical School, and was a Resident in Internal Medicine at the Clinique Médicale Thérapeutique at Geneva University Hospital, Switzerland, after which he became Chief Resident at the same institution. He also completed training as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Biochemistry at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. He then became a Clinical and Research Fellow in Medicine, Hematology-Oncology, at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. This was followed by positions as “Chef de Clinique” and “Médecin Associé” in the Division of Hematology at Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, where he set up the autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant program. In 2004 he was recruited to the Faculty at Oregon Health Science University, where he developed a program in acute leukemia, with a focus on innovative clinical trials and molecular diagnostics. Dr. Kovacsovics has served as both principal investigator and co-investigator on numerous clinical trials and grants. Many of his clinical trials focus on new agents for treatment of acute leukemias. He is a member of multiple professional societies, and was the chairman of the Swiss Leukemia Cooperative Group (SAKK) from 2002-2004. He has published over forty peer-reviewed manuscripts, and is a regular reviewer for many top Hematology journals, including Blood, American Journal of Cancer, Haematologica, and Leukemia.
Academic Locations
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801-585-2626
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Hematology/BMT |
Research Interests
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
- Chemotherapy
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Education History
| Fellowship | Brigham and Women's Hospital Clinical and Research Fellow in Medicine, Hematology-Oncology Clinical Fellow |
| Fellowship | Massachusetts General Hospital Clinical and Research Fellow in Medicine, Hematology-Oncology Clinical Fellow |
| Chief Resident | Clinique Médicale Thérapeutique, Geneva University Hospital Internal Medicine Chief Resident |
| Residency | Clinique Médicale Thérapeutique, Geneva University Hospital Internal Medicine Resident |
| Postdoctoral Fellowship | University of Lausanne Research Assistant, Institute of Biochemistry Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Professional Medical | University of Geneva Medical School Medicine M.D. |
Selected Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Lancet JE, Cortes JE, Hogge DE, Tallman MS, Kovacsovics TJ, Damon LE, Komrokji R, Solomon SR, Kolitz JE, Cooper M, Yeager AM, Louie AC, Feldman EJ (2014). Phase II, multicenter, randomized, open label trial of CPX-351 (cytarabine:daunorubicin) liposome injection versus cytarabine and daunorubicin in patients with untreated AML 60-75 years of age. Blood.
- Cogle CR, Goldman DC, Madlambayan GJ, Leon RP, Al Masri A, Clark HA, Asbaghi SA, Tyner JW, Dunlap J, Fan G, Kovacsovics T, Liu Q, Meacham A, Hamlin KL, Hromas RA, Scott EW, Fleming WH (2014). Functional integration of acute myeloid leukemia into the vascular niche. Leukemia, 28(10), 1978-87.
- Scott EC, Heitner SB, Dibb W, Meyers G, Smith SD, Abar F, Kovacsovics T, Perez-Avraham G, Stentz A, Frires R, Dibb J, Maziarz RT (2014). Induction bortezomib in Al amyloidosis followed by high dose melphalan and autologous stem cell transplantation: a single institution retrospective study. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk, 14(5), 424-430.e1.
- Tyner JW, Yang WF, Bankhead A 3rd, Fan G, Fletcher LB, Bryant J, Glover JM, Chang BH, Spurgeon SE, Fleming WH, Kovacsovics T, Gotlib JR, Oh ST, Deininger MW, Zwaan CM, Den Boer ML, van den Heuvel-Eibrink MM, OHare T, Druker BJ, Loriaux MM (2013). Kinase pathway dependence in primary human leukemias determined by rapid inhibitor screening. Cancer Res, 73(1), 285-96.
- Claxton D, Erba HP, Faderl S, Arellano M, Lyons RM, Kovacsovics T, Gabrilove J, Huebner D, Gandhi PJ, Kantarjian H (2012). Outpatient consolidation treatment with clofarabine in a phase 2 study of older adult patients with previously untreated acute myelogenous leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma, 53(3), 435-40.
- Faderl S, Wetzler M, Rizzieri D, Schiller G, Jagasia M, Stuart R, Ganguly S, Avigan D, Craig M, Collins R, Maris M, Kovacsovics T, Goldberg S, Seiter K, Hari P, Greiner J, Vey N, Recher C, Ravandi F, Wang ES, Vasconcelles M, Huebner D, Kantarjian HM (2012). Clofarabine plus cytarabine compared with cytarabine alone in older patients with relapsed or refractory acute myelogenous leukemia: results from the CLASSIC I Trial. J Clin Oncol, 30(20), 2492-9.
- Dunlap J, Beadling C, Warrick A, Neff T, Fleming WH, Loriaux M, Heinrich MC, Kovacsovics T, Kelemen K, Leeborg N, Gatter K, Braziel RM, Press R, Corless CL, Fan G (2012). Multiplex high-throughput gene mutation analysis in acute myeloid leukemia. Hum Pathol, 43(12), 2167-76.
Case Report
Global Impact
Education History
| Chief Resident | Clinique Médicale Thérapeutique, Geneva University Hospital Internal Medicine Chief Resident |
| Residency | Clinique Médicale Thérapeutique, Geneva University Hospital Internal Medicine Resident |
| Postdoctoral Fellowship | University of Lausanne Research Assistant, Institute of Biochemistry Postdoctoral Fellow |
| Professional Medical | University of Geneva Medical School Medicine M.D. |
Career
| Lausanne University Hospital, Division of Hematology | Médecin Associé | Switzerland |
| Lausanne University Hospital, Division of Hematology | Chef de clinique | Switzerland |