Frank J. Bova, Ph.D., F.A.C.R., F.A.A.P.M.Professor, Staff Physicist
|
![]() |
Frank Joseph Bova was born in New York City on March 19.1950. He attended Sawanhaka High School in Elmont, New York graduating in 1968. He attended Renesslear Polytechnic Institute and in 1972 graduated with a Bachelor in Biomedical Engineering and in 1973 a Masters in Biomedical Engineering. He went on to receive a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering Sciences with a specialization in Medical Physics from the University of Florida in 1977.
In 1978 Dr. Bova joined the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Florida. He was promoted to Associate Professor in Radiation Oncology in1989. In 1991 he was appointed as the Einstein Fund Professor of Computer-Assisted Stereotactic Neurosurgery within the Department of Neurosurgery. In 1994 he was promoted to Professor of Radiation Oncology. In January of 1999 he joined the faculty of Neurosurgery at the University of Florida and was appointed Professor of Neurosurgery.
Since 1979 Dr. Bova has been a member of the Graduate research Faculty at the University of Florida and was appointed to the Doctoral Research faculty in 1987. He holds appointments in the Departments of Nuclear and Radiological Sciences and the Department of Neuroscience. In 1990 Dr. Bova and Dr. William Friedman received the University of Florida College of Medicine's Faculty Research Prize in Clinical Science for their work in the development of the University of Florida's Stereotactic Radiosurgery system. Their work has resulted in 5 patents dealing with both mechanical and computer system associated with radiosurgery and image guided procedures.
Dr. Bova has been very active in the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Physicist in Medicine, holding the office of President for 1997-8. He had previously served as the President of the Southeast Chapter of the AAPM from 1985-86. He is also active in the American Association of Physicist in Medicine serving as a Board member in 1998-2000. He is also a Board member of the International Society of Radiosurgery. Dr. Bova has served on committees for the State of Florida's Department of Radiation Control, the American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, the Florida Radiological Society, the American Society of Therapeutic Oncologists, the American Association of Physicist in Medicine. He has also serves as a Delegate to the International Electrotechnical Commission. He has been active in the American Board of Radiology, chairing the Physics section of the written examination for Therapeutic Oncologist from 1994-1999.
In 1985 Dr. Bova and Dr. William Friedman began a collaborative project that was responsible for establishing the University of Florida's radiosurgery program. Since its inception this program had treated over 2000 radiosurgery patients. Over 90 papers and chapters as well as numerous presentations at national and international meeting. In 1998 the Radiosurgery/Biology Laboratory at the University of Florida Brain Institute was established. Dr. Bova along with Dr. Friedman and Dr. Dietmar Siemann are co-directors of this facility. Dr. Bova has supervised the doctoral dissertion work of 9 students.
Special Interests: Stereotactic radiosurgery, computer guided neurosurgery, movement disorders surgery
Dr. Bova is developing new technology to be used in the operating room for movement disorders neurosurgery.