The Tampa medical community is mourning the reported passing of Dr. Thomas L. Bernasek, a respected orthopedic surgeon whose career was dedicated to helping patients recover from hip and knee conditions. His reported death has prompted sadness among those who knew him professionally and personally.

Dr. Bernasek was a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement, revision joint replacement, and adult reconstruction. He practiced with the Florida Orthopaedic Institute and served patients in the Tampa area for decades. 

Throughout his career, Dr. Bernasek earned recognition for his expertise and dedication to medicine. His professional background included a medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine, orthopedic surgery residency at the University of New Mexico, and an adult reconstruction fellowship at Mayo Clinic. 

His contributions to the Tampa healthcare community extended beyond individual patient care. He was recognized among Tampa Magazine’s Top Doctors and remained active in orthopedic medicine for many years. 

For patients and colleagues who knew Dr. Bernasek, his passing represents the loss of an experienced physician who devoted much of his life to caring for others. His professional legacy will remain connected to the many patients he treated and the medical professionals who worked alongside him.

At this time, I could not find a reliable obituary or official announcement confirming his death. In fact, several current sources still list Dr. Thomas Bernasek as an active physician, including the Florida Department of Health, which shows his medical license as active through January 2028, and a patient review dated June 25, 2026. 

Because of this conflicting information, claims that Dr. Bernasek has died should be treated as unconfirmed until his family, medical organization, funeral home, or another authoritative source announces his passing.

For now, the available evidence confirms his longstanding medical career and connection to Tampa, but does not establish that he has died. His family, colleagues, patients, and loved ones should be given privacy and respect while any further information is verified.