Dr. Tom Kwasigroch, professor in the Department of Medical Education. He received
his Ph.D. in anatomy and embryology from the University of Virginia and completed
a postdoctoral fellowship at Freie Universität-Berlin in Germany. His research in
birth defects resulted in numerous publications and presentations nationally and internationally.
He started on the faculty at Quillen during the freshman year of our very first class.
During his time at the medical school, he has taught every medical student, every
physical therapy student (he was instrumental in the design of the Physical Therapy
Program at ETSU) and mentored thousands of students from other institutions through
various programs at ETSU or as a visiting instructor at other medical schools (University
of Tennessee at Memphis, University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, Virginia
Commonwealth University, and others). He has received more than 50 teaching awards
at Quillen. He was recognized nationally as a McCann Scholar for Excellence in Mentoring
and Teaching in 2005. He earned the national Alpha Omega Alpha Robert J. Glaser Distinguished
Teacher Award from the AAMC for his efforts in medical education in 2015. He tries
to encourage students to be the best students they can be, and, subsequently, the
best clinicians they can be by constantly reminding them that “teamwork makes the
dream work” and to embrace feedback, because we have a responsibility to “be better
tomorrow than we were today”.
He has been on the leading edge of education. In 2012, as director of teaching programs
in gross anatomy, the program obtained a grant to introduce iPad technology for each
dissection table to integrate educational apps that maximize learning in the anatomy
lab. He has hosted visitors from other schools seeking to gain insight into how they
can adopt similar innovations. In 2013, he was the first at ETSU to flip the classroom
to encourage active learning and enhance students’ ownership of their education. Kwasigroch
and his colleagues currently are conducting research on innovative embalming procedures
to provide more realistic learning experiences for continuing medical education programs.
He is currently in the process of building the Center for Surgical Innovation and
Training to enhance the educational experiences of students, residents, faculty, and
area clinicians in surgical procedures.
As associate dean for student affairs for 16 years, Kwasigroch was a champion for
student wellness. He obtained spin bikes for Quillen and was a champion for the Professional
and Academic Resource Center, which provides free, broad-spectrum counseling and academic
support to medical students and their families. His office established the “Quillen
Showcase,” where medical students, faculty and staff could display their skills in
arts and entertainment. He also was the motivational force behind the construction
of the Student Study Center, a modern student learning center, which was designed
by a group of students, the architect and Kwasigroch while sitting around his home
dining room table.
Kwasigroch received his military training at the Officer Candidate School in Ft. Benning
GA, Airborne and Special Forces training at Ft. Bragg, NC. He served with the 6th
Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, N.C., where he taught at the Chemical Biological
and Radiological Warfare School. In Vietnam he served as an infantry platoon leader,
company executive officer, and battalion liaison officer, where he was awarded the
Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and Army Commendation Medal, while working in numerous
operations in conjunction with South Vietnamese troops.
Kwasigroch has given up competitive running, basketball and soccer, but enjoys all
outdoor activities, including golf, biking, canoeing and hiking. In addition, he is
a regular at spin and low impact cross-fit classes at the ETSU Center for Physical
Activity.