Today we’d like to introduce you to Thomas Suszynski.
Hi Thomas, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Immigrant parents from Poland. I was born in the US. Oldest of three boys. Raised in NE Minneapolis.
Stayed in Minnesota at the UMN for biomedical engineering undergraduate school, graduate and also medical school. This was a combined Medical Scientist Training Program, to complete a PhD in engineering and an MD. My research work and passion is in tissue-engineered and medical device design. Then, moved to Dallas TX for a 6-year integrated plastic surgery residency program at UT Southwestern. This was the #1 ranked plastic surgery training program in the US. After this, I moved again to Pittsburgh to complete additional sub-specialty training in hand, upper extremity and microsurgery with both Plastic and Orthopedic surgery mentors. After completing training, I moved back to the Twin Cities with my partner and wife Sabrina, and started as an Assistant Professor and Staff Plastic and Hand Surgeon in both the Departments of Surgery (Division of Plastic Surgery) and Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and M Health Fairview. My clinical practice includes hand, upper extremity surgery, microsurgery, limb salvage, breast reconstruction, gender surgery, and aesthetic surgery. My wife and I now are expecting our first child, a boy due around June 8.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Never a smooth road!
The biggest challenges were:
1. Years of school (4.5 years of undergraduate engineering and premed school, 4 years of PhD, 4 years of MD)
2. Years of surgical training (6 years of residency, 1 year of fellowship)
3. Dissolution of my first marriage right after moving to Texas at the start of my residency
BUT though the journey was long and sometimes arduous, I always followed my passion and persevered
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Plastic Surgeon, Hand Surgeon, Bioengineer.
Most proud of always following my passion without compromise and my story is one of the genuine pursuits of my academic interests.
What is perhaps unique about my story is that I am a full-fledged engineer-scientist and surgeon. This combined background is rare. The surgery informs my pursuit of solutions to engineering problems, and vice versa. Also, I was fortunate to train at the top plastic and hand surgery program in the US and then bring that experience to the Twin Cities, a community that is close to my heart.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Love to draw and produce artwork. Many of my academic publications feature figures that were drawn by me. I enjoy drawing with graphite and coloured pencils, charcoal, pastels, and Micron pens. I have also explored with oil painting.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @drsuszynski | @suszynski
- Twitter: @drsuszynski
