Tom became interested in biomedical engineering early in college and continued that interest through graduate school, ultimately obtaining an MS in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on biomechanics and design from Purdue University.  His research thesis on the delamination of polyethylene knee components has been referenced repeatedly in legal cases.

Following graduate school, Tom began his professional career with Stryker Howmedica Osteonics where he held engineering and management positions in hip and knee product development, including implants and instrumentation. Notable projects included the development of a novel titanium porous coating and a low-cost magnetic hip navigation system. This experience included a great deal of work in the operating room and drove home the principle of how important direct field knowledge is in the design process.

Tom’s product management skills were further honed at the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation while overseeing the company’s spinal allograft products. The desire to get back into more research and development found Tom moving on to Surgical Dynamics in the role of manager of interbody fusion R&D and work on a full line of fusion technologies including the Ray TFC interbody cage.

Tom has always looked for new challenges, so when he was presented with the opportunity to join the start-up company, Spine Wave, as one of its first employees, he jumped right in. Tom hit the ground running and was responsible for growing the company from a handful of employees to hundreds. In the early part of his career at Spine Wave, he directed the development of an injectable protein-polymer hydrogel intended to replace or augment the natural nucleus of the disc as a motion-preserving alternative to fusion. His team was responsible for preclinical and clinical development activities, including material characterization, biocompatibility testing, delivery, and surgical techniques, and case coverage, and data collection for US and OUS clinical studies.