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2018 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient

Thomas J. Schmidt

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Dr. Thomas J. Schmidt, HMHS Class of 1965, is recognized for his exemplary achievements as a researcher and as an enthusiastic and dedicated educator. Over the past 35 years, he has taught medical and dental students as well as other health science professional students at the Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa. These accomplishments resulted in his selection as the 2017 recipient of the coveted Arthur C. Guyton Educator of the Year Award from the American Physiological Society. 

Tom was born in Mt. Holly, N.J. on December 13, 1946.  He grew up and went to school in Haddonfield along with his younger brothers Kenneth and John.  While a student at HMHS he was involved in numerous activities and was a member of the National Honor Society. After graduation in 1965, he attended the University of Delaware, where he earned his B.A. in Biological Sciences with Honors in 1969. He then went on to earn his M.A. (1973) and Ph.D. (1976) degrees in Physiology from Cornell University. During Graduate School he took a leave of absence and completed basic and advanced military training and subsequently served in the Army National Guard in Cortland, N.Y.  He later conducted endocrine research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda (1973-1976) and subsequently as a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow at the Temple University School of Medicine (1978-1983).

In 1983 Tom was appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at The University of Iowa. He successfully rose through the academic ranks and in 1999 was promoted to Professor.  During his research career, he received grants from several agencies including the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society.  He has authored numerous research publications, reviews, textbook chapters and monographs related to medical education. Over the years he has received fantastic teaching evaluations from both medical students and colleagues and has been the recipient of numerous teaching/service honors and awards. In 2010 he received the Master Teacher Award from the International Association of Medical Science Educators and in 2014 he received the President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence from The University of Iowa. At Iowa, he served for several years as an Assistant Dean in the Office of Student Affairs and Curriculum.  He was also appointed to the National Board of Medical Examiners (2011-2014) and has been invited yearly to serve as a Faculty Facilitator for the Harvard Macy Program. 

Outside of his academic career, Tom enjoys travel, photography, and gardening.  He is a loyal and vocal fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes.  For many years he has been a weekly volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern Iowa in Iowa City. Tom would like to sincerely thank Ken and Edna Schmidt for nominating him for this very special award.