Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D.

Professor, Emeritus

Department: Office of the Dean
Phone: : (775) 784-6001
Email: tschwenk@med.unr.edu
Building: PMB
Room: 232
Website: PubMed

Summary

The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine is a community-based, research-intensive medical school that has served the state of Nevada for 50 years as its first public medical school. Since July 2011, Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D., has led the school's commitment to medical education, patient care, research and community engagement as vice president for Health Sciences and dean of the School of Medicine.

For the last three years, Dr. Schwenk has served as a member of the Governor's Graduate Medical Education Task Force, working to expand, develop and promote graduate medical education opportunities in Nevada.

Dr. Schwenk was elected to the Association of American Medical Colleges' Council of Deans Administrative Board in 2017. He has served as a mentor to three Council of Deans fellows. He is currently serving on the 25-member Vision for the Future Commission, sponsored by the American Board of Medical Specialties, a national commission charged with developing guiding principles and recommendations for continuing board certification.

Dr. Schwenk is board-certified in family medicine and sports medicine. He served on the Board of Directors of the American Board of Family Medicine from 2000-2005. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2002, and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha.

Since 1994, Dr. Schwenk has written and edited for Journal Watch, a publication of the Massachusetts Medical Society and the New England Journal of Medicine; he has served as the publication's deputy editor since 2010.

Dr. Schwenk's most recent research focuses on depression and mental illness in medical students, residents and physicians. He has co-authored over 160 publications, and has consulted in various capacities for over 50 medical schools and teaching hospitals.

Dr. Schwenk earned his B.S. in chemical engineering and M.D. from the University of Michigan. Following residency training in family medicine at the University of Utah, he practiced in rural Utah and served on the University of Utah faculty. Dr. Schwenk returned to Michigan as chair of the Department of Family Medicine for 25 years, ultimately obtaining emeritus faculty status as a professor of family medicine.

Selected Publications

Barton GM, Schwenk TL. Group care of psychiatric patients. Amer Fam Phy, 79-82, June 1976.

Schwenk TL, Bittle S. Crisis intervention: Its applicability to family practice. J Fam Pract, 8(6):1151-1158, 1979.

Schwenk TL, Clark CH, Jones GR, Simmons RC, Coleman ML. Defining a behavioral science curriculum for family physicians: What do patients think? J Fam Pract, 15(2):339-345, 1982.
Schwenk TL. Family practice and the behavioral sciences: The need for technology. Fam Med, 14(5):17-20, 1982.
Whitman N, Schwenk TL. Faculty evaluation as a means to faculty development. J Fam Pract, 14(6):1097-1101, 1982.
Schwenk TL, Hughes CC. The family as patient in family medicine: Rhetoric or reality? Soc Sci Med, 17(1):1-16, 1983.
Clark CH, Schwenk TL, Plackis CX. Patient perspectives of behavioral science care by family physicians. J Med Educ, 58:954-961, 1983.
Schwenk TL, Whitman N. Teacher - learner contact time in a family practice residency. J Fam Pract, 18:617-618, 1984.
Schwenk TL. Care of the family for the benefit of the patient: Family therapy skills for family physicians. Fam Sys Med, 2:170-175, 1984.
Schwenk TL, Woolley FR. The education of the community-oriented primary care physician. Am J Prev Med, 2:49-58, 1986.
Whitman N, Schwenk TL. Clinical problem solving: Can it be taught? Current Surgery, 43:453-459, 1986.
Schwenk TL, Detmer DE. Whither primary care in the academic medical center? J Fam Pract, 23:489-493, 1986.
Schwenk TL, Davies TC. Financial and clinical relationships between family practice and the academic medical center. Fam Med, 19:105-109, 1987.
Schwenk TL, Sheets KJ, Marquez JT, Whitman N, Davis WE, McClure C. Where, how and from whom do family practice residents learn: A multi-site analysis of 2,481 teacher-resident interactions. Fam Med, 19:265-268, 1987.
John C, Schwenk TL, Roi LD, Cohen M. Medical care and demographic characteristics of "difficult" patients. J Fam Pract, 24:607-610, 1987.
Schwenk TL. Caring for and caring about the psychosocial needs of patients. (Invited Editorial). J Fam Pract, 24:461-463, 1987.
Sheets KJ, Schwenk TL. Teaching skill improvement for graduate medical trainees: An agenda for research and development. Eval & Health Prof, 11(1):3-19, 1988.
Deur S, Schwenk TL, Coyne JC. Medical and psychosocial correlates of self-reported depressive symptoms in family practice patients. J Fam Pract, 27(6):609-614, 1988.
Sheets KJ, Gravdal JA, Schwenk TL, Woolliscroft JO. Medical education in ambulatory care: Who should teach what, when, where and how? Proceedings of Res. Med. Educ. (RIME), 27th Annual Conference, AAMC, 332, 1988.
Schwenk TL, Marquez JT, Lefever RD, Cohen M. Physician and patient determinants of difficult physician-patient relationships. J Fam Pract, 28(1):59-63, 1989.
Smith MA, Green LA, Schwenk TL. Family practice obstetrics in Michigan: Factors affecting physician participation. J Fam Pract, 28(4):433-437, 1989.
Woolliscroft JO, Schwenk TL. Teaching and learning medicine in the ambulatory setting. Acad Med, 64:644-648, 1989.
Sheets KJ, Schwenk TL. Faculty development for family medicine educators: An agenda for future activities. Teaching and Learning in Medicine, 2(3):143-148, 1990.
Sheets KJ, Caruthers BS, Schwenk TL. Assessing patients' satisfaction with care provided by resident physicians in an academic HMO setting. Acad Med, 65(7):482-483, 1990.
Sheets KJ, Hankin FM, Schwenk TL. Preparing surgery house officers for their teaching role. Am J Surg, 161(4):443-449, 1991.
Coyne JC, Schwenk TL, Smolinski M. Recognizing depression: A comparison of family physician ratings, self-report, and interview measures. J Amer Board Fam Pract, 4(4):207-215, 1991.
Sheets KJ, Caruthers BS, Schwenk TL. Patient satisfaction with gynecologic care provided by family practice resident physicians in an academic HMO. Fam Pract Res J, 11:421-428, 1991.
Working Committee to Develop Curricular Guidelines for a Third-Year Family Medicine Clerkship. Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. National guidelines for curriculum and core competencies for third-year family medicine clerkships. Acad Med, 66:534-539, 1991.
Schwenk TL, Family Medicine. JAMA (Contempo invited paper), 268(3):356-358, 1992.
Stearns JA, Armstrong E, Krackov SK, Schwenk TL. Program planning factors in undergraduate ambulatory care education. Acad Med, 67(suppl):577, 1992.
Schwenk TL, Romano SE. Managing the difficult physician-patient relationship. Amer Fam Phy, 46(5):1503-1509, 1992.
Schwenk TL. Doing well by doing good: Family medicine teaching in the preclinical years. (Invited Editorial). Fam Med, 25:172-173, 1993.
Bowman MA, Schwenk TL. Family medicine. JAMA (Contempo invited paper), 270(2):205-206, 1993.
Maestes R, Ferguson J, Naumberg E, Schwenk TL, Younge R. Voices from family medicine: Toward the 21st century. Fam Med, 25:48-53, 1993.
Coyne JC, Fechner-Bates S, Schwenk TL. Prevalence, nature and co-morbidity of depressive disorders in primary care. Gen Hosp Psych, 16:267-276, 1994.
Fechner-Bates S, Coyne JC, Schwenk TL. The relationship of self-reported distress to depressive disorders and other psycho-pathology. J Consulting Clin Psychology, 62:550-559, 1994.
Bowman MA, Schwenk TL. Family medicine. JAMA (Contempo invited paper), 271:1670-1671, 1994.
Schwenk TL, Fisher M. Hepatitis caused by low-dose sustained-release niacin. JABFP, 7:242-244, 1994.
Schwenk TL. The role of the general practitioner in the Australian health care system: Lessons for United States family physicians. JABFP, 7:351-356, 1994.
Coyne JC, Schwenk TL, Fechner-Bates S. Non-detection of depression by primary care physicians reconsidered. Gen Hosp Psych, 17:3, 1995.
Bowman MA, Schwenk TL, Family medicine. JAMA (Contempo invited paper), 273:1676-77, 1995.
Nicoloff G, Schwenk TL. Exercise and depression. Phys and Sports Med, 23:44-58, 1995.
Coyne JC, Schwenk TL. AHCPR depression in primary care guidelines and psychologists: Countering misconceptions with more misconceptions? Amer Psychologist, 452-453, June 1995.
Bowman MA, Schwenk TL. Family medicine. JAMA (Contempo invited paper), 275:1809-1810, 1996.
Kiningham RB, Apgar BS, Schwenk TL. Evaluation of amenorrhea. Amer Fam Phy, 53:1185-1194, 1996.
Schwenk TL, Coyne JC, Fechner-Bates S. Differences between detected and undetected patients in primary care and depressed psychiatric patients. Gen Hosp Psych, 18:407-415, 1996.
Schwenk TL. Psychoactive drugs and athletic performance. Phys and Sportsmed, 25:32-46, 1997.
Long BJ, Calfas KJ, Wooten W, et al, Schwenk TL, (13 authors). A multisite field test of the acceptability of physical activity counseling in primary care: Project PACE. Am J Prev Med, 12:73-81, 1996.
Hirschfield RMA, Keller MB, Panico S, et al, Schwenk TL, (20 authors). The National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association consensus statement on the undertreatment of depression. JAMA, 277:333-340, 1997.
Schwenk TL. Screening for depression in primary care: A disease in search of a test. (Invited Editorial). J Gen Int Med (invited editorial), 11:437-439, 1996.
Schwenk TL. Competing priorities and comorbidities: So much to do and so little time. (Invited Editorial). Arch Fam Med, 6:238-239, 1997.
Coyne JC, Klinkman MS, Gallo SM, Schwenk TL. Short-term outcome of detected and undetected depressed primary care patients and depressed psychiatric referrals. Gen Hosp Psych, 19:333-343, 1997.
Schwenk TL. Community-based teaching and academic medical centers: A fragile and uneasy alliance. J Fam Pract, 45:1-3, 1997.
Klinkman MS, Coyne JC, Gallo SM, Schwenk TL. Can case-finding instruments be used to improve physician detection of depression in primary care? Arch Fam Med, 6:567-573, 1997.
Klinkman MS, Schwenk TL, Coyne JC. Depression in primary care -- more like asthma than appendicitis: The Michigan depression project. Can J Psych, 42:966-973, 1997.
Nisensen LG, Pepper CM, Schwenk TL, Coyne JC. The nature and prevalence of anxiety disorders in primary care. Gen Hosp Psych, 20:21-28, 1998.
Schwenk TL, Klinkman MS, Coyne JC. Depression in the family physician's office: What the psychiatrist needs to know. The Michigan depression project. J Clin Psych, 59(suppl):1-7, 1998.
Schwenk TL. Cancer and depression. Primary Care, 25(2):505-513, 1998.
Schwenk TL. Strangers in a strange land: Primary care physicians in academic medical centers. (Invited Editorial). J Gen Intern Med, 13:216-217, 1998.
Klinkman MS, Coyne JC, Gallo SM, Schwenk TL. False positives, false negatives, and the validity of the diagnosis of major depression in primary care. Arch Fam Med, 7:451-461, 1998.
Schwenk TL. The tyranny of names in mental health care. (Invited Editorial). JABFP, 12:99-101, 1999.
Schwenk TL (ed). Sports medicine, Clinics in Fam Prac, 1:1-352, 1999.
Schwenk TL. Promoting and prescribing exercise in the family practice office. Clinics in Fam Prac, 1:333-346, 1999.
Schwenk TL (ed). Exercise in the elderly. Phys and Sportsmed (special issue), 27(11):1-146, 1999.
Paluska SA, Schwenk TL. Physical activity and mental health. Sports Med, (29(3):167-180, 2000.
Schwenk TL. The stigmatization and denial of mental illness in athletes. Br J Sports Med (invited editorial), 34(1):4-5, 2000.
Berman D, Johnson, TRB, Apgar BS, Schwenk TL. A model of family medicine and obstetrics-gynecology collaboration in obstetric care at the University of Michigan. Obste & Gyn, 96:308-313, 2000.
Schwenk TL, Alcohol use in adolescents. Phys and Sportsmed, 28:71-76, 2000.
Schwenk TL. Family medicine as an academic discipline: The educational and scholarly contributions of family physicians. Japanese J of Fam Pract, 7(1):3-9, 2000.
Schwenk TL. Diagnosis and management of depression in the primary care setting. Prim Care Cancer, 21:47-51, 2001.
Seto S, Fetters MD, Schwenk TL. Application of qualitative research techniques to clinical practice in primary care. Jpn J Prim Care, 24:12-17, 2001.
Fetters MD, Zamorski MA, Sano K, Schwenk TL, Ban N. Experiences, strategies and principles of clinical clerkships: Comparisons and observations about the United States and Japan. Med Ed (Japan), 32:77-81, 2001.
Schwenk TL, Costley CD. When food becomes a drug: Nutritional supplement use in athletes. Am J Sports Med, 30(6):907-916, 2002.
Bohn AM, Betts S, Schwenk TL. Creatine and other nonsteroidal strength-enhancing aids. Current Sports Med Reports, 1(4):239-244, 2002.
Schwenk TL. Diagnosis of late-life depression - the view from primary care. Biol Psych, 52:157-163, 2002.
Engleberg NC, Schwenk TL, Gruppen LD. Learning styles and perceptions of the value of various learning modalities before and after a second year course in microbiology and infectious diseases. Teach Learn Med, 13:253-257, 2002.
Charney DS . . . Schwenk TL (39 authors). Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance consensus. Statement on the unmet needs in diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders in late life. Arch Gen Psych, 60:664-672, 2003.
Bohn AM, Khodaee M, Schwenk TL. Ephedrine and other stimulants as ergogenic aids. Curr Sports Med Reports, 2:220-225, 2003.
Gravlee JR, Schwenk TL. Management choices for splenic injury in a collegiate football player. Curr Sports Med Reports, 2:211-212, 2003.
Schwenk TL. Keeping the public healthy - the role of family physicians. (Invited Editorial). Amer Fam Phy, 68(10):1920-1921, 2003.
Whitman N, Schwenk TL. Teaching skills for practicing physicians. Clin Fam Practice, 5(4):827-840, 2003.
Schwenk TL, Terrell LB, Shadigran EM, Valenstein MA, Harrison RV. Depression guidelines for clinical care. University of Michigan Health System, 2004. (http://www.med.umich.edu/i/oca/practiceguides accessed 05/23/05).
Schwenk TL, Evans DL, Laden SK, Lewis L. Treatment outcomes and physician-patient communication in primary care patients with chronic, recurrent depression. Am J Psych, 161:1892-1901, 2004.
Wang PS, Lane M, Olfson M, Pincus HA, Schwenk TL, Wells KB, Kessler RC. The primary care of mental disorders in the United States. (In) Mental Health (eds) Manderscheid RW, Berry JT, United States, Rockville, Maryland: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 117-133, 2004.
Aiken JE, Nease DE, Nair DP, Klinkman MS, Schwenk TL. Adherence to maintenance-phase antidepressant medication as a function of patient beliefs about medication. Ann Fam Med, 3:25-30, 2005.
Nease DE, Aikens JE, Schwenk TL. Mental health disorders and their descriptive criteria in primary care: Clarifying or confounding. Primary Care Companion J Clin Psych, 7:89-90, 2005.
Gold KJ, Barnes C, Lalley J, Schwenk TL. Case report: Late-onset eclampsia presents as bilateral cortical blindness. Amer Fam Phy, 71(5):856, 2005.
Schwenk TL. You can't unring a bell. JAMA, 295:977-978, 2006.
Schwenk TL, Green LA. The Michigan clinical research collaboratory. Ann Fam Med, (4 Suppl): S49-S54, 2006.
Gold KJ, Gorenflo DW, Schwenk TL, Bralton SL. Physician experience with family presence during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in children. Pediatric Crit Care Med, 7:428-433, 2006.
Richardson CR, Schwenk TL. Helping sedentary patients become more active: A practical guide for the primary care physician. JCOM, 14:161-169, 2007.
Schwenk TL, Gorenflo DW, Dopp RR, Hipple E. Depression and pain in retired professional football players. Med Sci Sports Exer, 39(4):599-605, 2007.
Gold KJ, Dalton VD, Schwenk TL. Hospital care for parents when a baby dies. A systematic review. Obste & Gyn, 109(5):1156-1166, 2007.
Gold KJ, Dalton VD, Schwenk TL, Hayward RA. What causes pregnancy loss? Pre-existing mental illness as an independent risk factor. Gen Hosp Psych, 29(3):207-213, 2007.
Schwenk TL, Gorenflo DW, Leja LM. The impact of depression on the professional status and mental health care of physicians. J Clin Psych, 69:617-20, 2008.
DeYoung DZ, Dopp RR, Schwenk TL. Depression, pain and quality of life in retired professional football players. Med Sci Sports Exer, 40(5):S117, 2008.
Schwenk TL, Sheets KJ. Family Medicine in highly ranked medical schools. Family Medicine, 40:538-39, 2008.
Gold KJ, Schwenk TL, Johnson TRB. Brief report: Sedatives for mothers of stillborn infants: Views from a survey of obstetricians. J Women's Health, 17:1605-07, 2008.
Schwenk TL, Davis L, Wimsatt LA. Depression, Stigma and Suicidal Ideation in Medical Students. JAMA, 304:1181-90, 2010.
Phillips JP, Weismantel DP, Gold KJ, Schwenk TL. Medical Student Debt and Primary Care Specialty Intentions. Fam Med, 42(9):616-622, 2010.
Phillips J, Weismantel D, Gold K, Schwenk TL. How do medical students view the work life of primary care and specialty physicians? Fam Med, 44:7-13, 2012.
Gold KJ, Sen A, Schwenk TL. Details on suicide among US physicians: data from the National Violent Death Reporting System. Gen Hosp Psych. http//dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.08.005.
Alves J, Schwenk TL, Concalves OF, Petrosyan A. Importance of web-based intervention in minimizing depressive symptoms and associated stigma in depressed medical students. Revista Brasileria de Psiquiatria, 2013;35:334. Doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2012-0972.
Schwenk TL. The moment of truth. JAMA 2014;311:573-4.
Schwenk TL. The patient-centered medical home: one size does not fit all. JAMA 2014;311:802-
Baker T, Schwenk TL, Piasecki M, Smith GS, Reimer D, Jacobs N, Shonkwiler G, Hagen J, Houmanfar R. Cultural change in a medical school: a data-driven management of entropy. J Organizat Behav Management 2015;35:95-122. Doi:10/1080/01608061.2015.1035826.
Wimsatt L, Schwenk TL, Sen A. Predictors of depression stigma in medical students. Am J Prev Med, November 2015;49:703-714. Doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2015.021
Schwenk TL. Depression in residents: The tip of a graduate medical education iceberg (invited editorial). JAMA Dec 2015;314:2357-58.
Schwenk TL, Green LA, Zazove P. Additional considerations for the expert-generalist model. Acad Med April 2016;91:448.
Taylor MA, Hollett YR, Anderson JP, Schwenk TL. Educational value of a free medical clinical operated by medical students. Fam Med Feb 2016;48:127-31.
Schwenk TL. Integrated behavioral and primary care (invited editorial). JAMA Aug 23/30, 2016;316:822-23.
Gold KT, Shih ER, Goldman EB. Schwenk TL. Do US medical licensing applications treat mental and physical illness equivalently. Fam Med June 2017;49:464-7.
Schneiderhan J, Clauw D, Schwenk TL. The primary care of patients with chronic pain. JAMA. 2017; 317(23):2367-2368. doi: 10.1001/jama.2017.5787.
Schwenk TL. Physician Well-Being and the Regenerative Power of Caring. JAMA. 2018; 319(15):1543-1544. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.1539
Hromas R, (8 authors), Schwenk TL. What a medical school chair wants from the dean. J Healthcare Leadership 2018;10:33-44

Schwenk TL. The family physician as academic clinician. STFM Newsletter, 3:3-4, 1983.
Schwenk TL, Byrne W, Smith MA. Carotenemia. Amer Fam Phy, 36:135-136, 1987.
Hankin F, Sheets KJ, Schwenk TL. Residents as teachers: An experience in orthopaedic surgery. Orthopedic Transactions, 2:445, 1987.
Schwenk TL, Coyne JC. Recognition and treatment of the depressed patient: An effective office approach. Mod Med, 58:82-94, 1990.
Schwenk TL, Sheets KJ. How house officers spend their nights (letter). NEJM, 321(23):1615, 1990.
Schwenk TL. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: Solving diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. Mod Med, 60:50-60, 1992.
Coyne JC, Schwenk TL. Depression in the female patient. The Female Patient, 19:59-74, 1994.
Schwenk TL. Depression: Overcoming barriers to diagnosis. Consultant, 1553-1565, November 1994.
Schwenk TL. Depression: Pairing drug therapy and psychotherapy in primary care. Consultant, 698-709, May 1995.
Schwenk TL. Exercise for the depressed menopausal patient. Menopause Management, Sept/Oct:14-19, 1995.
Housner JA, Schwenk TL. Musculoskeletal injuries: Ten principles of rehabilitation. Consultant, July:1777-1786, 1997.
Sheets KJ, Lefever RD, Schwenk TL. The University of Michigan Family Medicine Faculty Development Institute: A complementary approach. Fam Med, 29:284, 1997.
Costley CD, Mandel CH, Schwenk TL. Nutritional supplement use in collegiate athletes. MSSE, 5(suppl), 1998.
Schwenk TL. Generalist and specialty care. Arch Intern Med, (letter), 159:884, 1999.
Schwenk TL. Specializing in the patient. Hippocrates, (invited editorial), 8, July 2000.
Schwenk TL. Screening for depression in primary care. JAMA, (letter), 284:1379-1380, 2000.
Schwenk TL. Managing difficult physician-patient relationships. Am Med News, August 4, 2003.
Culpepper L, Davidson JRT, Dietrich AJ, Goodman WK, Kroenke K, Schwenk TL. Suicidality as a possible side-effect of antidepressant treatment. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psych, 6:1-7, 2004.
Schwenk TL. Massachusetts General Hospital Guide to Primary Care Psychiatry, Second Edition (book review). Prim Care Companion J Clin Psych, 6:138, 2004.
Gold KJ, Barnes C, Lalley J, Schwenk TL. Late-onset pre-eclampsia presents as bilateral cortical blindness. Am Fam Phys, 71:856, 2005.
Schwenk TL, (book review) Handbook of Families and Health. (ed) Crane DR, Marshall ES. N Engl J Med (in press).
Richardson CR, Newton TL, Sen A, Jimbo M, Schwenk TL. A systematic review of pedometer-based walking interventions for weight loss. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 38(5 Suppl):S120, 2006.
Schwenk TL. The physician as role model. Am Fam Phys, 75:1089-1090, 2007.
Phillips J, et al., Schwenk TL. Medical students' anticipated debt and intentions to enter primary care specialties. Research in Medical Education, Association of American Medical Colleges, San Antonio, Texas.
Schwenk TL. Resident work hours (letter). NEJM, 36:928, 2009.

Thomas L. Schwenk, M.D.

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