Aquinas College

Tom Zyniewicz, D.O., was one of several outstanding track & field weight-men (shot-put, hammer throw, and 35 pound weight) developed by Aquinas Hall of Fame Track Coach Ernie Mousseau in the 1970’s and 1980’s. A West Catholic High School graduate, he played one year of football at Eastern Michigan before a knee injury cut short his football career. He then enrolled at Aquinas, where he became three time national qualifier who earned NAIA All-American honors in 1984 for his efforts at the national meet. A 1985 alumnus, who majored in both pre-med/biology and business administration, he became the first Aquinas track and field athlete to earn both NAIA All-American status as well as being a NAIA Academic All American (twice honored). He went on to graduate from Michigan State University Medical School in 1989. Upon finishing his internship at Metro Hospital (Grand Rapids) and his residency in Chicago in emergency medicine, he moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to work in emergency medicine. He eventually became the assistant director of emergency medicine in the area, the medical director of FEMA/Region 6 and developed the first helicopter rescue company in the Las Vegas area. He also has served in the U.S. Army Reserve (24-year tenure) and was a member of the Las Vegas SWAT Team. He returned to the West Michigan area with his family to take a position in Muskegon and currently is the executive for emergency physicians to North Ottawa County and Mercy Health Partners. Zyniewicz currently resides in Spring Lake, Michigan with his wife, Tammy, and daughters Tara and Avery. The Zyniewicz’s, however, will be returning to the Las Vegas area where he will assume an executive position with the Las Vegas group providing 24-hour emergency physicians to over 20 hospitals in Nevada, California and Hawaii.