Faculty Spotlight: Tom Cecere

Tom Cecere '01, DVM '05, Ph.D. '12, DACVP–Anatomic Pathology

Assistant Head for DVM Curriculum Coordination and Associate Professor of Anatomic Pathology

When did you join the college?

2001 as a DVM student, 2008 as a PhD student, 2012 as a member of faculty

The best part of being faculty is …

Learning from and teaching veterinary students and residents. Lifelong learning is a true reward of this vocation!

Best advice I've gotten …

A job done is better than an excellent job not done.

How would you capture the essence of your work in a newspaper headline?

Veterinary pathologist unravels mysteries of animal disease while sharing passion for education with students.

My hidden talent...

I've been a violinist since I was 4. I served as the student concertmaster for the New River Valley Symphony Orchestra while I was in college and veterinary school.

A person who has inspired me...

This list is too long to enumerate. Some have inspired my professional development and nurtured my growth, others have modeled the kind of human being I aspire to be, some both. Those who have most inspired me are my parents. Their consistent encouragement to explore emerging interests is something I aspire to as a parent.

Words of encouragement to a current veterinary college student...

When I was a veterinary student, Dr. Sponenberg once told me to go look at the wall with all the photos of our DVM graduates and reminded me that if they could do it so could I. I now share this encouragement with some of my mentees.

One misconception that all students seem to have is...

They will be doing the same thing for the duration of their career as a veterinarian. Not all think this, but many do...

If I had a superpower, it would be..

To be able to read as fast as my wife (each Harry Potter book in a single day!)

This excites me the most about the future of my industry...

Like most medical specialties, veterinary pathology has recently experienced dramatic scientific and technological advances, all the while affirming the value and need for skilled and knowledgeable pathologists.

A cause I'm most passionate about...

This question sounds like the answer should be something like world peace. While not necessarily a cause, I am passionate about inspiring a spark for learning and discovery in my students. I've been fortunate to have several phenomenal mentors/teachers who kindled an excitement for learning in me. I hope to repay this gift forward.

Favorite way to end the day...

Reading to my kids every night at bedtime. I get to relive all of the great books from my own childhood and enjoy some new ones!

Top of my bucket list...

Since the pandemic stole so much family travel time, the short term answer to this is a family trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. The longer term answer is to visit extended family in Italy with my wife and kids.

My favorite quote…

If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings." - Dave Barry

How many pets/animals live at home?

Two dogs, two barn cats, four horses, 24ish chickens