Tom Shane, a member of the Emory University men's swimming and diving program from 1998-2002, was a driving force in helping elevate the Eagles into the national power it is today. During his four-year career, Tom swam to nine All-America honors including a third-place finish in the 200 Butterfly at the 2002 NCAA Championships and lifted Emory to top-10 finishes all four years, a first-ever feat for the men's program. He added three All-America Honorable Mention certificates, five University Athletic Association event titles and at the time of his graduation held six of the 10 fastest times in school history in the 200-yard butterfly. A NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient following his career, Tom was inducted into the Emory Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.
Q: Can you tell us what your occupation is and where you are living?
Tom Shane: I am an ophthalmologist specialized in retinal surgery. I live in Sarasota, Florida
Q: Can you give an update on some of your experiences (jobs, education, travel etc.) post-Emory to where you are now?
TS: After Emory, I attended the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, followed by a one-year Transitional internship in Milwaukee. Then I went to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, Florida for my ophthalmology residency and vitreoretinal surgical fellowship. I opened my own retinal practice in Sarasota immediately after graduation from fellowship.
Q: What were the primary reasons in you choosing Emory for your college experience?
TS: I was interested in medicine and was confident that Emory would prepare me for medical school. I was most interested in participating in Division III sports, where I could meaningfully contribute to the team and still pursue my academic goals without limitation. I liked the size of Emory and the opportunities for small classes and one-on-one mentorship. Atlanta was a wonderful place to live. It was nice to be awarded with a Woodruff scholarship, an honor I tried to live up to.
Q: Reflections upon your time at Emory, both as a member of the swim team and as a student
TS: I think of Emory undergrad as the determinate of my life trajectory. Everything that currently defines me, from my family to hometown to career, has its origin in the experiences and opportunities that I was given at Emory. For example, I stayed in Atlanta for the summer after my freshman year to assistant coach the Druid Hills Golf Club swim team, a job I got because of my connections to the Emory swim team. As a result, I met the father of two swimmers who happened to be a retinal specialist at Emory, Dr. Daniel Martin. He invited me to hang out with him, and over the next three years he mentored me in clinical and academic ophthalmology. We published together and I gained acceptance into top medical school and residency programs as a result of the experience and relationship.
Q: You were part of the most recent Emory Hall of Fame Class – being inducted in 2018. Can you describe what I imagine must have been a proud moment for you?
TS: While it is a deep honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, my emotions are more along the lines of obligation to Emory University. Emory gave me so much opportunity, and the nomination is yet another way that Emory has played a positive role in my life. There have been plenty of athletes on the Emory team that were better swimmers, so the honor has to mean something different than pure athletic talent. I am committed to using the induction as a way to promote Emory and represent the positive impact that the team and the University have had on countless swimmers and other athletes.
Q: You swam your way to nine All-America honors – five individual and four relays – which highlighted an impressive swimming career. Is there one or two races or career honors that still resonates with you almost two decades later?
TS: I always wanted to win the 200 butterfly at NCAA's. I never did. I remember getting 3rd in the 200 butterfly my senior year, the last race of my 18-year swimming career. While I was disappointed, I was also relieved. I was happy to be done striving for the traditional markers of athletic success. Instead, I could appreciate my entire athletic career and the great service it has done for my life. It's the life lessons of swimming that resonate. Delayed gratification, the value to daily effort towards large goals. Dealing with setbacks and success. Discovering that the main goal usually ends up not being the most meaningful accomplishment.
Q: Other Highlights (team, individual or other) that you remember while swimming at Emory?
TS: No one event. My highlights are the daily interaction with my close classmates, teammates, and friends: Eric Caines, Mark Shimko, and Jonathan Abshire.
Q: Influential people during your time at Emory, -- (professor, coach, teammates, etc.)
TS: Dr. Daniel Martin launched my ophthalmology career. Next to my parents and wife, he's had the most influence on my life. I don't fully understand why he brought me into his realm as much as he did. I was just a college student, and yet Dr. Martin invited me to shadow him in clinic, in the OR, to participate in research (I often completed the work from his desk at the clinic or his dining table at home!). He treated me like I was his kid, like I was going to do something special. I don't know if I'll ever match his generosity, but that won't stop me from trying to contribute to the development of the next generation. I owe it to him and Emory.
Coach Jon Howell was new at Emory when we arrived for freshman orientation. Our swimming class hadn't even met him during recruiting, which was done by the previous head coach Pete Smith. It's easy to see from the national results that Jon took a middling team and turned them into a regular national contender. Jon has always been a supporter of mine, regularly putting my name up for recognition, which he continues to do to this day. Like with Dr. Martin, I sometimes feel unworthy of his support. But I will be sure to pay it forward whenever I can.
I had great teammates at Emory, none of them greater than my four-year roommate Eric Caines. He and I captained our senior year...Eric was the example for everyone to look up to. A competitive athlete, all-around nice guy, he always knew the right thing to do.
Q: How are you surviving the pandemic and how has it affected you?
TS: We are determined to avoid becoming infected. We curtailed our clinics in March and April, instituted universal masking and other procedures, and have been going full strength since then. The government support programs were very helpful to supporting our staff and business operations. The biggest disruption is at home, where my kids (6 & 4) are making the best of remote learning, with a huge assist from my wife. I worry about my four-year old's socialization. What are we going to do if this lasts for another year?
Q: Any interests/hobbies or things you do to relax when away from work?
TS: My wife and I have always enjoyed the Dave Matthews band, both fans from before we met each other. I still exercise (interestingly not swimming), which is a privilege I am grateful for. Otherwise, this is not a time in my life that gives a lot of opportunity for recreational pursuits!
Q: How did you begin your swimming career? How old were you?
TS: Mom taught my brother and I the competitive strokes early in our lives. Swimming runs in my mom's family. I was 5 when I joined a competitive swim team. My brother was 2-3 years older than me, and was a good role model for what it took to be on the swim team. I was fortunate to win some butterfly races early on and was hooked.
Q: Do you still swim much nowadays?
TS: I am teaching my kids the competitive strokes. I do a few laps myself, but only until I feel the first hint of lactic acid. I never liked practice, especially if there wasn't a race to train for.
Q: Any former teammates that you are in contact with?
TS: I keep in touch with Eric Caines, Mark Shimko, Jonathan Abshire, and Billy Rhoads. Last time I saw them all was my wedding though, except for Johnny Abs, who came to my induction ceremony.
Q: Are you able to keep up with Emory swimming & diving?
TS: Jon Howell invites me to guest coach a practice when the team visits Sarasota for winter training each year. It's nice to interact with the team. A few years ago, I was astonished to see an Emory swimmer that I had given swim lessons at Druid Hills Golf Club when she was 5 years old!
Q: Is there anything that you take from being a student-athlete into your profession?
TS: Physical fitness helps me stay sharp, in clinic and the OR. I certainly take a long view on building my practice, one day's effort at a time. Handling disappointing outcomes and high-stakes situations is also similar to sporting experiences.
Q: Any advice you would give Emory students/future grads?
TS: Take advantage of mentorship opportunities at Emory. Consider staying in Atlanta in the summer to work with mentors in your field of interest while everyone else is away. Take advantage of your team to put you in contact with opportunities and people who may help your career advancement. While we all compete to win and support the team, realize that the team has value beyond what happens in the arena. Use your athlete status to set yourself up for success after the competition is over. The coaching staff are very supportive of these efforts.
Tom currently lives in Sarasota, Fl with his wife Anita and operates his own retinal practice.