Hello, I'm Tim Romanoski, and I'm a recovering Surgeon!
I've taken a rather convoluted path to on my journey to AFP. I was born and
raised in Annapolis, Maryland. Growing up along the Bay, I am passionate about
everything from Maryland. During my high school years, I was a volunteer at the
National Aquarium in Baltimore, racking up more than 500 hours of service as an
exhibit guide and occasional narrator for the seal presentation. I was an active
member of the drama club and yearbook editor, as well as a page for the Maryland
General Assembly.
After high school, I went to Messiah College where I majored in Biology. I was
active with our pre-med club. I was supposed to study abroad the fall of my
junior year. Unfortunately, the events of 9/11 occurred, which changed my plans.
I returned to Messiah and crammed an entire semester into the space of a half
semester. I eventually graduated a half semester ahead of scheduled and was
wait-listed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
During this interim, I worked as a Legislative Aide for the Maryland Senator
from Baltimore and Carroll Counties. I left this position and began working at
the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC. I participated in the
development of biosensors for the detection of explosives in seawater. I
received my first rejection letter from the University of Maryland and began to
pursue a Masters Degree in Biology concentrating in micro and molecular biology
from Towson University. I again applied to Maryland for medical school and was
wait-listed a second time. I became tired of playing the application game and
applied to Ross University School of Medicine, where I was accepted.
My acceptance led me to exile to the island of Dominica. In the anatomy lab I
decided to become a surgeon. I started to pursue this goal. Of note, the filming
of Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and 3 occurred while I was there. It became
commonplace to see the cast and crew at school parties and the Black Pearl was
anchored in the harbor in front of the school.
My 16 month banishment ended, and I entered my clinical years of school. I was
one of the fortunate students to be bounced up and down the east coast for
clinical rotations. Eventually I matched into a surgery residency at St. John
Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. After being involved in the care of innumerable
traumas, appendectomy, vascular surgeries, cholecystectomies, and weekly
surgical M&M meetings, I experienced an epiphany: I was not meant to be a
surgeon. Unfortunately, this did take 2 years. But I found my way to AFP and
found my true calling. Now I have time to enjoy life.
At the present time I am interested in pursuing a fellowship in sports medicine
once I finish my time with AFP.
My other interests include skiing, SCUBA diving, movies and the theatre, as well
as random trivia.
