COEUR d'ALENE - Tom Croschere will graduate from the University of Idaho-Coeur d'Alene this May, and was recently accepted into the prestigious University of Washington School of Medicine.

Croschere's pre-med education was a bit non-traditional. He completed it in Coeur d'Alene, and much of his research focused on the health of local waters.

As an Idaho IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence student at North Idaho College and at UI, Croschere spent the last two summers and the fall of his senior year monitoring water quality at Coeur d'Alene's Independence Point.

He studied the impacts of domestic and recreational use on the lake by measuring the water's E. coli and coliform content, temperature, pH and conductivity.

As an INBRE student with the University of Idaho's Biosensors and Nanotechnology Applications Laboratory in Coeur d'Alene and Post Falls, Croschere has also worked to develop a lateral flow test strip, which has the potential to detect E. coli O157:H7 in under 20 minutes, when development is complete.

Croschere grew up in Kingston and graduated from Kellogg High School. He worked in the mining industry in both Idaho and Montana before beginning classes at North Idaho College in 2006. His mother, Diane Croschere, inspired him to pursue a college education, he said. While he was working in the mine, his mother returned to college and succeeded in becoming a registered nurse.

There was no particular accident or incident in the mines that inspired him to pursue a career in medicine, but he witnessed a few. The cumulative effect played a role in his career choice.

He worked as an emergency medical technician and enjoyed it.

"That was the first push," Croschere said. "When I was in the mines, I realized the dangers of working down there, but thought as long as I work safe nothing bad would happen. Once I became a father, I had to think of my future. I wanted to be there for my wife and children."

In 2009, Croschere transitioned from North Idaho College into a four-year degree program at UI-Coeur d'Alene. He will graduate May 9 with a double major in psychology and nutrition.

His road to medical school was paved with good mentors.

NIC microbiology professor and North Idaho INBRE Director Rhena Copper helped him get internship positions, first at Coeur d'Alene Cellars and then with University of Idaho BNAL.

"The time with the INBRE research was pretty neat because it allowed me to apply what I'd learned in statistics, physics, chemistry and biology, and I learned a lot, too," Croschere said. "The research was a class in itself."

Once at the University of Idaho, Croschere worked in BNAL labs at the UI research park in Post Falls and, more recently, at the university's Harbor Center Laboratory in Coeur d'Alene. His supervisors were nanotechnology researcher Shiva Rastogi and Harbor Center Lab Manager CharLene Gibson.

There were supportive educators outside the lab as well.

His UI nutrition professors, Samantha Ramsay and Laurel Branen, and psychology professor Richard Reardon directed their coursework to provide a well-rounded education.

"They also geared it toward me becoming a physician, and challenged me to understand the demands of the profession as it related to the course material," Croschere said. "They were huge, huge supporters of mine."

It was important to Croschere and his family that he was able to pursue a degree and remain in Coeur d'Alene.

His wife, Gracee, and their children are here, said Croschere. His wife is enrolled at NIC and will graduate this spring with her RN degree.

"I think it would be difficult to drive back and forth to Moscow. With children, if something were to happen we'd be quite a ways away," he said. "It also was nice to be close to friends and family."

Croschere applied to the University of Washington Medical School through the regional program, and hopes to complete his doctorate of medicine in 2015. He plans to return to the area to practice.

"I have a strong desire to give something back to the community that has been so supportive of me," Croschere said.

As a student, he earned numerous awards for his academic achievements. He is described by his nutrition professor, Samantha Ramsey, as both "incredibly bright" and "a natural leader."

While his exceptional aptitude has played a large part in his success, his personal strengths also include exceptional attitude, says one of his fellow researchers.

"He is really passionate about his work," said frequent lab partner CharLene Gibson. "He doesn't try to cut corners. He puts all of himself into his projects. I think that's what we all want in a doctor."

Donna Emert is with University of Idaho Communications.