Curriculum Vitae

Anthony L. Grasch, PA-C
Instructor, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Office Phone: 217-545-8875
E-mail: agrasch@siumed.edu

Research Interests

• Thoracic Surgery
• Cardiac Surgery
• Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
• Lung Cancer

Brief Bio

Anthony L. Grasch has been a clinical instructor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Southern Illinois School of Medicine since 1993. Mr. Grasch received his bachelor's degree in Biology from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisc. in 1977. He obtained his bachelor's degree in Health Science from Touro College, Physician Assistant Program in New York in 1980 and his master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies (Cardiothoracic Surgery) from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2001. He has been certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) since 1980 in primary care and surgery.
Mr. Grasch has been involved in cardiothoracic and vascular surgery since 1980. His duties include pre-operative care, post-operative care and assisting at the time of operation. He is involved with the education of medical students and physician assistant students. He is active in both clinical and laboratory research projects.
Mr. Grasch is an active member of several organizations, including the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery and the Illinois Association of Physician Assistants.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

UNDERGRADUATE:

1973-1977 Marquette University Bachelor of Science
Milwaukee, WI Biology

1978-1980 Touro College Bachelor of Science
PA Program Health Science
New York, NY

GRADUATE:

2000-2001 University of Nebraska Master of Physician
Medical Center Assistant Studies
College of Medicine
Omaha, Nebraska

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:

1993 – Present Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Instructor Clinical
Southern Illinois University School of Surgery
Medicine
Springfield, IL

1998 – Present SIU Physician Assistant Program Surgery Coursemaster
Carbondale, IL Assistant Hub-Site Coordinator
Problem Based Learning Tutor

1993 Family Health Plan Physician Assistant
Urgent Care Clinic
Milwaukee, WI

1992 – 1993 University of Wisconsin Associate Preceptor
Physician Assistant Program
Madison, WI

1980 – 1993 Cardiac Surgeon Associates Ltd. Physician Assistant
Milwaukee, WI

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION:

Illinois Lic# 085-000553 1993-present
Wisconsin Lic# 301 1980-present
NCCPA Cert# 810619 1981-present
(National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants)
APACVS Fellow: Member 2006-present
(Association of Physician Assistants Cardiovascular Surgery)

MEMBERSHIPS:

1978 American Academy of Physician Assistants
1980-1993 Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants
1985 Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery
1987-1990 Association of Physician Assistant Programs
1993 Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants
1994 Society of Critical Care Medicine

HONORS:

1980 Outstanding General Achievement Award - Touro College, New York, NY
1980 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities
1979 Student Class President - Touro College, New York, NY
1978 Student Class Vice-President, Touro College, New York, NY
1977 Dean’s List - Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

2001 Symmetry Bypass System Aortic Connector training provided by St. Jude Medical, Dallas, Texas

1996 Heartmate Implantable Pneumatic Left Ventricular Assist Device, Surgical
Training at Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas

1996 Endoscopic Vein Harvesting, Surgical Training at Ethicon-Endo-Surgery,
Cincinnati, Ohio

1989 Thoracic Ventricular Assist Device Surgical Training at Thoratec Laboratories Corporation, Berkeley, California

PUBLICATIONS

1. Hazelrigg SR, Landreneau RJ, Mack M, Grasch A, Boley T. Video assisted thoracic surgery: experience in 500 cases. Proceedings of the Illinois Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Quincy, Illinois. April 16, 1994

2. Boley TM, Grasch AL, Hazelrigg, SR. A historical perspective and the current status of surgical treatment of bullous emphysema. Proceedings of The 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting, Southeastern Surgical Congress. New Orleans. LA. February 6-8, 1995.

3. Boley TM, Magee MJ, Grasch AL, Hazelrigg SR. A historical perspective and the current status of surgical treatment of bullous emphysema. Proceedings of the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Alpha Omega Alpha, SIU-C Chapter of Sigma Xi, Combined Research Symposium. Springfield, IL. April 17, 1995. (Poster Session)

4. Bartek JP, Grasch AL, Hazelrigg SR. Thoracoscopic retrieval of foreign bodies following penetrating chest trauma. Ann Thorac Surg 1997;63:1783-5.

5. Hazelrigg SR, Boley TM, Grasch A, Shawgo T. Surgical strategy for lung volume reduction surgery. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1999;16:S57-S60

6. Medrano C, Hazelrigg SR, Landreneau RJ, Boley TM, Shawgo T, Grasch A. Thoracoscopic resection of ectopic parathyroid glands. Ann Thorac Surg 2000;69:221-3

7. Medrano C, Hazelrigg SR, Landreneau RJ, Boley TM, Shawgo T, Grasch A. Thoracoscopic resection of ectopic parathyroid glands—Reply to the Editor. Ann Thorac Surg 2001;71:403.

8. Cetindag IB, Quin JA, Grasch AL, Hazelrigg SR. Thoracotomy for Correction of a Kinked Right Internal Mammary Artery Graft. Ann Thorac Surg 2003;75:1655.

9. Quin JA, Cetindag IB, Mukerji V, Embrey RP, Grasch AL, Hazelrigg SR. Giant saphenous vein graft aneurysm. Letter to the Editor. Angiology 2004;55:587-588.

10. Quin J, Engle D, Litwiller BA, Peralta E, Grasch A, Boley T, Hazelrigg S. Vitamin E succinate decreases lung cancer growth in mice. J Surg Res 2005;127(2):139-143.

PRESENTATIONS

1. Hazelrigg SR, Landreneau RJ, Mack M, Grasch A, Boley T. Video assisted thoracic surgery: experience in 500 Cases. Presented at the Illinois Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Quincy, Illinois. April 16, 1994

2. Hazelrigg SR, Magee MJ, Boley TM, Grasch AL. Surgery for diffuse bullous emphysema. Presented at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine Pulmonary Division Research Symposium. Springfield, Illinois. January 26, 1995

3. Boley TM, Grasch AL, Hazelrigg SR. Historical perspective and the current status of surgical treatment of bullous emphysema. Presented at the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting, Southeastern Surgical Congress. New Orleans, Louisiana. February 6-8, 1995

4. Boley TM, Magee MJ, Grasch AL, Hazelrigg SR. A historical perspective and the current status of surgical treatment for bullous emphysema. Presented at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Alpha Omega Alpha, SIU-C Chapter of Sigma Xi, Combined Research Symposium. Springfield, Illinois. April 17, 1995. (Poster Session)

5. Quin J, Engle D, Litwiller A, Peralta E, Grasch A, Boley T, Hazelrigg S. Vitamin E succinate decreases lung cancer tumor growth in mice. Presented at Association for Academic Surgery 38th Annual Meeting. Houston, TX. Nov. 11-13, 2004.

GRANT AWARDS
1. Telehealth Implementation Pilot Project, $33,719.78. SIU Surgery Subspecialty-Family Practice Telehealth Collaboration. December 21, 2001.

2. William E. McElroy Charitable Foundation. $35,200.00. Improving Radial Artery Preservation for Coronary Artery Bypass. July 2002.

Activities: St. Joseph Parish, Chatham, IL
Sophomore Religious Education

Hobbies: Computers, Sailing, Basketball, Golfing, Reading