Sean Gnecco, MD
Biography
Dr. Sean Gnecco is the Associate Dean of the Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL) at Ross University School of Medicine (RUSM). In this role, he provides strategic leadership in academic support, cognitive skills development, and targeted remediation to enhance student retention, academic performance, and United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) outcomes. Under his direction, ATL has expanded its individualized coaching services and data-driven interventions to foster student success at every stage of medical training.
Since joining RUSM in 2010, Dr. Gnecco has held multiple leadership positions, including Assistant Chair of Family Medicine, Assistant Dean of ATL, Director of ATL and Clinical ATL, Director of Fourth-Year Electives, and Medical Director of Simulation and Clinical Skills Assessment. Additionally, he has served as Course Director for several clinical electives, playing a pivotal role in offering competency-based medical education and refining student success initiatives. ATL’s contributions have significantly strengthened RUSM’s curricular innovations, retention strategies, and clinical performance benchmarks.
With over 20 years of experience in medical education, Dr. Gnecco is a dedicated and student-centered educator committed to fostering academic excellence. His passion for teaching was first ignited during his Family Medicine residency at Main Line Health Hospitals, where he designed and implemented a medical student clerkship curriculum. This initiative earned him the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Resident Teaching Award and the Behavioral Sciences Care Award, recognizing his commitment to innovative and effective medical education.
Throughout his career, Dr. Gnecco has remained steadfast in his mission to support students in overcoming academic challenges and achieving their professional aspirations. His leadership philosophy is rooted in a student-centered, data-driven, and collaborative approach, ensuring that ATL continuously adapts to the evolving landscape of medical education. His dedication to student success has been recognized by RUSM students through the prestigious Golden Stethoscope Award, underscoring his impact as an educator and mentor.
As a licensed Family Physician in Florida, Dr. Gnecco brings a clinical perspective to medical education, bridging foundational knowledge with practical application. Though retired from full-time clinical practice, he remains engaged in bedside medical education by volunteering at the Miami Rescue Mission homeless shelter clinic, where he supervises RUSM students in developing clinical skills and delivering compassionate care to underserved populations.
Dr. Gnecco remains a driving force in advancing evidence-based educational practices within ATL at RUSM. Overseeing a comprehensive portfolio of academic support programs, he ensures that students receive tailored guidance from pre-matriculation through their licensing examinations. His leadership reinforces RUSM’s mission to develop clinically competent, professionally prepared physicians ready to excel in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. He is deeply invested in the professional development of future physicians and finds the greatest fulfillment in witnessing students’ growth and success when passing licensing exams, graduating, and Matching into their residency program of choice.
Dr. Gnecco lives in Miramar, Florida, with his supportive wife, four wonderful teenage children, and their beloved dog, cherishing time with his family while continuing his commitment to medical education and community service.
- Bachelor of Arts and Science (BAS)in English Literature and Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 1998.
- MD, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 2003
- Residency: Family Medicine, Main Line Health, Philadelphia, PA. 2006-2009; Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein Hospital, Philadelphia PA 2003-2005
- Medical Education Academic Support
- Academic Coaching and Student Success
- Simulation-based Medical Education
- Competency-Based Curriculum Design
- Adtalem Excellence Awards (2022, 2023)
- Ron Taylor Awards (2013, 2015, 2017, 2020)
- Golden Stethoscope (2014): Best clinical teacher (student selected award).
- Leadership Excellence Award – Module director (2011)
- Society of Teachers of Family Medicine - Resident Teaching Award (2009)
- Behavioral Sciences Care Award – Resident Award (2008)
- Cognitive and Metacognitive Learning Strategies
- Effectiveness of Medical licensing exam preparation programs
- Integration of clinical reasoning with foundational medical sciences discipline
- Teaching clinical reasoning using simulated patient cases
Gnecco. Waxmann Clinical Skills Center Faculty. Teaching Internist Skills: Suturing, Incision and Drainage, Matricectomy, Cutaneous Cryosurgery. ACP National Conference; 2018-2023; Various Locations.
Gnecco S, Fernandez E, Rajput V. Medical Geography: A Novel Approach to Understanding Social Determinants of Health in Undergraduate Medical Education. Presentation. Planetree International Conference on Person-Centered Care—Arnold P. Gold Humanism Society; 2019; Orlando, FL.
Buckley L, Gnecco S, Gilbert G, Bauman E, Pederson D, Loo M. Simulation for Entrustable Professional Activities, 1, 2, 3, & 12 in the Medical School Clinical Clerkship. Presentation. IMSH Conference; 2018; Los Angeles, CA.
Gnecco S, Tysinger J, Fernandez E, Dobbie AE. Advising for the Family Medicine “Parallel Plan.” Workshop. STFM Conference on Medical Student Education; 2017; Austin, TX.
Callender D, Gnecco S, Sheakley M, Szarek JL. Simulation in Preclinical Medical Education Workshop. IMSH Conference; 2016; San Diego, CA.
Hilaire R, Winston K, Harris-Alleyne J, Callender D, Thomas V, Gnecco S, Hall M, Ogrinc G, Frankel R. Student at Risk PBL Case. MedEdPORTAL. 2013. Available from: https://www.mededportal.org/publication/9483.
Gnecco S, Irias N, Hussain A, Saleh A, Hammel I. Mock Morning Rounds using High-Fidelity Simulation to Improve Medical Student Oral Presentation Skills. DeVry Annual Healthcare Educational and Scientific Conference; 2013.
Callender D, Selfridge N, Cannon J, Buckley L, Gnecco S, Pederson D, Ogrinc G. The Implementation of a Patient Safety Simulation Curriculum for Preclinical Medical Students at Ross University School of Medicine. Simul Healthc. 2012;7:423.
Gnecco S, Callender D, Cannon J, Selfridge N, Thomas V, Foster T, Frankel R, Ogrinc G. Use of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to Teach the ACGME Core Competencies of Systems and Improvement at Ross University School of Medicine. Presentation. IAMSE Conference; 2012.
Szarek J, Pederson D, Callender D, Gnecco S, Abney P, Sheakley M, Adams R. Simulation: Demonstrating the Clinical Relevance of the Basic Sciences. Workshop. IAMSE Conference; 2012.
Gnecco S, Callender D, Ogrinc G, Cannon J, Selfridge N, Thomas V, Foster T, Frankel R. Integrating ACGME Core Competencies into Preclinical Undergraduate Medical Education at Ross University. Presentation. IAMSE Conference; 2012.
Selfridge N, Cannon J, Callender D, Gnecco S, Foster T, Ogrinc G. Use of a Personal Improvement Project (PIP) as a Tool for Teaching Quality Improvement to Preclinical Medical Students. Presentation. AMEE Conference; 2011.
Gnecco S, Callender D, Hammel I, Ogrinc G, Frankel R. Student Awareness and Attitudes toward ACGME Competencies in Pre-Clinical Years of Undergraduate Medical Education Before and After the Introduction of a Competency-Based Curriculum. Presentation. AMEE Conference; 2011.
Gnecco S, Rockett P, Pederson D, Callender D. Process Improvement in Medical Simulation: Facilitator Training Can Make a Difference. Presentation. IMSH Conference; 2011.