His international reputation and influential position started during a distinguished 22-year career (1967-1989) in the Lefschetz Center for Dynamical Systems (arguably the leading group in the world in control and estimation during the last quarter of the 20th century) and Division of Applied Mathematics at Brown University. During this period, Brown University founded its medical school and Tom was a major proponent and leader in bringing quantitative methodology to the program in the form of courses, curricula development and interdisciplinary research projects with biomedical scientists. His training in control and dynamical systems led to seminal contributions to several projects including one on glucose tolerance testing of the homeostatic system in humans wherein the dynamical system models suggested needed changes in the way routine testing of patients was carried out. This led to a series of short courses for biomedical researchers in the New England area and changed permanently the manner in which hospitals in the region screened potential diabetics.