Dr. Schwenk is board-certified in Family Medicine. He served as Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice President of Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno, from 2011–2021 and now holds the title of Dean Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Family and Community Medicine. His research focuses on mental illness with an emphasis on depression and well-being in medical students, residents, and physicians. He has published more than 160 papers, book chapters, and books. He is a former member and Vice President of the Board of Directors of the American Board of Family Medicine, and he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2002. Dr. Schwenk has been writing for NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine since 1994 and served as Deputy Editor from 2010 to 2021.