Thomas Hitchock M.D.

Thomas M. Hitchcock, Ph.D. is a geneticist by education and self-proclaimed holobiontologist, specializing in the skin biome. He earned his doctorate in Genetics from Clemson University where he studied DNA damage and repair in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, and went on to complete post-doctoral trainings at Duke University and Yale University in Biomedical Engineering, Vascular Biology and Therapeutics, where he researched use of viral vectors in gene therapy techniques used to improve cardiovascular tissue engineering methodologies. He concluded his academic training at Weil Cornell Medical College studying multiple myeloma genetics.
Following his post-doctoral studies, Dr. Hitchcock began working in the field of dermatology at companies such as Ulthera, which sold in 2013 to Merz. In 2013, Dr. Hitchcock helped to found aesthetic device company Bellus Medical (now Crown Aesthetics) and served as the Acting Chief Scientific Officer until the acquisition by Crown Laboratories in 2018. He also Founded the skin microbiome technology company Xycrobe Therapeutics, Inc. in 2014 and served as its Chief Executive Officer until acquisition by Crown in 2019. He currently serves as the Chief Science Officer for Crown Laboratories and oversees Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, Biological Sciences (including Microbial Development) and Research & Development for Crown and its subsidiaries. Additionally, Dr. Hitchcock serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at the East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine where he serves to mentor doctoral students and collaborate with the faculty on research and innovation.
As an inventor, Dr. Hitchcock has also been issued patents on his inventions in aesthetic medicine, dermatology and microbiology. His most noteworthy invention is that of the Xycrobe technology, creating a new vertical of skin biome therapeutics. His work has been both presented to the scientific community and published in noteworthy scientific journals and book chapters. Additionally, he is the co-author of the book “Rebooting the Biome”, along with notable dermatologist Doris Day, M.D.