Dr. August Tomusk: The August Tomusk Foundation, established in 1990, is dedicated to the advancement of patient care, teaching and research in cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, cardiovascular medicine, and transplantation.
Originally from Estonia, Dr. Tomusk immigrated to the United States in 1950 and completed a residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago. Along with Dr. Michael J. Mastrangelo, he established a surgical partnership and completed a fellowship in cardiovascular surgery at the Texas Heart Institute, specializing in that arena of medicine. The rapid evolution of medical advancements allowed him to introduce new therapeutic modalities in Fort Wayne including renal dialysis, the use of ventilators for postoperative respiratory failure, and coronary artery bypass surgery.
Dr. Tomusk was a founding member of the Indiana Ohio Heart practice whose members went on to perform the first heart transplant in northern Indiana. The August Tomusk Foundation was initially funded by the surgeons of the Indiana Ohio Heart practice along with gifts from patient testimonials and memorials as well as speaking fees and honorarium fees from the physicians of Indiana Ohio Heart.
In recognition of the contributions of Dr. Tomusk and the Indiana Ohio Heart group, the foundation assists non-physician health personnel with continuing education and provides funds for clinical and laboratory research into cardiovascular and thoracic disease. Additionally, the August Tomusk Foundation Fund may, at its discretion, provide grants to 501(c)(3) organizations promoting cardiovascular health.
Grant Opportunities: Eligibility requirements for either of the grant opportunities below include those items noted within each grant application and are limited to northern Indiana and northwest Ohio regions.
Professional Development Grants: Professional Development Grants of up to $500 are available for the continuing education of non-physician health professionals involved in the field of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery. The educational opportunity must relate to your career in the field of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery such as a refresher course, continuing education credits, certification requirements, added skill, etc.
To apply for an August Tomusk Foundation Fund Professional Development Grant, complete the Professional Development Request Form and return it with the requested documentation to the Community Foundation at 555 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.
Professional Development Grant requests should be submitted 60 days prior to the education meeting, seminar, or classes that you would like to attend to allow for the review and approval process.
Research Grants: Grants of up to $5,000 are available for health professionals in cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, cardiovascular medicine, thoracic medicine, transplantation, and the underlying sciences.
Past research grants have included laboratory investigations involving pulmonary preservation for transplantation, theological doctorate work for hospital chaplains, and fellowships in cardiovascular surgery for foreign cardiovascular surgeons at the Lutheran Heart Center.
Additional grants have supported clinical research including whether or not patients with previous malignancies can undergo successful heart transplantation, measurement of bone loss (osteoporosis) in long term survivors of heart transplantation, investigating effective ways of avoiding pneumonia in patients who undergo coronary artery bypass surgery; and an investigation of smoking cessation behaviors in patients following a lung cancer diagnosis.
Apply for a Grant: To apply for an August Tomusk Foundation Fund Research Grant, review the Guidelines for Research Proposal Applications and complete the Grant Request Form for Research Proposals; return the form with the requested documentation to the Community Foundation at 555 E. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802.
Research Grant requests should be submitted as soon as possible to allow for the review and approval process.
To learn more, please contact:
Alison Gerardot, CFRM
Chief Impact Officer
260-969-3313
agerardot@cfgfw.org
You can also contact another member of our Philanthropic Services team.