6 • Thursday, March 24, 2022
NEWS
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
‘We Cannot Sit Idle’ Continued from Page One
“The original purpose of the foundation was for medical education,” Skowronski said. “But given the circumstances and the situation, we had to use it as a vehicle to help Ukraine. I knew I had to do it when the first rockets landed.” “I am unhappy that I had to do it, but I feel
‘First, I want to educate people on why they should care about a war happening thousands of miles away. Additionally, the foundation serves as a way to help people in need. These people are in dire (straits), and funds have to go out quickly. Time is everything.’ DR. JAN SKOWRONSKI
Photos courtesy
called to help. It has been absolutely revolting what is happening in the world in the last three weeks.” On March 12, Skowronski sat with his phone and sent a link to the video to all of the contacts he recently had spoken to. “I sent the texts around 1:30 p.m., and at 2 o’clock my phone rang,” Skowronski said. “A friend asked if he could come over. When he did, he handed me a check for $11,000. He said he saw the video and his wife cried. He is a great neighbor and a great friend.” Skowronski, who also is chair of Icarus, a global cardiovascular conference for medical education, has two hopes for his foundation in the future – education and support. “First, I want to educate people on why they should care about a war happening thousands of miles away,” Skowronski said. “Additionally, the foundation serves as a way to help people in need. These people are in dire (straits), and funds have to go out quickly. Time is everything.”
Above and left: Fortuna Clinical Foundation provides support to a refugee center in Yazlovets in southern Ukraine, where a 17th century palace has been turned into a center for mothers with children and orphans.
Contacts Under Fire
During the interview, Skowronski took a phone call from Sister Julia, a nun in Ukraine. The nun, who resides in southern Ukraine, told Skowronski she and others were coming out of the bunker after a mass of Russian rockets darted through the sky just above them. “There is a bombardment somewhere,” Skowronski said as he translated the call. “She said she has never experienced anything like this.” Skowronski spoke with Sister Julia on March 16 via video chat about the designation of funds. “We are funding a transport of medical goods from Poland to Ivano-Frankivsk that will be departing soon,” Skowronski said. He said the funds will be designated to a local hospital in Buchach, 10 miles north of the refugee center, for medicines and single-
use supplies. In addition, funds will be used to provide gas and to build a playground for refugee children, as the center found itself with a lot
of small kids. “The nuns have no need for hoops and swings, but the refugee children do,” Skowronski said.
As of now, Fortuna Clinical Foundation provides support to a refugee center in Yazlovets in southern Ukraine, where a 17th century palace has been turned into a center for mothers with children and orphans. On the morning of March 17, donations totaled more than $40,000 – money raised just from Skowronski’s contacts.
Working on Hearts
Skowronski attended medical school for interventional cardiology in Poland and completed his rotations in London and Chicago. When asked why he chose his profession, Skowronski stated, “It’s all about saving lives.” “It’s a neat thing to be able to save someone’s life,” Skowronski said. “We just saved one this morning. He had a heart attack. We took him to the cath lab, and he will probably go home tomorrow.” He moved to Birmingham after spending 13 years in the Chicago, Illinois, area working with OSF St. Anthony Medical Center. “A good friend of mine is one of the fundamental names of interventional cardiology,” Skowronski said. “His name is Gary Roubin, and he worked at Brookwood. When he approached me and asked if I would move to Birmingham, I thought he was out of his mind. But he encouraged me to come visit, and I liked it.” Skowronski has now been with Brookwood and Cardiovascular Associates for four years. For more information or to donate to Fortuna Clinical Foundation, visit fortunaclinical.com.
