NEWS

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

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.”

‘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

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-

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.

‘We Cannot Sit Idle’

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.

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.

Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston at last week’s city council meeting in the newly renamed Sam S. Gaston Council Chamber.

By Ally Morrison

Family, friends and colleagues of Mountain Brook City Manager Sam Gaston gathered at Mountain Brook City Hall March 14 for a surprise ceremony during which a new council chamber name would later be revealed.

Gaston thought he was going to a routine City Council meeting. As he walked into the room he had been in just hours before to change a clock battery, Gaston was both surprised and confused to see not only a full room – but a room full of his closest friends and family.

“I walked into a big crowd, and thought, what’s going on? Am I in trouble?” Gaston said.

As Mountain Brook Mayor Stewart Welch took to the podium, he began thanking Gaston for his commitment to the city and people of Mountain Brook.

“I wanted to take a minute to thank you,” Welch said. “To thank you for your years of service, and to thank you for all that you’ve done for our city. I was trying to think of one word to describe you, and my wife came up with two: the rock. I can confidently say that is appropriate, Sam is the rock. He is the foundation for which this city has grown for almost 30 years. Any time I have a question, I know I can go to Sam and get a great answer.”

“So Sam, we wanted to take a second to say thank you, but we actually wanted to memorialize you.”

As chamber members pulled the strings of a banner tacked above the doors of the council chamber, a new name for the chamber was revealed in bold letters: Sam S. Gaston Council Chamber.

“We want you to be recognized for years to come,” Welch said. “We want to dedicate the City Council chamber in your name.”

A roaring applause ensued, and Gaston took to the podium to thank city officials, members of the City Council and others in the chamber.

“This is quite a surprise,” Gaston said. “I am caught completely off guard. I have been a very blessed man, thank you so much. It’s a great pleasure to be with the city of Mountain Brook, and I greatly appreciate this. This is a wonderful tribute and I hope I continue to live up to that tribute in the future.

When asked what it meant to him to be memorialized in such a way, Gaston was almost at a loss for words.

“It’s hard to put it into words,” Gaston said. “It was a wonderful surprise and something I have never expected. When you love what you do and every day is a pleasure, time goes by fast. We’ve built a great team here. I can say this without any hesitation, 95% of the time, it’s not a job. It’s fun.”

Buying a home in today's market can be complicated. An experienced agent = proven results!

#1 Agent Company Wide

Visit www.shelleywatkins.com | Email shelleyw@lahrealestate.com | Call 205.222.1817

We’ll help your new family get off to a beautiful start.

If you’re pregnant or trying to become pregnant, we know you have questions. The physicians at Grandview Obstetrics and Gynecology are here to help answer them – and with three new providers, it’s easier than ever to make an appointment. From nutrition and exercise to birth plans and post-delivery support, we focus on giving you personalized maternity care. And, we’re proud to deliver at The Birthing Center at Grandview Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, call 205-855-5145 or visit GrandviewHealthOBGYN.com.

Margot Potter, M.D. OBGYN Erin Showalter, D.O. OBGYN Cynthia Poore, CRNP

Members of the Medical and Allied Health Staffs at Grandview Medical Center.

3686 Grandview Parkway Suite 320 Birmingham, AL