Cardiothoracic surgeon Luis Tomatis, MD, leaves a rich legacy in Grand Rapids. Luis was a surgeon, dreamer and doer, renaissance man, humanitarian, passionate, relentless lover of life, family, and community. Born in Argentina, Luis began his tenure at Butterworth Hospital in 1965, building a surgical heart and lung program that is now one of Spectrum Health’s flagship services. He stepped out of the operating room and down from active status in 1996. Soon after he became the first recipient of the Emeritus Lifetime Achievement Award of Spectrum Health’s Distinguished Physician Society.
In addition to directing the surgical program at Butterworth Hospital and the creation of VAI, he was involved in the formation of Spectrum Health, bringing the MSU College of Human Medicine to Grand Rapids, the growth of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, organ donation and more. He was the gateway—the connection that bridged the medical community with the greater community. Luis helped inspire the path for what the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center and Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular could and has become.
On September 29, 2020, Dr. Tomatis passed away. Since that time, many have expressed an interest to honor his legacy and recognize the enormous impact he had on the development of world class heart and vascular care at Spectrum Health.
The Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute is thrilled to announce the creation of the Luis Tomatis, MD Endowed Scholarship for Cardiovascular Health. Inspired by Luis’s love for learning, mentoring, and his leadership, this scholarship will provide a fellow or resident in the Cardiovascular Health service line with the opportunity to attend a prestigious cardiovascular conference or meeting and present research as the “Luis Tomatis Scholar.”
To make your gift even more impactful, we are pleased to share that a donor has generously provided a gift to match donations up to a total of $20,000. Gifts can be made online via credit card, or by sending a check to the Spectrum Health Foundation, 25 Michigan St. NE, Suite 4100, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 (Memo: Luis Tomatis Scholarship).
Please contact the Foundation at 616.391.2000 with questions or additional assistance with making your gift.
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