Gift Will Support Cardiac Research, Patient Care
December 20, 2012
The late Gus P. Karos, a dedicated supporter of Cleveland Clinic, has left through his will a gift of more than $14 million to support cardiovascular research and patient care in the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute.
The gift brings Karos’ total giving in support of Cleveland Clinic to more than $26 million, making him one of Cleveland Clinic’s top ten benefactors of all time.
“Mr. Karos leaves behind a lasting legacy of tremendous support of Cleveland Clinic over the past three decades,” said Toby Cosgrove, MD, president and CEO of Cleveland Clinic. “His generosity has made an indelible impact on the patient care we provide and will be felt for decades to come.”
The bulk of Karos’ bequest will be used to support Cleveland Clinic’s Cardiovascular Information Registry, a database started in the 1960s that is at the center of Cleveland Clinic’s outcomes research in the field of cardiovascular medicine. The registry also allows Cleveland Clinic to develop new physician investigators and support them early on in their careers when they often have difficulty securing outside research funding.
“Our Cardiovascular Information Registry has formed the basis of many of Cleveland Clinic’s most significant advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease over the past 50 years,” said Bruce Lytle, MD, chairman of the Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. “Mr. Karos’ generous funding of this endeavor ensures that it will continue to facilitate important contributions to the field of medicine.”
In addition to research database support, the gift will establish a scholarship fund to support current trainees in the Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute who are pursuing further professional education. It will also provide funding for Cleveland Clinic’s Women’s Cardiovascular Center, Cardio-Oncology Center, and Pediatric Lipid Clinic, as well as research into adult congenital heart disease.
In 2008, Cleveland Clinic named the Gus P. Karos Grand Lobby in the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Pavilion in recognition of his support of the building’s construction. Karos’ long history of generosity also includes the establishment of the Gus P. Karos Endowed Chair in Clinical Cardiovascular Medicine in 2001, currently held by Curtis Rimmerman, MD He also gave in support of ophthalmology research and several Cleveland Clinic fundraising campaigns.
Karos served on the Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute’s Leadership Board for six years and was an honorary chairman of Today’s Innovations, Tomorrow’s Healthcare: Campaign for Cleveland Clinic. He was named a Cleveland Clinic Distinguished Fellow, the highest honor bestowed on individuals who have made extraordinary contributions of service and resources, and was a member of the 1921 Society, the Medallion Society, and the Pyramid Legacy Society, all recognizing him for his generosity toward Cleveland Clinic.
“Our parents, Jenny and Peter Karapanos, immigrated to the United States from Greece, started a restaurant business, worked extremely hard, and earned enough to put their sons through college,” said Gus Karos’ brother, Nick Karos. “That education enabled Gus and me to become entrepreneurs, which has rewarded us enough for Gus to make his generous gifts to Cleveland Clinic, an institution which he cherished and admired throughout most of his life.”
Karos was born in 1923 in Joliet, Ill. He moved to Cleveland in 1960, where he spent 40 years in business before his retirement in 2000. In addition to his support of Cleveland Clinic, Karos was a backer of the Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland and supported several Greek Orthodox charities. He died in 2011 at age 87.
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. U.S.News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. About 2,800 full-time salaried physicians and researchers and 11,000 nurses represent 120 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic Health System includes a main campus near downtown Cleveland, eight community hospitals and 18 Family Health Centers in Northeast Ohio, Cleveland Clinic Florida, the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health in Las Vegas, Cleveland Clinic Canada, and opening in 2013, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. In 2010, there were 4 million visits throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system and 167,000 hospital admissions. Patients came for treatment from every state and from more than 100 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at www.twitter.com/ClevelandClinic.
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