donor SpoTlIGHT --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. David Hormuth, OD’79, MD’83 Earlier this year, IUSO honored Dr. David Hormuth, BS’77, OD’79, MD’83, at the Spirit of Philanthropy Awards banquet. For 24 years, the Spirit of Philanthropy Awards recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant impact on the school’s growth and development through philanthropy and voluntary service. According to IUPUI Chancellor Charles R. Bantz, the awards are “a celebration of the special partnership this campus has with the central Indiana community and those whose gifts have allowed us to continue our work, improve our work, and increase our impact.” As a member of the IUSO Dean’s Development Council, Dr. Hormuth exemplifies the practice of sharing his time, talent, and treasure. He is a second-generation IUSO graduate and a national leader in cardiac and thoracic surgery. Dr. Hormuth has participated in several firsts for Indiana, including the implantation of the first total artificial heart. He has been consistently named one of America’s top surgeons in cardiothoracic surgery, including being listed on U.S. News and World Report’s “Top Doctors in Cardiothoracic Surgery” for 2012. A native of Southern Indiana, Dr. Hormuth practiced optometry with his father for a year while beginning his medical education at IU. He graduated from the School of Medicine in 1983 and began his surgical residency at Methodist Hospital of Indiana. His experience as a general surgery resident afforded him the opportunity to be an active participant in the Heart Transplant program. He continued his surgical training in cardiothoracic surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Returning to Indianapolis in 1990, Dr. Hormuth joined Cardiovascular Surgical Associates at Methodist Hospital. He continues his active practice of cardiac and thoracic surgery at Methodist as a member of the IU Health Physicians Cardiovascular Surgery practice. In 2013, Dr. Hormuth met with his family to explore how their collective philanthropy could honor their father’s legacy and have a positive impact on the future of optometry. As a result, the Hormuth family established the Dr. James O. Hormuth Scholarship in honor of the family patriarch. Dr. James Hormuth is a 1958 IUSO graduate whose commitment to excellence serves as in inspiration to his children. The family chose to endow the scholarship to ensure that future generations of IUSO students will benefit from their generosity. The scholarship will be awarded to a fourth-year student with an interest in ocular disease who has established a record of excellence as demonstrated by a record of academic success and engagement in the field of optometry. IUSO is grateful to the Hormuth family for this recognition of excellence in the study of optometry and the importance of philanthropic leadership. Dr. David Hormuth, (left), OD’79, MD’83 n e w S l e T T e r fa l l 2 0 1 3 9