The family of Edward Jewusiak, a former Tribe Athletics team physician, has donated over $2 million to the College of William and Mary’s Division of Sports Medicine. This occurred since the Dr. Edward M. Jewusiak Memorial Fund was founded after his death in 1986. The endowment will continue to be used by the department to further the education of student athletic trainers at the College.
The latest contribution comes from the estate of Edward Jewusiak’s sister, Joan Jewusiak, who passed away in 2012.
“The contributions to the endowment will enable continued advancement of sports medicine initiatives for students, the Department of Athletics, and the Division of Sports Medicine,” University Advancement staff said in a press release Jan. 27.
“The contributions to the endowment will enable continued advancement of sports medicine initiatives for students, the Department of Athletics, and the Division of Sports Medicine,” University Advancement staff said in a press release Jan. 27. “The Division of Sports Medicine is responsible for the health care of more than 500 varsity athletes participating in 23 Division I intercollegiate sports. The athletic training program focuses on the prevention, evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries.”
Assistant Athletic Director for Health Services Renee Cork oversees the Division of Sports Medicine. She expressed her gratitude for the gift, citing the legacy that Edward Jewusiak left at the College.
“It’s been a wonderful thing to have, and we’ve gotten it little by little,” Cork said. “You know, he was big into education and staying at the forefront of medicine, and so we were trying to keep that going.”
Associate Athletic Director for Internal Affairs Steve Cole is the only person still on staff in the Division that worked with Edward Jewusiak. Cole said that Edward Jewusiak was one of the early pioneers of the field of sports medicine.
“I trained with some of the best, and I came to Williamsburg and was very impressed,” Cole said. “You know, Ed, great surgical technique.”
One of the things Edward Jewusiak loved was educating students on sports medicine. The endowment will be used, as it has been in the past, for guest speakers and scholarships for students in the Division of Sports Medicine and to benefit Tribe Athletics.
We had to increase our staff, but with that we also wanted to keep in the forefront to make the student-athlete experience, keep with the cutting edge with what the student-athlete experience is, educating the staff members, sending them to conferences, and trying to make sure that we’re staying abreast of the new techniques, ways to do things and what’s beneficial,” Cork said.
“We had to increase our staff, but with that we also wanted to keep in the forefront to make the student-athlete experience, keep with the cutting edge with what the student-athlete experience is, educating the staff members, sending them to conferences, and trying to make sure that we’re staying abreast of the new techniques, ways to do things and what’s beneficial,” Cork said. “We’re doing a lot with concussions and we’re doing a lot with mental health, besides a lot of orthopedic stuff.”
Another of Edward Jewusiak’s passions unexpectedly contributed to the creation of the endowment — racquetball. Friends of Edward Jewusiak started the Dr. Edward M. Jewusiak Memorial Racquetball Tournament, putting the proceeds to create a fund in his name.
The endowment gradually grew, with Edward Jewusiak’s family donating significant sums of money to the fund. With the most recent donation, the total amount of money given by the Jewusiak family has surpassed $2 million.
“For well over a century, Tribe Athletics has produced top-notch athletes and coaches with exceptional character and remarkable determination on and off the field,” Vice President for University Advancement Matthew Lambert ’99 said in an email. “This is a tradition we are proud of and will carry forward for generations to come. It truly takes a team to advance competitive excellence and Dr. Jewusiak was a beloved and essential member of the Tribe team during his time at William & Mary. So many students at the university will benefit greatly from the Jewusiak family’s investment in sports medicine and for that we are forever grateful.”
Years after he worked at the College, Edward Jewusiak’s effect is still felt within the Division of Sports Medicine.
“Ed was a great person that just put you at ease when he was talking with all of his patients, including our student athletes,” Cole said. “Having funding available to help our staff continue to advance educationally … it helps support [students] financially.”