The Thomas Hohman Cancer Research Scholarship
The Tom Hohman Student Research Fund
Tom Hohman was a remarkable young man lost to all of us at age 41 from glioblastoma. During his path, Tom and his wife Dom came first-hand to know the critical role of research in advancing cancer treatment. As a tribute to Tom, his family has decided to set up a memorial fund at Sloan Kettering dedicated to training the next generation of cancer scientists. Bringing young students into cancer research is the single best way to ensure that we find new treatments that aim towards curing not only Tom's cancer, but all cancers.
Donations to this fund will be directly used to sponsor an undergraduate college student each year to come to the laboratory of Richard White, a close friend and family member of the Hohmans. The White lab at Sloan Kettering (http://www.mskcc.org/research/lab/richard-white) studies new ways to treat cancer, and the chosen student will work closely with a mentor on a laboratory project. The student will have the unique opportunity to experience how cancer research is performed, and to be enmeshed within one of the world's preeminent cancer centers. He or she will also get to work closely with other students and researchers during their time here, with exposure to both basic science and clinical trials ongoing at Memorial Sloan Kettering and beyond.
Our goal in setting up this tribute to Tom is simple: get students excited about a career as a cancer researcher, and train the next generation of people who will find the innovative ideas to cure this disease. This is what Tom wanted, and we are honored to play a part in making this happen.
Tom Hohman: a tribute to a short life lived well
An amazing spirit and a love-for-life are two central themes that accurately describe the life of Thomas Matthew Hohman, who prematurely left this life on March 21, 2015, after a courageous and dignified fight with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Tom is survived by his loving wife, Dominique Hohman, and two young sons, Finn (5) and Nate (3).
Tom was born on February 5, 1974, as the sixth of ultimately seven children to Karen and Vincent Hohman. Although he was the smallest in stature amongst his siblings, he had a larger-than-life persona, often accomplishing what seemed to be the impossible. As a Boy Scout, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout two years earlier than what is standard, just so he could receive this rank at the same time as his two older brothers, Jerome and Gregory.
This theme of over-achieving was a constant through his life. He was a champion wrestler and an All-League offensive lineman in football, while earning exemplarily grades and being involved in student council as a student at Downey High School. He then went on to earn his undergraduate degree in Business Administration at the University of California at Santa Barbara. During his four years of college, Tom excelled at his studies, but also was a champion of making lifelong friendships, while fostering a love of surfing. It was this love of surfing that truly became Tom’s favorite pastime.
After college, Tom began a flourishing career in sales. Whether it was placing accountants or selling medical devices, Tom’s philosophy of relating to people was always the key to his success. Tom loved creating and cultivating friendships both professionally and personally. The focus on honesty, trust, integrity and long-term relationships built on mutual respect fueled Tom throughout his lifetime.
Even with all of his academic, professional and personal achievements, what Tom cherished in his life most was his marriage to Dominique and the births of his two sons, Finn and Nate. He loved traveling, experiencing the outdoors, enjoying great food and art with his family. Together, they hiked the Inca Trail, backpacked and camped with their best friends, roamed through Europe and swam with sharks in the deep ocean.
Tom was a dedicated and loving father to Finn and Nate. He looked forward to his “papa” trips to the park, aquarium and beach. Tom felt that his responsibility as a father wasn’t just to make sure he had happy kids, but to prepare his sons to become excellent men, which is a focus that he and Dominique diligently worked toward. Tom had a great appreciation for Finn’s out-going nature and Nate’s fearlessness.
His dedication to his family fueled his drive through his illness and final year of his life. With the tremendous support of his friends and family, he continued to live with the humor, sharp wit, integrity and fierce spirit that defined the entirety of his life. Although his time on earth was cut short far too soon, those of us who were personally touched by him count ourselves lucky.
How to apply: information for students
Applications for summer internships will be accepted from undergraduate students at all U.S. and international accredited colleges. We will choose one student per year to come work in the laboratory. The chosen student will be directly paired with a graduate student or postdoctoral fellow on a specific research project for a period of 8-10 weeks. Each student will receive a stipend and full support for all of their research.
Interested students should submit a CV and a one-page essay describing their interests to whiter@mskcc.org
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