Health Sciences Centre Foundation and Province of Manitoba fund life-saving equipment
L-R: Dr. Chris Christodoulou, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Shared Health, Manitoba’s Provincial Health Authority; Jonathon Lyon, President and Chief Executive Officer, HSC Foundation; Uzoma Asagwara, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care; Katie Hall Hursh, Board Chair, HSC Foundation; Dr. Anthony Kaufmann, HSC Winnipeg Neurosurgeon; and Dr. Shawn Young, Chief Medical Officer, HSC Winnipeg.
WINNIPEG, January 19, 2026 – Health Sciences Centre (HSC) Winnipeg, the HSC Foundation, and the government of Manitoba today unveiled a new Gamma Knife stereotactic radiosurgery unit for brain surgery. The unit was acquired through the HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign, in partnership with the Province of Manitoba. This milestone was made possible thanks to the generosity of donors whose support is transforming patient care in Manitoba.
A Gamma Knife is a high-precision device used to treat brain tumours, vascular malformations, and other brain disorders with targeted doses of gamma radiation—eliminating the need for incisions and open surgery for many patients. The radiation is delivered in a highly concentrated manner, minimizing the risk of damage to healthy tissue.
HSC was the first hospital in Canada to acquire a Gamma Knife system in 2003. The new Elekta Esprit unveiled today represents a major advancement in the technology.
“This is a public investment that improves outcomes and experiences for people facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives and ensures they can access high-quality care close to home, right here in Manitoba,” said Uzoma Asagwara, Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care. “This new technology means more Manitobans can receive advanced brain treatment within the public health system, without the trauma of open surgery. For patients and families, that can mean less pain, shorter recovery times, and fewer disruptions to their lives.”
The new Elekta Esprit offers several important improvements over previous versions:
- It can treat larger tumours.
- Integrated CT imaging eliminates the need for same-day MRIs, allowing for greater flexibility in MRI scheduling across the hospital.
- Patients now have a new option of a custom fitted mask to stabilize head position during the GK radiation delivery.
“HSC has always been a leader in neurosurgery, thanks to the foresight and expertise of surgeons like Dr. Anthony Kaufmann and Dr. Michael West, O.M.,” said Jonathon Lyon, President and CEO, HSC Foundation. “This investment is critical for Manitobans requiring brain surgery. Each year, more than 230 patients—over 25% of those needing brain surgery at HSC—are treated with the Gamma Knife. With support from Operation Excellence donors, we are proud to invest in technology like this that leads to better outcomes, shorter hospital stays, and less pain for patients.”
“These advancements are significant because they allow us to be far more flexible in scheduling MRIs, which benefits all HSC patients—not just those in neurosurgery,” said Dr. Anthony Kaufmann, HSC neurosurgeon. “The new unit also shortens the patient’s time commitment on treatment day. In some cases, a patient can be fitted with a mask, have their tumour treated, and return home in as little as two to three hours.”
The HSC Foundation’s Operation Excellence campaign is a bold, multi-year plan to elevate health care in Manitoba by creating a surgical centre of excellence and innovation. Manitobans can learn more about the campaign, its progress, and how to contribute at OperationExcellence.ca.
