Albrechtsen Donation Moves Centre Forward
WINNIPEG—December 12, 2018—Thanks to a $5 million donation from local businessman and philanthropist Paul Albrechtsen, Health Sciences Centre will soon develop new interventional angiography facilities and unveil new equipment.
Interventional angiography is the practice of diagnosing and treating patients through their blood vessels. Interventional angiography procedures include widening narrow blood vessels to keep blood flowing to arms, legs, and other parts of the body; halting bleeding from blood vessels when other methods are not available; breaking up blood clots when they threaten life or limb; and delivering certain chemotherapy treatments more accurately.
The new suites and equipment will be housed in HSC’s state-of-the-art Diagnostic Centre of Excellence. Albrechtsen’s gift, combined with a $5.2 million investment by the Province of Manitoba, will bring the project to fruition. Albrechtsen’s $5 million gift brings his accumulated gifts to the HSC Foundation to over $13 million. The new suites and equipment will replace current equipment that is nearing the end of its useful life.
“Paul Albrechtsen is a game changer for health care in Manitoba,” said Jonathon Lyon, President & CEO of the Health Sciences Centre Foundation. “He understands that it often takes philanthropy to move health care and innovation forward. Technology is changing rapidly and visionaries like Paul Albrechtsen help Manitoba set new standards of care.”
“This new equipment promises great results,” said Dr. Perry Gray, Chief Medical Officer of HSC. “For some patients, it is their only hope in a life-threatening situation. For others, angiography can replace conventional surgery. For the patient this means markedly less pain, earlier mobility, and shorter hospital stays. What we are installing makes it possible for HSC to provide tomorrow’s health care today.”
“We are pleased to support this project and to partner with Paul Albrechtsen, HSC, and the HSC Foundation,” said Premier Brian Pallister. “This equipment is a vital contribution to the process of health care transformation in Manitoba and we are grateful for the HSC Foundation’s championship, HSC’s leadership, and Mr. Albrechtsen’s generosity. With today’s announcement we are together making lives better for thousands of Manitobans every year.”
“I am amazed by the technology, impressed by the facility, and am proud to support the project,” said Paul Albrechtsen, President & CEO of The Paul Albrechtsen Foundation. “I believe strongly that people who have experienced success in business need to step forward and do our part to improve health care. Philanthropy accelerates excellence, and I am happy to put my trust in the HSC Foundation and HSC.”
The new interventional angiography equipment is scheduled to come online in the Diagnostic Centre of Excellence in 2020.
About the Health Sciences Centre Foundation
HSC is Manitoba’s flagship hospital for trauma, transplants, burns, strokes, neurosciences, cancer, and pediatric care. Donations to the HSC Foundation enable HSC to improve care in these and other areas through important research initiatives, training opportunities for health care staff, the acquisition of cutting-edge medical equipment, and the development of new state-of-the-art facilities.
