Through the heartfelt generosity of our endowment fund supporters, Victoria Hospital Foundation invests in educational and professional development opportunities for staff at Victoria Hospital and ACCESS Fort Garry. Our Education & Professional Development Grant program funds continuing education, leadership training, conferences, and seminars. Since 2003, we have awarded over $350,000 to support education and professional development for staff. Over the past year, we have awarded over $ 57,783 in grants to support 31 staff. Congratulations to the 2024/25 Education & Professional Development grant recipients! Anonymous (1)Imelda Arvesu – Victoria HospitalJasvir Bajwa – Victoria HospitalRobert Boyce – Victoria HospitalDarren Campbell – Victoria HospitalAshley Carruthers – ACCESS Fort GarryAntonino Cotroneo – ACCESS Fort GarryGillian Crymble – Victoria HospitalJessica de Leon – Victoria HospitalBillie Fraser – Victoria HospitalPaula George – Victoria HospitalDenise Gout Smith – Victoria HospitalJonah Hirshberg – ACCESS Fort GarryCindy Labaty – Victoria HospitalAnthony Lokke – Victoria HospitalJoanne Lysyk – Victoria HospitalPaolina Morgante-Wilkins – Victoria HospitalLeon Mark – Victoria HospitalChristel Nadeau – Victoria HospitalCathy Ngo – Victoria HospitalHeather Orellana – Victoria HospitalJackie Poon – Victoria HospitalAndrea Rodrigue – Victoria HospitalMonica Samuel – Victoria HospitalMary Shum – ACCESS Fort GarryVeronique Simard-Voth – Victoria HospitalLaura Smith – ACCESS Fort GarryDean Carlo Supan – Victoria HospitalMonica Vasin – Victoria HospitalTiffany Walker – ACCESS Fort GarryShuyan (Rebecca) Zhang – Victoria HospitalThe Spring 2025 intake for Education & Professional Grant applications is now open! Eligible staff at Victoria Hospital and ACCESS Fort Garry can submit their applications by May 23 for consideration. Donate Post navigation < BACK
Victoria Hospital Foundation and the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation have announced over $27,000 in funding to support new research examining the potential role of artificial intelligence in enhancing emergency department processes for improved patient care. Victoria Hospital Foundation has partnered with the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation, each awarding $13,575 of research funding to Dr. Farzad Zaerpour, Associate Professor for the Department of Business and Administration at the University of Winnipeg, for his project Artificial Intelligence in Modernizing Emergency Department: From Strategic Planning to Optimizing Operational Performance. The intention of the one-year project is to demonstrate the potential of an AI-based patient flow model in addressing the challenges of emergency department crowding. According to the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), there were almost 14 million unscheduled emergency department visits reported in Canada between April 2021 and March 2022 – up from over 11.7 million in 2020-2021. “Emergency department crowding is a critical challenge in healthcare, leading to prolonged service delays, ambulance diversion, reduced access to medical care, higher patient mortality rates, and staff burnout,” said Zaerpour. “This project has the potential to impact several critical aspects of healthcare delivery such as reducing emergency department crowding, improving patient outcomes, more efficient use of resources, structured decision-making, and better capacity planning.” The first year of this project will include a comprehensive literature review on AI-based patient flow optimization in emergency departments, data preprocessing and artificial intelligence and machine learning model development. It will also include an initial patient flow analysis, a small-scale pilot test of the developed AI models and decision support systems in an emergency department, and a report to serve as a basis for future project planning. This funding partnership between Victoria Hospital Foundation and the Manitoba Medical Service Foundation marks the third time these organizations have made a joint research investment. They previously invested a combined $50,000 to fund two health-related research projects in 2013 and 2017. “We are thrilled to partner with the Victoria Hospital Foundation in funding this innovative research that hopes to improve emergency care for Manitobans,” said Dr. Greg Hammond, Executive Director, Manitoba Medical Service Foundation. “We are proud to support Manitoba researchers like Dr. Farzad Zaerpour and the important work they do to improve the health and well-being of people throughout the province.” The outcomes from the initial one-year phase of the project will be used to inform the development of a robust AI-based patient flow model and actionable recommendations over a subsequent five-year period. Donate Post navigation < BACK NEXT >
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we are able to invest in educational and professional development opportunities for staff at Victoria Hospital and ACCESS Fort Garry. Our Education & Professional Development grants support continuing education, leadership training, conferences, and seminars. Since 2003, we have awarded over $200,000 to support staff education. This year, we are proud to award over $47,500 in grants to support 30 staff in developing their skills and pursuing new learning opportunities. Congratulations to the 2023/24 Education & Professional Development grant recipients! Anonymous (3)Imelda Arvesu – Victoria HospitalJasvir Bajwa – Victoria HospitalVirginita Banaga – Victoria HospitalJocelyn Bobiles – Victoria HospitalDarren Campbell – Victoria HospitalAshley Carruthers – ACCESS Fort GarrySusan Charach – Victoria HospitalMohammed Ali Chaudhry – Victoria HospitalMathew Christian – ACCESS Fort GarryGillian Crymble – Victoria HospitalShanelle Fillier – Victoria HospitalPaula George – Victoria HospitalHarinder Ghuman – Victoria HospitalHarjeet Gill – Victoria HospitalPatricia Gonzalez – Victoria HospitalGarrett Hawgood – Victoria HospitalMercy Kiathane – Victoria HospitalAnthony Lokke – Victoria HospitalJoanne Lysyk – Victoria HospitalTanis Melnyk – ACCESS Fort GarryHana Mesongnik – Victoria HospitalHeather Orellana – Victoria HospitalAcela Palmera – Victoria HospitalJeanette Patrick – ACCESS Fort GarryJackie Poon – Victoria HospitalDenise Gout Smith – Victoria HospitalAndrea Rodrigue – Victoria HospitalTiffany Spenst – Victoria HospitalEmmanuel Uwaebuka – Victoria Hospital Learn more about how these grants are making a positive impact on the quality of care available at our hospital and in our community. Our next call-out for grant applications will be announced in Spring 2024. Stay tuned for more information! Donate Post navigation < BACK NEXT >
In recognition of the important contributions made by psychiatry residents at Victoria Hospital and across our healthcare system, we recently invested in two new awards that were presented at last week’s Psychiatry Awards of Excellence. These two new $1,000 awards will be presented annually to deserving psychiatry residents at the year-end Graduation Banquet. The Victoria Hospital Foundation Excellence in Psychiatry Residency Award was awarded to Samantha Reimer. Samantha was recognized for demonstrating knowledge, teamwork, and compassion in providing psychiatric care during her rotation at Victoria Hospital. The Victoria Hospital Foundation Award for PGY2 Excellence was awarded to Madeleine Hucl. Madeleine was recognized for her commitment to teamwork and supporting interprofessional care, her active commitment to learning and growth as a provider, and her strong dedication to providing compassionate and non-stigmatizing care. A call for nominations for the next Psychiatry Awards of Excellence will be announced in Spring 2024. Thank you to Samantha, Madeleine, and all psychiatry residents for the outstanding care you provide to our community, each and every day. We are grateful for your compassion and dedication. Donate Post navigation < BACK NEXT >
Victoria Hospital Foundation has announced a gift of $100,000 from Canada Life in support of the recently opened Manitoba Blue Cross Mental Health Assessment Unit at Victoria Hospital. This gift represents a significant contribution to the Foundation’s $1.2 million commitment to this project. “We are grateful for the generosity of Canada Life and their strong commitment to the mental health and well-being of our community,” said Nicole Chammartin, Executive Director, Victoria Hospital Foundation. “This gift will have a profound impact on the delivery of mental health care at here at Victoria Hospital and will touch the lives of the hundreds of Manitobans in need of mental health assessments at our hospital each year.” The Manitoba Blue Cross Mental Health Assessment Unit opened in June 2022 as a private and supportive six-bed space in Victoria Hospital’s Urgent Care department designed for individualized mental health assessments and care. Urgent Care and mental health teams work in collaboration to provide mental health assessments in a calming environment. It is the first integrated space of its kind in Manitoba. Since its inception, Canada Life has invested over $11 million in mental health-related initiatives across Canada. “Canada Life has a proud history of improving the financial, physical, and mental well-being of individuals here in Manitoba and across Canada,” said Katerina Bletnitsky, Senior Program Manager, Community Relations at Canada Life. “We believe in giving back and helping to build stronger communities, which is why we are so pleased to invest in this important new space that will support the well-being of those on a journey towards mental wellness.” The $1.2 million Manitoba Blue Cross Mental Health Health Assessment Unit is part of Victoria Hospital Foundation’s $1.78 million investment in two new mental health initiatives at Victoria Hospital. A $580,000 Tranquility Trail greenspace will open in spring 2023 to support the mental wellness of the community and enable unique outdoor treatment programming for patients in Victoria Hospital’s Mental Health program. To date, Victoria Hospital Foundation has raised over $1 million toward its $1.78 million goal for these projects with $500,000 remaining to reach its goal. Donate Post navigation < BACK NEXT >
Victoria Hospital Foundation has announced a $1.78 million investment in two new mental health initiatives to support patient care at Victoria Hospital and the official opening of the Manitoba Blue Cross Mental Health Assessment Unit. The $1.2 million Manitoba Blue Cross Mental Health Assessment Unit is a dedicated space in Victoria Hospital’s Urgent Care department designed to provide individualized care in a private and supportive environment conducive to recovery. Urgent Care and mental health teams will work in collaboration to provide specialized mental health assessments and care in a calming, home-like environment. This innovative evidence-based model of care leverages the skills, knowledge, and expertise of the inter-professional team to meet the individual’s unique needs. The six-bed unit is the first integrated space of its kind in Manitoba. Funding for the Manitoba Blue Cross Mental Health Assessment Unit is made possible through the generosity of Victoria Hospital Foundation’s supporters, including a $500,000 gift from Manitoba Blue Cross. Other significant funding commitments include a $100,000 gift from Canada Life, $60,000 gift from Kinsmen Club of Winnipeg and $25,000 gifts from Johnston Group and Wawanesa Insurance. “We are grateful for the countless individuals and businesses in our community whose ongoing support is helping to ensure the best mental health care is available close to home, particularly with the increased need we are experiencing as a result of Covid,” said Nicole Chammartin, Executive Director, Victoria Hospital Foundation. “We are especially thankful for the generosity of Manitoba Blue Cross and all early project supporters, whose significant contributions are transforming mental health care at our hospital for thousands of Manitobans.” This integrated model of care will consist of a patient-centered approach wherein the inter-professional team engages and empowers individuals experiencing mental health concerns in the decision-making process. The combination of evidence-based practices and patient-focused care is anticipated to create the efficiencies necessary for these individuals to experience shorter wait times and hospital stays, while fostering enhanced therapeutic relationships with the care team. This collaborative approach will also enable more timely connections to community and outpatient resources to support improved recovery and quality of life. The Manitoba Blue Cross Mental Health Assessment Unit features six bright and spacious treatment rooms, two of which have the ability to seclude individuals requiring additional monitoring as part of their care plan. The space also features a patient lounge to facilitate social interaction in a safe environment, which is beneficial to healing and recovery. A central team station will enable individuals to benefit from frequent assessment, monitoring, and intervention as needed. “As our community’s need for mental health care continues to grow, we need to ensure that we have the appropriate settings for individuals to receive the care they need when they need it most,” said Rachel Ferguson, Chief Operating Officer, Victoria Hospital. “This unique patient-centred environment will help to ensure our patients have a safe space to talk openly with psychiatrists and clinicians and know they are being heard.” Victoria Hospital Foundation will also invest $580,000 in Tranquility Trail, a new greenspace on the grounds of Victoria Hospital to enhance the mental health and wellness of our community and support patients in their recovery. This environment will be designed specifically to support socialization and unique outdoor treatment programming such as arts and crafts, recreation therapy activities, exercise programs, cultural ceremonies, and gardening. Construction on this new healing environment is now underway and is anticipated to be complete in Spring 2023. To date, Victoria Hospital Foundation has raised over $1 million toward its $1.78 million goal for these projects and will be rallying community support to raise an additional $500,000. Donations can be made at TheVicFoundation.ca. Donate Post navigation < BACK NEXT >
