Thanks to the generosity of Dartmouth General Hospital (DGH) Foundation donors, exceptional hospital leadership and the incredible DGH Team who care for our community, the 2024/25 DGH Foundation Annual Report is filled with an abundance of good news!
Annual Report 2024-2025
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O r t
Incoming Board Of Directors 2025/2026
EXECUTIVE Chair
DIRECTORS Dr. Natalie Cheng Medical Site Lead, DGH Joseph Daniel CEO, Cresco Bruce Delo Senior Consultant, Delo Management Consulting Ross Drake Retired CFO, Summit II REIT John Fitzpatrick, K.C. Partner, BoyneClarke LLP Rick Flynn Community Volunteer, Retired Aviation Executive Carolyn Hortie President, DGH Auxiliary Tyler MacLeod Founder, Rhyme + Reason Shelly Martin Director of Governance, Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq Dr. Carla Pittman
Ann Janega Retired Citizenship Judge
Paul O’Hearn Director, National Accounts Atlantic Region, TD Bank Group Candace L. Thomas, K.C. Vice President, Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, NS Health
1 st Vice Chair
2 nd Vice Chair
Jennifer Alward Senior Manager, KPMG LLP Sharon Davis-Murdoch Co-President, Health Association of African Canadians
Treasurer
Secretary
EX-OFFICIO Stephen Harding President and CEO, DGH Foundation Rachel Nalepa Health Services Director, DGH Tanya Penney Executive Director, Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health Eileen MacGibbon Vice President Operations, Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health
Radiologist, DGH Mark Sherman Retired VP & COO, Irving Oil Tara Wickwire Principal, The Message
We extend our deepest gratitude to retiring board members Joseph Diab and Dan Gibson for their many years of dedicated service on the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation Board. Their leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting impact on our hospital and community.
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The President & CEO and Board Chair MESSAGE FROM
Thanks to your generosity, our exceptional hospital leadership, and the incredible team at Dartmouth General Hospital (DGH) who care for our community, we have an abundance of good news to share with you in our Annual Report this year. Our Lead On Campaign focused on seven key areas to support leading healthcare innovations, priority technology and equipment, and programs and services designed to help build a community in which everyone has pathways to exceptional care. Together, generous donors, community partners, and local businesses raised more than $15 million to help the Dartmouth General provide patients with the highest level of innovation and exceptional care available, in a warm, caring, and welcoming environment. The Dartmouth General Hospital continues to see record numbers of emergency room visits, surgeries, diagnostic imaging procedures, and admissions. Our hospital has never been busier. Thanks to the dedication of our care teams and the generosity of our community, we are able to provide our healthcare professionals with the latest technology and equipment they need to continue to rise to the challenge.
We are proud to share that our Lead On Campaign surpassed its $15 million goal with a remarkable $15.8 million donated. This outpouring of generosity has brought transformational change to the hospital - from Atlantic Canada’s first Pelvic Health Suite, to our new Palliative Care Unit, to the arrival of our first MRI and Canada’s first robotic-assisted hip replacement surgery – the Dartmouth General is leading on. These milestones are a testament to what is possible when community, donors, government, and health care staff work together. Looking ahead, we are excited to prepare for our 50 th anniversary in 2026. Just as we have done for five decades, we will continue to invest in people, technology, and spaces that transform health care. From the Gasparetto Family MRI Suite to the Patient Essentials Fund supported by Scotiabank, to bursaries for Mi’kmaq learners made possible through Horizon Maritime, your generosity is shaping a stronger, more inclusive future for health care in our province. Every project, every innovation, and every life touched at Dartmouth General is thanks to you. As we close one campaign and look toward the next chapter, we are filled with gratitude and excitement for what lies ahead.
Ann Janega Board Chair, Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors Ann Janega
Stephen Harding President & CEO, Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation
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Medical Site Lead And Director Of Health Services, Dartmouth General Hospital MESSAGE FROM
This past year has been one of remarkable growth and innovation at Dartmouth General Hospital (DGH) as we continue working together to strengthen care close to home. As we approach the hospital’s 50th anniversary, the progress made reflects the dedication of our healthcare teams, the vision of our community, and the shared belief that every patient deserves access to excellent, modern care right here at home. Several important advancements are shaping the future of Dartmouth General. A major highlight is the upcoming renovation of the hospital cafeteria—a long-anticipated project that will create a refreshed and welcoming space where staff, patients, and visitors can recharge. This investment in the people who provide, and support care every day is just as vital as new technology or clinical space. Our teams have also expanded the services and treatments available at DGH. Patients with Barrett’s Esophagus now have access to Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) treatment right here in Nova Scotia, eliminating the need to travel out of province for this specialized care. The Emergency Department has expanded their ability to care for patients requiring cardiac monitoring, improving safety and flow during some of the busiest moments of care. The creation of the Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite further enhances our outpatient services in gynecology and urology. Equipped with the latest tools, including flexible cystoscopes, ambulatory hysteroscopes, and a Thulium Laser for kidney and bladder stone treatment, this suite will reduce wait times, improve comfort, and provide timely care with precision.
Beyond technology and treatment, DGH is also leading in patient-centered spaces. Our new Activities of Daily Living Suite offers a safe, realistic environment for patients to practice everyday tasks and prepare for a confident transition home. Similarly, the expansion of the Geriatric Medicine Clinic to the Dartmouth campus brings comprehensive care for older adults closer to where they live, helping patients and families navigate aging with dignity and support. This year also marked important progress in advancing diversity and inclusion in healthcare. A new partnership with the Health Association of African Canadians is focused on improving health equity and cardiovascular outcomes for Black and African Nova Scotian communities. At the same time, the launch of the DGH Foundation–Horizon Maritime Mi’kmaq Learners Healthcare Bursary will support students from Mi’kmaq communities across the province in pursuing careers in healthcare. These initiatives are helping to ensure a stronger, more inclusive health system for future generations. Together, these advancements reflect a clear vision: a hospital that grows not only in size and services, but also in its ability to care for the whole person. From cutting-edge equipment to spaces that nurture recovery and resilience, DGH continues to evolve as a hub of healthcare excellence for our community. As we celebrate these milestones and look toward the next chapter, Nova Scotia Health is proud to partner with the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, healthcare teams, and the community. Together, we are building a hospital that will serve patients and families for the next 50 years and beyond—with compassion, innovation, and hope.
Natalie Cheng
Rachel Nalepa Rachel Nalepa DGH Director of Health Services
Dr. Natalie Cheng DGH Medical Site Lead
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Projects And Programs Funded In 2024/2025 PATIENT SUPPORT GRANTS $209,079 EDUCATION & RESEARCH $621,669
MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES IMPROVEMENTS $3,865,573
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Caring For Our Community BY THE NUMBERS
COMPLETED ORTHOPEDIC SURGICAL CASES 2021-2022 1,175 2022-2023 1,883 2023-2024 2,398 2024-2025 2,579
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS 2021-2022
44,816 44,991 45,094 50,916
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING PROCEDURES 2021-2022
88,856 115,908 106,733 114,134
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
DRIVE THRU BLOOD COLLECTION VISITS 2021-2022
614
2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
16,305 17,447 20,553
OUTPATIENT VISITS (2024 - 2025) 85,553
MRI SCANS (2024 - 2025) 5,839
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Trend In The Last Ten Years TOTAL DONATIONS*
2016
$660,260
2017
$1,163,238
2018
$742,890
2019
$2,286,663
2020
$2,983,676
2021
$2,646,542
2022
$2,652,582
2023
$4,512,603
2024
$4,400,569**
2025
$5,699,959
*Totals do not include parking or investment revenue **Due to a restatement, the 2024 figure was adjusted from $4,401,751 to $4,400,569
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Care In Action
PATIENT & FAMILY TESTIMONIALS
My husband spent eight weeks at Dartmouth General Hospital (DGH). Admitted through the emergency room, his was a difficult diagnosis from the beginning. Numerous complications compounded the medical issues, yet every member of his care team worked together to find and treat the root cause of his illness. They continually kept us updated on both the progress being made and the setbacks encountered. Throughout his health journey the DGH medical team were phenomenal with both him as a patient and me as his prime care giver. As we neared the end of our hospital stay, we were given lifesaving support to ensure a smooth transition from the hospital to our home. They took the time to give me the confidence and skills needed to care for my husband once we were on our own. We can’t thank the nursing and Care Team Assistants (CTA) enough for all their care, concern, and encouragement. Karen Dicks, Complex Discharge Planning Nurse, exceeded the norms by getting us enrolled in the “Hospital To Home” pilot project and then working to ensure we had the appropriate medical devices and care items needed to make the transition to home safely. Together every nurse, CTA, doctor, physio team member and program administrator helped us to get my husband to be the best he could be. He now enjoys his days at home with our family, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the back yard Blue Jays. Thank you all a thousand times over. — L. Day
My husband on his first and last day of the Hospital to Home pilot program with his home support team members
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My husband of 52 years passed away in early 2025. Thanks to the incredible team at Dartmouth General Hospital (DGH), I was able to keep my promise and remain by his side until the very end—he did not die alone. That meant the world to both of us. It was an unimaginably difficult time, yet the compassion shown by the DGH Team brought comfort when it was needed most. With compassion, Drs. Singh, Hunter, and Gapal kept me informed each morning about Tom’s condition and his night. Their kindness and thoughtfulness helped prepare me for the day ahead and gave me strength I didn’t know I had. To the health care workers of 5 East and the entire DGH Team—please know that your care for patients and their families does not go unnoticed. In the darkest of moments, you made the unbearable just a little more bearable. For that, I am deeply grateful. Thank you. — J. Johnston
J. Johnston and her new canine companion Bob
I was taken by ambulance to the Dartmouth General due to heart complications. After being seen promptly by the emergency staff of doctors and nurses, I was quickly transferred to the cardiac unit (fourth floor) that same evening. I was admitted for six days and the care I received from the staff of nurses and doctors was beyond incredible. Our health-care system often gets a hard time due to the heavy burden it is under, but I can attest to an old saying that not all angels wear wings, and this is true of the staff at the Dartmouth General. — C. Robertson
EMS Team Members in DGH Ambulance Bay
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Our Lead On Campaign focused on seven priority areas to support leading healthcare innovations, priority technology and equipment, and programs and services designed to help build a community in which everyone has pathways to exceptional care. Together, generous donors, community partners, and local businesses exceeded expectations raising $15.8 million against our $15 million goal to help the Dartmouth General Hospital provide patients with the highest level of innovation and exceptional care available, in a warm, caring, and welcoming environment.
PRIORITY ONE - MRI FOR DGH
DGH’s First-Ever MRI – More Than 5,000 Scans In Year One Thanks to the outstanding generosity of donors who collectively committed $2 million to fund DGH’s first- ever MRI, in June 2024, Dartmouth General Hospital celebrated its first patient scans performed with the new machine. Our goal was to complete 5,000 scans in the first year – essentially one-third of the 15,000 people who were waiting for a scan at that time. We are so proud to report that the DGH team exceeded their goal by almost 20%, performing more than 5,800 scans in the first year. DGH’s new MRI has helped reduce wait times, eliminated the need to transport vulnerable patients by ambulance to Halifax for vital scans, and has made care more accessible for patients living in HRM. This is philanthropy in action!
Violet Diab, Joe Diab, Tim Halman, Twila Grosse, Dr. Graham Joy, Al MacPhee, Pearl Duffy, Sharon Hartling, Premier Tim Houston, Stephen Harding, Lisa Murphy, Sharon Calder, Richard Calder, and Fred Smithers cut the ribbon on DGH’s new MRI
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Orthopedic Robot – Fred Smithers Centre For Orthopedic Care Leading The Country The power of philanthropy has made the Dartmouth General Hospital a national leader in orthopedics. Dartmouth General Hospital was home to the first robot-assisted hip replacement in Canada thanks to Dr. Jennifer Leighton. Our incredible team at the Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care is now leading the province in the volume of hip and knee replacement surgeries performed and leading the country in the volume of outpatient total joint replacements. A generous $1 million investment from the River Philip Foundation created the DGH Orthopedic Innovation Action Fund, helping to drive innovation, reduce wait times. and further DGH’s standing as a leader in robotic surgery in Canada. PRIORITY TWO - ORTHOPEDIC INNOVATION
Dr. Jennifer Leighton with DGH’s Orthopedic Robot
John & Judy Bragg Healthcare Innovation Fund A generous $1 million gift from the River Philip Foundation created the John & Judy Bragg Healthcare Innovation Fund at Dartmouth General Hospital. The Fund makes $100,000 available each year to fund an innovative idea brought forward by a member of the DGH staff. Over the past few years, the Fund has supported a drive-thru Covid testing and vaccination service, GI Genius AI-assisted technology to help detect up to 14% more polyps, our drive-thru blood collection service (the only one in Nova Scotia), and a highly- successful Vital Signs Bluetooth Monitoring Pilot Project in our Emergency Department which is now being rolled out to all regional hospitals in the province. The Fund’s latest projects include point-of-care infection detection technology that can alert surgeons to a possible infection in a joint within minutes. PRIORITY THREE - INNOVATION FUND
Vital Signs Bluetooth Monitoring system at work in the Dartmouth General Hospital Emergency Room
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PRIORITY FOUR - PRIORITY EQUIPMENT & TECHNOLOGY
DGH Brings Barrett’s Esophagus Treatment To Nova Scotia Generous supporters of our 2024 Annual Lobster Dinner & Auction, together with the Chassie Family, helped bring Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) treatment for Barrett’s Esophagus to Nova Scotia. Prior to this, Nova Scotia patients had to travel out of province for this critical treatment that helps prevent esophageal cancer. Darren S., a Halls Harbour, Nova Scotia resident knows firsthand the benefits of having RFA treatment available at DGH. “I travelled out of province 13 times over the last five years to be treated for Barrett’s Esophagus. Having this technology available at DGH means I am travelling less, spending less, recovering faster and shortening the time that I am away from home because of the proximity of the treatment. I can’t thank DGH Foundation donors enough for bringing healthcare technology like this to Dartmouth and to patients like me.”
Jenna Joyce, Cynthia Stockman, Rebecca Croft, Dr. Natalie Cheng, and Dr. Robert Berger with new RFA Laser
Holmium And Thulium Lasers At DGH Making An Impact For Prostate & Kidney Patients Dartmouth General Hospital is now home to two leading- edge medical lasers used to treat kidney stones and enlarged prostates, thanks to your generosity. The Thulium Laser is a non-invasive technology that helps turn large kidney stones into “dust”, allowing patients to pass the remnants of the stones easily, without pain. The Moses 2.0 Holmium Laser is another non-invasive leading technology used to treat BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia). Patients undergoing treatment with the Laser experience less pain, minimal catheterization, and less bleeding. DGH was the first hospital in Atlantic Canada to acquire this new technology and is leading the way in laser-assisted healthcare. Special thanks to the River Philip Foundation for their generous matching gift to help bring this leading technology to DGH!
Dr. Jon Duplisea and Dr. Jon Moore with the new Moses 2.0 Holmium Laser
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Mike Brien, Beth Brien, Dr. Scott Mawdsley, Stephen Harding, and Jenna Joyce outside of DGH’s new Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite
PRIORITY FIVE - ENHANCED PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite We were so excited to cut the ribbon to open the DGH’s new Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite in February! This new suite has provided patients with increased access to essential care by quadrupling our capacity for urological procedures and more than doubling our capacity for gynecological procedures. The suite is the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada and was made possible by the generosity of numerous donors including: The Orchid Gala, the J & W Murphy Foundation, the Bowser Family, the Brien Family Foundation, Dorothy & Dan Gibson, Mark & Teri Sherman, CIBC, and Steele Automotive Group. You can read more about how the first pelvic health suite in Atlantic Canada is helping improve access to care on page 20. New Activities Of Daily Living Suite Opens At DGH DGH’s new Activities of Daily Living Suite opened in April thanks to the generosity of the J & W Murphy Foundation, Harding Medical, Auction Advantage, Payzant Home Hardware, and other caring donors. This new purpose-built and thoughtfully designed suite mimics a home environment and allows recreational therapy staff to assess patients’ ability and mobility in order to make support recommendations for a safe return home. Your generosity is hard at work for patients at DGH.
DGH’s new Activities of Daily Living Suite
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New Geriatric Medicine Clinic
New Geriatric Medicine Clinic On DGH Campus Thanks to the J & W Murphy Foundation, our newly-expanded campus is home to Dartmouth’s first Geriatric Medicine Clinic. Located on the main level of the former Scotia Surgery building, the clinic was designed as a dementia-friendly environment where healthcare professionals conduct comprehensive geriatric assessments, host movement disorders clinics, and work with patients and families to plan care and home supports.
PRIORITY SIX – EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ENHANCEMENTS
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Pilot DGH’s Emergency Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is the second-busiest in the province. We continue to see increased volumes and, like elsewhere in our region, patients often wait hours for care. Thanks to the J & W Murphy Foundation, DGH launched a pilot project to help ensure vulnerable elderly patients receive care faster. The Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Pilot Project helped improve care and reduce wait times for elderly patients. The successful project paved the way for NS Health to introduce Waiting Room Care Providers to Emergency Departments across the province, helping vulnerable patients everywhere.
Cody, Registered Nurse at DGH Emergency Room, appreciates the Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Program
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Promoting Leadership In Health For African Nova Scotians (PLANS) Co-Op Program PRIORITY SEVEN – COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Dartmouth General Hospital is proud to be the hospital mentorship site for the PLANS Co-op Program, carried out in partnership with Dalhousie University. DGH is committed to creating a work force that is representative of the communities it serves, and the PLANS Co-op Program is one of many ways we are supporting culturally-competent healthcare at DGH. To-date, we have hosted more than 100 high-school students at DGH for a day of hands-on learning, job-shadowing, and mentoring as part of the PLANS Co-op Program. Our heartfelt thanks to RBC and Killam Apartment REIT for funding this impactful program.
PLANS student enjoys DGH hands-on activity day
Healthcare Bursaries For African Nova Scotian And Indigenous Learners Thanks to the J & W Murphy Foundation, Horizon Maritime, John & Heather Fitzpatrick, and other generous donors, DGH Foundation is proud to fund annual healthcare bursaries for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous learners. Each year, we award up to $60,000 in one-time and renewable bursaries for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous youth enrolled in healthcare-related post-secondary studies. And we don’t stop there – we also provide up to $12,000 per year in bursary support for DGH staff who wish to upgrade their skills or further their education. Each year, our African Nova Scotian renewable healthcare bursary is named in honour of an African Nova Scotian who has had a significant impact on health or healthcare. We were proud and honoured to name our 2024/25 renewable bursary for the incredible Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard. Our deepest thanks to the honourees and to the generous donors who make these programs possible! DGH’s Patient Essentials Fund Helps Vulnerable Individuals With Basic Needs DGH’s Patient Essentials Fund provides emergency assistance to some of our community’s most vulnerable patients. We help fund food, medication, transportation and other essential needs to help patients safely return home to continue their healing journey following a hospital visit. Our heartfelt thanks to Scotiabank for their outstanding support of this critical program!
Stephen Harding, Samarah Hudson-Ash (2023/24 Dr. Ben Cookey Bursary recipient), Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, Ayres Perry (2024/25 Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard Bursary recipient), Leda Jarvis, Lisa Murphy, Nathan Tesfazion (2023/24 Dr. Ben Cookey Bursary recipient)
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Stephen Harding, Al MacPhee, Nicola Ray Smith, Susan Graham, Jenna Joyce, John Fitzpatrick, K.C.
Scotiabank’s Generosity Helps Our Community’s Most Vulnerable Patients
Scotiabank is committed to positively contributing to the communities where they live and work, and their generous support of DGH’s Patient Essentials Fund is a wonderful example of the impact their generosity is having for vulnerable patients in our community. Our healthcare teams at Dartmouth General Hospital encounter many patients and families with socioeconomic challenges. Managing a new or chronic health condition can place increasing financial burden on patients and their families, particularly for the vulnerable and marginalized. The barriers to safely leaving hospital can be related to basic needs such as food, medications, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
“The Patient Essentials Fund has proven itself to have a significant impact on reducing delays in hospital discharges and in preventing re- admission – an impact felt throughout the hospital and in the communities in which we all live and serve.” — Jennifer Stevens MSW, RSW Health Care Social Worker The DGH Social Work Patient Essentials Fund aims to address some of these immediate concerns, allowing our Social Work team to be dynamic and have an immediate response to patient needs within our hospital – providing emergency assistance when it is required. On behalf of the patients and families served by DGH, we extend our deepest thanks to Scotiabank for their generous $250,000 gift in support of the DGH Social Work Patient Essentials Fund.
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Horizon Maritime Takes The Lead To Support Mi’kmaq Learners Healthcare Bursary Thanks to a generous $250,000 gift from Horizon
Maritime Services Ltd., DGH Foundation has established a renewable bursary program for Mi’kmaq learners interested in pursuing post- secondary education in healthcare-related fields. Working in partnership with Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and Horizon Maritime, the newly- created DGH Foundation-Horizon Maritime Mi’kmaq Learners Healthcare Bursary at NSCC will provide up to five $3,000 renewable bursaries each year to Mi’kmaq students from across the province. Dartmouth General Hospital and Horizon Maritime share a common vision in building diversity and inclusion within the healthcare sector. By investing in the education and professional development of Mi’kmaq learners, Horizon Maritime is actively contributing to the creation of a more representative and inclusive healthcare workforce in Nova Scotia.
“Horizon Maritime is very pleased to contribute to the vital work that the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation does by supporting the Mi’kmaq Learners Healthcare Bursary Program. Horizon’s ability to make this commitment to this very important program is a direct result of dedicated personnel who have worked so hard to make Horizon Maritime a success. The opportunity to provide Mi’kmaq students financial support while they pursue a career in the Health Care Sector is one that we could not pass up. At the end of the day all Nova Scotians will benefit from this program and Horizon is very pleased to play a part in this.” — Steve Widmeyer, CEO, Horizon Maritime
Drummer, Keigan Sack
Fred Smithers, Basim Sobeih, Dr. Natalie Cheng, Richard MacLellan, Steve Widmeyer, Stephen Harding, Noah Widmeyer, Al MacPhee
Bursary Recipient, Rebekah
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Dartmouth General Hospital was built on a foundation of community support almost 50 years ago. That spirit of community generosity continues to support the exceptional care that is at the heart of DGH. We are extraordinarily grateful for the generous support of our friends and neighbours. Service clubs and volunteer organizations have collectively donated more than $3 million over the past 50 years to help fund priority equipment and technology at the DGH. And they’ve not only donated money – they have also generously volunteered countless hours and untold energy – all in the spirit of helping others. Thanks to these amazing volunteers, our community is stronger and healthier. Here are just a few examples of the how these wonderful community heroes are helping build the future of healthcare at DGH. Celebrating The Generosity Of Our Community DGH Auxiliary
The DGH Auxiliary began working on behalf of the hospital years before it was built. Over the past 52 years, this incredible group of volunteers has helped provide more than $2 million for priority equipment and technology for DGH. Last year, the Auxiliary supported DGH’s new Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite and upgrades to our Emergency Department, with an incredible $62,000 gift! Be sure to stop into their Gift Shop located on the main level of the hospital to say thank you and browse their wonderful collection of gifts and treasures.
DGH Auxiliary members announce the largest gift to DGH in their history
Royal Canadian Legion Centennial Branch 160 Thanks to our friends at the Royal Canadian Legion Centennial Branch 160, Dartmouth General Hospital is home to a new LUCAS Chest Compression System – designed to deliver uninterrupted chest compressions at a consistent rate and depth. This helps prevent fatigue in situations requiring extended compressions. Our heartfelt thanks to all our friends at the Royal Canadian Legion, who have helped fund more than $175,000 worth of essential medical equipment for Dartmouth General Hospital over the past 10 years.
Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 160 present Stephen Harding with donation
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Kiwanis Club of Dartmouth The Kiwanis Club of Dartmouth has been a cherished friend of the Dartmouth General Hospital for more than 25 years. They have donated more than $150,000 to help fund priority medical equipment for DGH, including our new MRI and one of our first CT scanners more than two decades ago. Thank you to our wonderful friends at Kiwanis for all you do for DGH and our entire community!
Members of the Kiwanis Club of Dartmouth joined us for a tour of the MRI Suite under construction
Knights of Columbus – St. Thomas More Council Our heartfelt thanks to the Knights of Columbus for their incredible support of lifesaving equipment for the Dartmouth General Hospital. A generous $30,000 gift helped fund the LUCAS Chest Compression system as well as flexible scopes used for urology procedures.
Members of the Knights of Columbus - St. Thomas More Council, present Stephen Harding with a cheque to fund lifesaving equipment for Dartmouth General Hospital
Dartmouth Kin Club We are so grateful to the incredible Dartmouth Kin Club volunteers who do so much to make our community better. The Kin Club have been tremendous friends and supporters of the Dartmouth General Hospital since 1980. For many years they provided free parking for hospital visitors on their Kin Kindness Day. You will often see them helping out at our events and we are pleased to be guests at their famous pancake breakfasts. Thank you, Kin Club, for all you do for our community!
Dartmouth Kin Club members treat DGH staff and visitors to a day of free parking
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New Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite procedure room DGH’s New Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite First Of Its Kind In Atlantic Canada
We were excited to welcome more than 100 guests to the Dartmouth General in February to celebrate the opening of DGH’s new Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite – the first of its kind in Nova Scotia. Made possible through the generosity of many forward-thinking philanthropists, the new Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite is already receiving rave reviews from patients and staff. The 1,750 square foot purpose-built suite more than quadruples DGH’s capacity to serve urology and gynecology patients. It brings together gynecologists, urologists, and other specialties to bring a multidisciplinary approach to preventative care and treatment that can lead to timely diagnosis, faster treatment and improved outcomes and patient quality of life. Thanks to the added capacity it brings to DGH, the new suite is already helping to reduce wait times for urologic, gynecologic, endoscopic and surgical
procedures. Prior to the creation of the new suite, urology procedures at DGH were performed in one of our three endoscopy suites, and hysteroscopies were performed in one of our eight operating rooms (OR). Moving these procedures out of the ORs and endoscopy suites into specialized treatment areas designed specifically for pelvic health procedures frees up capacity for surgeries and colonoscopies, helping to reduce wait times in both these areas. Adding a designated suite for urology and gynecology procedure has increased DGH’s capacity to treat patients in these areas by more than four-fold. Our deepest thanks and appreciation to the many generous donors who made this suite possible, including the J & W Murphy Foundation, Rob Steele and Steele Automotive, the Orchid Gala, the Bowser family, the Brien Family Foundation, Dorothy & Dan Gibson, Mark & Teri Sherman, the Wood Family Foundation, and CIBC.
Gibson family members at the opening of the Deanne Reeve Pelvic Health Suite
Thanks to the incredible donors who made the new suite possible
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Events In Review: Your Impact In Action
The 17 th annual Get Up There (GUT) climb, powered by Di5, smashed expectations—raising over $100,000 to boost completion rates for the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Every year, more than 170,000 FIT kits land in mailboxes across Nova Scotia for residents aged 50–74. But here’s the kicker—only 46% get sent back. GUT participants and sponsors are working to change that. Raising the bar, increasing the return rates, and saving more lives through early colorectal cancer detection.
Happy GUT Fundraisers
What a night! Thanks to our generous sponsors, incredible committee members, and outstanding community support, the 39 th Annual Lobster Dinner & Auction, presented by Conrad Brothers, raised over $400,000 to help purchase an endoscopic ultrasound and RFA Laser for Dartmouth General Hospital. A special thank you to the J & W Murphy Foundation for their remarkable $150,000 matching donation – with everyone’s support this life-saving technology is a reality at DGH. Together, we’re making a difference!
Harold & Karen Johnson enjoy lobster
Kim Conrad serves up lobster
Dave O’Connor, Chair, DGH Lobster Dinner & Auction Committee
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A Hole-in-One for Healthcare! The sold-out 35 th Annual DGH Foundation Golf Classic, presented by Trufoam, was held September 9 th at Brightwood Golf & Country Club, raised over $150,000—thanks to our generous sponsors, donors, and spirited golfers. All 18 holes were buzzing with on-the-hole activations, keeping players engaged from tee to green. Proceeds support vital equipment and patient programs for Dartmouth General Hospital.
Paul O’Hearn
Denis Ryan & Jennifer Alward
Dr. John Murdoch and Dr. Henry Adamson
On Friday, October 25, 2024, the DGH Foundation alongside Seaside FM and Acadia Broadcasting’s Hot Country 103.5 and Surge 105.1, hosted our fifth annual DGH Foundation Radiothon, proudly presented by Chicken Little Café & Dairy Bar. It was an on-the-air, microphone-dropping, generosity-powered kind of day—raising $173,0000 to help bring digital pathology technology to Dartmouth General Hospital. Thousands tuned in, listeners and donors stopped by the Neville J. Gilfoy Wing at DGH, and thanks to the incredible generosity of sponsors, supporters, and our DGH colleagues, we exceeded our goal! The DGH Foundation’s mission is simple yet powerful: to fuel innovation and exceptional care at Dartmouth General by connecting with those who believe in our hospital and community. Together, we are making a difference that matters. We can’t wait to be back on the airwaves next year!
Matt Street of Chicken Little Café & Dairy Bar celebrated with Acadia Broadcasting Team and DGH Foundation
Dylan Langille of Surge 105.1 and Dr. Chad Williams go on air
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Holiday Magic Lights Up Atlantic Canada! We were thrilled to once again partner with Robert Van Wart and CTV to bring Holiday Magic, presented by Charm Diamond Centres, to viewers across Atlantic Canada—all in support of innovative healthcare at Dartmouth General Hospital. This family-friendly, holiday-themed stage production and television broadcast was a smashing success, raising over $100,000 for kidney health innovation that will advance research, develop new treatments, and drive innovations that will improve care for those affected. Holiday Magic 2025 will see Nancy Regan hosting a live show in Dartmouth on December 6 th , followed by a televised production airing on CTV and Eastlink this December.
Mike Savage, Terry Kelly, Chantal Beaulieu, Nancy Regan
Linda Carvery
The Healthcare Foundations 50/50 Nova Scotia has hit $1 Million in Ticket Sales! From Yarmouth to Cape Breton, the monthly Healthcare Foundations 50/50 lottery has sold over $1 million in tickets—meaning nearly $500,000 has been shared among the 24 participating healthcare foundations, including the DGH Foundation. Each month, net proceeds are divided equally, giving foundations the flexibility to invest in equipment, programs, and staff training, retention, and recruitment. This provincial partnership is delivering results—allowing funds to work in communities across Nova Scotia, helping hospitals and healthcare organizations provide better care, closer to home.
Ariannah G is a lucky and very happy Healthcare Foundations 50/50 Nova Scotia winner
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Stephen Harding pictured alongside Gasparetto family members Marc, Michael, Pamela, Renato, Danilo, Mara, Daniele, as well as Basim Sobeih and Jenna Joyce. Community-Minded Gasparetto Family Give Generously To DGH
Almost one year after DGH’s new MRI was lowered into the building by R & D Crane, a member of the Cherubini Group of Companies, we gathered to celebrate a generous $1 million gift from the Gasparetto family, in honour of Danilo and Renato Gasparetto – founders of Cherubini Group of Companies. This monumental donation will provide critical funding for the acquisition of leading-edge equipment and technology to support innovation and exceptional care at Dartmouth General. Arriving in Nova Scotia from Italy in the early 1960’s, the Gasparetto brothers worked together to build Cherubini Group of Companies, the largest steel fabrication company in Atlantic Canada with some 400 employees. They have built more than 150 bridges across the globe. The Gasparetto family and the Cherubini Group of Companies have been generous supporters of our community for decades, quietly and consistently helping food banks and other organizations working to make our community stronger and healthier. We are incredibly honoured and deeply grateful to be recipients of the Gasparetto family’s outstanding generosity.
In recognition of this landmark gift, the MRI Suite has been renamed “The Gasparetto Family MRI Suite” and will showcase the family’s history and immigration story from Europe to Canada. Our deepest thanks and appreciation to the Gasparetto family for helping build bridges to better health for all.
Grateful patient, Sue Smith, shared her DGH story during the cheque presentation
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Van Wart Family’s Generosity Supports First-In-North America Research Project
Thanks to an incredible gift of $1 million dollars from the Van Wart Family, Dartmouth General Hospital is home to an innovative research project that will utilize leading-edge virtual reality technology, developed at Harvard University, to measure the cognitive and cardiac effects of hemodialysis on patients. The newly-funded research project, spearheaded by Dr. Karthik Tennankore, Interim Division Head, Nephrology, will focus on enhancing dialysis care through wearable technology in the form of heart rate monitoring devices, oxygen saturation detectors and virtual reality (VR) tools. Results gathered will assist with diagnosis and help drive behavior change and self-monitoring. The Van Wart family are wonderful champions for Dartmouth General Hospital and beloved members of our DGH Foundation family. They brought us Holiday Magic four years ago and now they have stepped forward to make an impact for the more than 30,000 patients in Canada who undergo weekly life-preserving dialysis.
“Nancy and I and our family are honoured to be able to make this investment in kidney health research at the Dartmouth General. DGH feels like part of our family, so it’s extra special that it will be the home of this research project. Like many others in Canada, kidney disease has touched our family in a profoundly personal way. We’re excited by the promise of Dr. Tennankore’s research project and what it will mean for families like ours going forward.” — Robert Van Wart Our deepest thanks to the Van Wart family for their generosity and commitment to the Dartmouth General. We are extraordinarily grateful to Robert and Nancy for supporting Dartmouth General’s culture of innovation, its can-do attitude, and its pioneering spirit. This exciting research project will have a tangible impact for dialysis patients in Nova Scotia and beyond.
Nancy & Robert Van Wart on DGH’s Charm Love Bench
Dr. Karthik Tennankore, Dr. Natalie Cheng, Nancy Regan, Mike Savage, Stephen Harding, Ann Janega, Jeannie Shoveller, Carolyn Marshall with Nancy & Robert Van Wart
Nancy Van Wart helps Laura Sills demonstrate REACT Neuro VR headset, developed at Harvard University
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Meet Our Team
Stephen Harding President & CEO Steve Houle Vice President, Finance & Administration Jenna Joyce
Vice President, Philanthropy Katharine Berrington Senior Manager, Legacy Giving
Your Generosity Creates Big Impact
Himali Bhavsar Finance Coordinator Daniel Blacquiere Corporate Events & Partnership Officer Lisa Cottreau Manager, Donor Engagement
Ways You Can Give: • One-time Gifts • Monthly Giving • Memorial Giving
• Tribute Giving • Legacy Giving • Attend our Special Events • Through Community Partners • Volunteer Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation 325 Pleasant Street, Room 1361 Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4G8 Visit dghfoundation.ca or call 902-460-4149 to make a donation and enhance patient care at Dartmouth General Hospital.
Maryann Couture Special Events Officer Ken Doucette
Partnerships Advisor Carolyn Marshall Campaign Director Susanne McCarroll Payroll, HR & Database Coordinator Gwendalyn Mills Office Coordinator Heather M Mosher Projects and Stewardship Officer Melanie Munroe Communications & Marketing Coordinator Tina F. Murphy Senior Advisor, Communications & Marketing Kiana Pace Manager, Communications & Marketing Basim Sobeih Philanthropy Officer – Corporate Giving
@DGHFoundation
Charitable Donation Number: BN 12245-5611-RR0001
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Building a Legacy of Care at Dartmouth General Hospital
Support The Future Of Dartmouth General Hospital By Including Us In Your Plans. Dartmouth General Hospital was built by the community, for the community. Every donation has helped shape the compassionate culture we are known for today. Our donors have built a hospital with heart—
where care goes far beyond treatment. It is truly a place worth investing in. One meaningful way to support our future is by including a gift in your Will.
Also known as a Legacy Gift, it is a powerful way to create lasting impact. It will ensure that future generations continue to have access to the very best care, close to home. Creating your Legacy is easier than you might think—and every gift, big or small, makes a difference while allowing you to continue caring for those closest to you. Ways To Give:
Bequest: The most popular and straightforward option. A gift in your Will—whether a specific amount or a percentage of your estate—does not affect your current income and can reduce estate taxes. Gifts of Securities: Donating stocks, bonds, or mutual funds is tax efficient. You won’t pay capital gains tax on appreciated securities, and you’ll receive a charitable tax receipt for the full fair market value. You can choose to give now or through your estate.
Life Insurance: You can donate a policy during your lifetime or name the Foundation as a beneficiary. Both options create meaningful impact and may provide tax benefits either now or to your estate. Retirement Funds: Naming the Foundation as a beneficiary of RRSPs, RRIFs, or TFSAs provides a charitable tax receipt and can help reduce estate taxes.
We encourage you to talk with your loved ones and financial advisor and then speak to your lawyer about updating your Will or adding a codicil. If you are considering a legacy gift—or if you have already included Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation in your Will or named us as a beneficiary—we invite you to share your plans with us. This helps us honour your intentions, express our gratitude, and, with your permission, recognize you among our Legacy Donors.
“We chose to make a gift through life insurance to give back to the hospital that is so important to us. A hospital is an institution that everyone will need at sometime in their life and this gift is one way of supporting care for future patients.” — Leo and Alyson Walsh
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