Through volunteer partnership, Southlake Health Foundation welcomed members of the Chinese Community from across the GTA to build awareness of leading edge care and the power of community support.
Newmarket, ON – Innovation and compassionate care were on equal display as members of the Chinese community from across York Region and the GTA visited Southlake Health—some for the first time—for a unique opportunity to learn more about the hospital.
Through the partnership of key volunteer leaders looking for a meaningful way to connect with community members, Southlake Health Foundation was pleased to host a behind-the-scenes look at the leading edge, life-saving care taking place in Southlake Health’s Regional Cancer Centre, Regional Cardiac Care Program, and Emergency Department. The event marked a meaningful step in Southlake’s ongoing commitment to engage and build relationships with all of the diverse communities it serves.
“Thousands of Chinese Canadians call York Region home, so if this is our home, then Southlake is our hospital,” said Keith Loo, Co-Founder and CEO of Skinopathy, a groundbreaking Toronto-based health technology startup that uses AI to detect skin disease, and member of Southlake Health Foundation’s Philanthropy Cabinet. “It means so much to me as a long-time Southlake supporter, to be able to introduce members of my community to the hospital. Many of those who joined us live and/or work in York Region, but didn’t realize this centre of excellence is right in our backyard, and that you don’t have to travel downtown for the best health care.”
Business leaders, members of the Chinese media, and those from clinical and nonprofit backgrounds made up the group of attendees who had the opportunity to hear from Southlake Health physicians about the pioneering clinical care provided to cardiac, cancer, and trauma patients at the hospital. The group also toured some of the newly renovated spaces in Southlake’s Regional Cancer Centre to see some first-in-Canada cancer treatment technology, made possible by community donors.
“It was a real privilege to share with a group perhaps not as familiar with Southlake about the work myself and my colleagues are doing to bring ground-breaking, less invasive approaches in care to patients in the community,” said Dr. Bernice Tsang. Dr. Tsang is an Electrophysiologist in Southlake’s Regional Cardiac Care Program and was one of the first physicians in Canada to implant dual chamber leadless pacemaker technology in patients. To-date, Dr. Tsang has performed more than 35 implantations of the new dual chamber leadless pacemaker at Southlake. Dr. Tsang also has supported other electrophysiologists across the GTA, including those at SickKids, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Toronto General Hospital, by helping to train their clinicians on the use of various types of leadless pacemaker technology. “Anytime as a physician we can connect with the community, and bring them into our world to show them the impact community support can have for those we care for, is a great opportunity.”
Dolly Shao, Founder and Managing Director of G.L.O.W. Communications Inc., Schulich School of Business Instructor at York University, and co-organizer of the event as a Member of Southlake Health Foundation’s Philanthropy Cabinet hopes attendees took home a sense of pride and belonging. “I hope those who attended the event leave with a sense of confidence that this level of care exists, right here, close to home for our community, and a sense of belonging at Southlake because this is an organization that strives to make meaningful connection for all those who depend on them for care.”
Both Southlake Health President and CEO Dr. Paul Woods, and Southlake Health Foundation President and CEO Jennifer Ritter attended the event, and expressed their gratitude to attendees for their interest in learning about and supporting the organization.
“Southlake Health serves diverse and vibrant communities across our catchment. It was an honour and a pleasure to meet passionate leaders and influencers from our Chinese community, whose deep interest in helping to advance leading edge care, close to home was inspiring. We are so grateful to those who took this time to learn more about our hospital, and look forward to continuing to build relationships with our communities,” said Ritter.
To learn more about Southlake Health Foundation or to inquire about similar engagement events, get in touch with our team today.
