OCTOBER 27, 2018, OTTAWA, ON – The city’s most prestigious event of the year paid tribute to innovative research at The Ottawa Hospital in front of a sold-out crowd at the Westin Ottawa. A who’s who of Ottawa filled the elegant ballroom. The evening kicked off with an incredible dance routine by Dr. Carole Dennie, a participant of the 2018 Dancing with the Docs fundraiser in support of the Ottawa Hospital. More than 700 guests enjoyed a delicious four course meal which included grilled “Blue Dot” PEI beef tenderloin, king oyster mushroom fricassee and roasted garlic “3 hour” polenta as the main dish. The evening continued into the wee hours as the crowd filled the dance floor thanks to the live band, 1945, back once again by popular demand.

The Ottawa Hospital Gala, presented by First Avenue Investment Counsel, was ultimately about honouring three innovative researchers and their accomplishments in their fields. Congratulations to:

Dr. Kristin Danko, recipient, Worton Researcher in Training Award. Recognized for her outstanding work on methods for systematic review and meta-analysis of complex health interventions, including novel mathematical modelling.
Dr. William Stanford, recipient, Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award. Recognized for his groundbreaking research on stem cells and leukemia, including an upcoming paper with major clinical implications.
Dr. Fraser Scott, recipient, Grimes Research Career Achievement Award. Recognized for pioneering research linking the onset of type I diabetes with diet-induced changes in gut immunity and regeneration of insulin-producing cells.

The Ottawa Hospital’s Tender Loving Research campaign has raised $43 million with just $7 million remaining to reach the fundraising goal of $50 million.

It’s our community’s commitment to research, which is making The Ottawa Hospital a global leader in health care advances. Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, acknowledged that support from both individuals and businesses play a key role in the success of our researchers. “We could not be visionary without the unwavering corporate support in our community and we could not transform health care without the generosity of business leaders. This leadership is shaping health care in Ottawa for generations to come.”

“We could not be visionary without the unwavering corporate support in our community and we could not transform health care without the generosity of business leaders. This leadership is shaping health care in Ottawa for generations to come.”

Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation

The Ottawa Hospital Foundation was thrilled to welcome First Avenue Investment Counsel as the title sponsor this year. “First Avenue Investment Counsel is proud to be the title sponsor for The Ottawa Hospital Gala.” Kash Pashootan, CEO and Chief Investment Officer at First Avenue Investment Counsel added, “Affluent families have trusted us with their assets to invest today in order to grow for the future. This partnership is no different. We are proud of the innovative research The Ottawa Hospital conducts and its leadership role in creating a better future in health care for all of us and especially future generations. Let’s all help create an even better tomorrow for our community.”

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,200 beds, approximately 12,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.3 billion.

Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.

From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges. For more information about The Ottawa Hospital, visit ohfoundation.ca.