Funding Priorities Overview

Critical Carelinical Tower and Equipment

The University of Ottawa Heart Institute’s new Critical Care Tower is now open and will increase our capacity to provide care by 17%.

The new facility features five operating rooms – including the state-of-the art Hybrid OR – and one shelled-in operating room for future expansion, nine catheterization and electrophysiology labs, a bright new surgical critical care unit, and the new da Vinci surgical system.

The Heart Institute does not receive funding for equipment purchases and maintenance and, as such, the Foundation will be focused on raising the funds required for the purchase of thousands of pieces of life saving equipment – from stethoscopes to highly-specialized monitors and state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment – including the da Vinci robot surgical system.  This equipment will allow our world class medical teams to continue to provide the best in cardiac care, right here in Ottawa.

Over the next two years, renovations will be completed in the new existing to create a central registration area, add escalator access from the lobby to enhance our patients’ experience. Each year more equipment is needed than can be purchased by government funding. We raise funds to help patients find care and comfort, right here in Ottawa.

Patient Care

Your support of the Heart Institute Foundation means supporting programs and services that improve and enhance cardiovascular care of patients from referral centres and hospitals across the Ottawa area.

Unique programs like those offered through the Prevention and Wellness program, .

Research

The research teams at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, led Dr. Peter Liu (Chief Scientific Officer and VP Research) and Dr. Thierry Mesana, are dedicated to uncovering innovations that will improve cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment for all Canadians.  By consulting with clinicians, patients, and regional partners, the research team examines global trends in cardiovascular sciences to develop the future of cardiac care.  Dr. Mesana often says “today’s research is tomorrow’s treatment.”

Donations to the Foundation support ongoing bedside to bedside research at the Heart Institute by providing peer-reviewed seed funding to begin or continue projects addressing important research questions. Donations also support Endowed Fellowships and Awards which allow the Heart Institute to recruit the best and brightest researchers and trainees from all over the world.

Education

Thanks to community support, the Heart Institute Foundation can support education and patient engagement initiatives throughout the Heart Institute. Programs such as Canadian Women’s Heart Health Centre – the first centre of its kind in Canada, dedicated to understanding and advocating for the heart health of the women in our lives – and the Patient Alumni Association which offers networking and education programs, and supports projects like the Rise-Up bra program, patient cough pillows,