FROM THE HEART, FOR THE HEART Philanthropist Leslie Bissett helps Calgary women access improved cardiac care. By Olivia Piché | Photograph by Jared Sych Longtime philanthropist Leslie Bissett has always believed in the power of giving back. As a former teacher, she spent years supporting youth-focused initiatives, a reflection of her commitment to helping others and addressing needs in the community. When she developed an interest in healthcare, she took the same thoughtful approach, seeking out experts
and learning where philanthropy could have a meaningful impact. That journey led her to become a champion of women’s heart health. Bissett learned about the disparities women face in the diagnosis and treatment of heart disease. Discussions with cardiac electrophysiologist Dr. Roopinder Sandhu, who is the director of the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Initiative and Clinic, highlighted another challenge: Calgary lacked dedicated equipment for diagnosing complex heart disease in women. This specialized technology would enable Calgary’s leading researchers and medical professionals to advance women’s cardiac research and care. Recognizing the opportunity to improve care, Bissett took action to remedy this situation. The transformative tool is called a positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET CT) scanner. The combined scanner takes images of the heart with the help of radioactive tracers — a camera detects the radiation and can identify various vascular issues. As women’s heart disease tends to occur in the heart’s smaller blood vessels, having PET CT scanning prioritized for women can make a big difference in women’s cardiac outcomes. Specifically, a PET CT scanner can perform imaging that looks for impaired blood flow in these vessels, which is more common in women than men. Giving where it counts Thanks to Bissett’s generosity, patients will soon have access to innovative cardiac imaging through Calgary’s first dedicated PET CT scanner for cardiology. Her $1.8 million donation not only helped fund the purchase of the equipment but also served as the catalyst for a new radiology space, currently under construction at Foothills Medical Centre. Through this gift, Bissett is helping to ensure women get the specialized cardiac care they need. “Calgary is very much taking the next steps toward making sure we provide cardiology services to any woman who needs it,” Bissett says. “I believe our efforts are going to make a huge impact on the level of cardiac services that are available to women.” Sandhu agrees. “Leslie’s generosity is an investment in the future of women’s heart health,” she says. “This gift will help us improve our ability to diagnose microvascular disease, provide the right care sooner, and ultimately improve the lives of women in our community.” And, this important initiative will serve the community for years to come. “Leslie’s support has planted a seed that will undoubtedly bear fruit for current and future generations,” says Dr. Manish Joshi, a radiologist and head of the department of diagnostic imaging for Alberta Health Services - Calgary. “The gift places a focus and lens on women’s cardiac health that is necessary and will undoubtedly help to catalyze similar programs across other diseases that affect women. Generosity is contagious, and this gift will inspire others to make small contributions to very large contributions such as this.”
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Leslie Bissett
Breakthroughs [ Fall 2026 ]
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