HEROES IN HEALTH MAKE A DIFFERENCE Calgary Health Foundation’s Heroes in Health program creates tangible impact — in big and small moments — while recognizing the healthcare providers that have gone above and beyond. By Kendra Horosko
Every donation made in honour of a healthcare hero fuels innovation, expands access, and strengthens care across our city. Grateful patients have helped make some of Calgary’s most impactful health initiatives possible through their generosity. THE TANGIBLE IMPACT OF RECOGNITION At Rockyview General Hospital, donor support expanded the Florence and Lloyd Cooper Endoscopy Unit, increasing the number of endoscopy suites from four to five. That one additional suite means approximately 4,000 more endoscopies can be performed each year, translating into thousands more patients receiving timely diagnoses and peace of mind. At South Health Campus, donors helped establish the Early Pregnancy Assessment and Maternity Triage Clinic. By providing prenatal care in a dedicated space, the clinic offers a supportive environment for expectant mothers who would have previously needed to go through the Emergency Department. Today, the clinic supports the assessment and triage of thousands of pregnant women annually. At Foothills Medical Centre, as part of the Calgary Eating Disorder Program, donor generosity is helping build Calgary’s first dedicated inpatient eating disorders treatment unit — a critical resource for individuals and families navigating complex mental health challenges. Grateful patient donations have also meant that the Short-Stay Mental Health Unit at Peter Lougheed Centre could be designed using trauma-informed principles, creating a friendlier, less clinical environment for those requiring care. The new space promotes dignity, calm, and healing.
Sometimes, a hero is a surgeon delivering life- saving news. Sometimes it’s a nurse who pulls up a chair and keeps you company. Sometimes it’s a healthcare aide who makes you laugh when you didn’t think you would smile again. That’s why Calgary Health Foundation created the Heroes in Health program: to celebrate the compassion, skill, and dedication of the people who care for our community when it matters most — in both big and small moments. Healthcare heroes go above and beyond. They guide patients through frightening diagnoses. They ease the anxiety before procedures. They sit with families through uncertainty. They bring professionalism and expertise, but also empathy, kindness, and heart. And through Heroes in Health, grateful patients and families can say thank you in a powerful way. RECOGNIZING YOUR HERO IN HEALTH When you make a donation through the Heroes in Health program, you can share a personal message of gratitude with those who have supported your healthcare journey. That message is delivered to your healthcare hero along with a congratulatory letter, commemorative Heroes in Health pin and lanyard. Their supervisor is also notified that a donation has been made in their honour. It’s a meaningful moment for both sides. For healthcare providers, receiving a note from a patient is a reminder of why they chose their profession — a tangible symbol that their work truly matters. For patients and families, it’s a way to transform gratitude into action. Their donation doesn’t just say “thank you,” it helps ensure the next patient receives exceptional care, too.
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Breakthroughs [ Spring 2026 ]
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