GREATER SUDBURY, ON — Health Sciences North (HSN) and the HSN Foundation recognized a transformative $1.041 million donation from the FDC Foundation, supporting modernization of the hospital’s Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD), a vital area responsible for cleaning, sterilizing, and preparing surgical instruments used in operating rooms across the hospital.
The donation funded a new high-capacity cart washing system and a low-temperature sterilizer, modernizing workflow, reducing manual labor, and ensuring surgical instruments are prepared to the highest safety standards. These improvements allow surgical teams to focus on patient care while keeping operating rooms on schedule, ultimately enhancing surgical capacity and patient safety.
“Many people walk past the doors of the MDRD without realizing the incredible precision and scale of the work happening behind those walls,” said Anthony Keating, President and CEO of the HSN Foundation. “Our MDRD team is truly on the frontline of patient safety. Every improvement we make in this department directly supports surgical capacity and high-quality care. Philanthropy fuels high-quality healthcare, and we are deeply grateful to the FDC Foundation for this gift.”
David McNeil, President and CEO of Health Sciences North, highlighted the regional impact: “Our MDRD team processes nearly 1,000 sets of instruments every day, with 85 per cent going directly to operating rooms. This volume drives our ability to perform safe, timely surgeries across the hospital. Donor support allows HSN to advance clinical capacity faster than we could ever do on our own, helping us meet increasing surgical demand while maintaining the highest standards of care for every patient who walks through our doors.”
Dr. Susan Vokey, Medical Director for HSN’s Surgical Program, underscored the precision and dedication of the MDRD team: “In our department, we handle everything from heavy orthopedic drills to tiny cataract tweezers so fine you need a magnifier to inspect them. One missed detail means a set must go back and start the entire four-hour process over again. Our staff often say they do this work for the patients, families, and communities we serve. This gift strengthens our ability to deliver safe, high-quality surgical care.”
The FDC Foundation’s donation reflects the critical role philanthropy plays in supporting hospital programs and patient care across Northeastern Ontario. On behalf of the organization and the board of directors, HSN and the HSN Foundation extend their sincere thanks to the FDC Foundation for this investment, which will touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients in the region.
For more information on how to support HSN and the HSN Foundation, visit hsnfoundation.com.