A timeline of excellence
With your support, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation has been transforming health care in BC for over 40 years with over $1 billion in philanthropic funding. Join us as we look back at some of the vital projects your donations have supported.
Historic look back
The first open heart surgery in BC takes place at VGH.
The surgery was performed on an eight-year-old boy to great success.
Surgeons at VGH perform BC’s first ever organ transplant.
Today, more than 50 per cent of all life-saving organ transplants in the province happen here, saving more than 500 lives every year.
VGH becomes BC’s first hospital capable of assessing heart ventricle anatomy and function,
as well as performing cardiac biopsies with the arrival of Dr. Donald Ricci.
The first balloon angioplasty
is done in the VGH catheterization lab. This marks a new era of heart health care in the province.
Vancouver General Hospital Foundation established
Ambulance purchase marks beginning of philanthropic impact.
Jack Bell Research Centre opens
Located next to VGH, this research centre became home to several impactful research programs including the Stone Centre, and Immunity and Infection Research Centre.
VGH becomes the first hospital in BC to adopt ECMO use
This life-saving technology allows a patient’s heart and lungs to recover by taking over heart and lung function itself, while still keeping other organs functioning.
Two catheterization labs open at VGH.
These labs enable medical teams to utilize diagnostic imaging equipment to visualize arteries and chambers of the heart to better detect and treat abnormalities.
Catheterization Labs Open
Located in the then-named Laurel Pavilion (now Jim Pattison Pavilion), these labs enable the medical teams at VGH to utilize diagnostic imaging equipment to visualize arteries and chambers of the heart to better detect and treat abnormalities.
Vancouver Prostate Centre established
This dedicated group focuses on improving prostate cancer care and research, and grew into a world-class centre of excellence.
Ovarian Cancer Research program (OVCARE) established
OVCARE researchers would go on to make groundbreaking discoveries into subtypes of ovarian cancer, and introduce a global surgical standard of removing fallopian tubes during hysterectomies to curb ovarian cancer rates.
Jim Pattison Pavilion opens
459 new beds and modernized equipment added to VGH, increasing patient care capacity.
Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre opens
This centre brings together outpatient care services at VGH, including specialty clinics, medical education, physician teaching clinics and research, all at one site.
Jack the Robot, Western Canada’s first surgical robot installed at VGH
Affectionately named after philanthropist Jack Poole, Jack the Robot assisted in prostate, gynaecologic and heart surgeries at VGH.
Leslie Diamond Women’s Heart Health Clinic opens
A world-class clinic focusing on prevention and stopping progression of heart disease in women opens at VGH. It is the first program of its kind in Western Canada.
Dr. David Wood standardizes minimally invasive heart valve replacement technique called TAVR,
widely considered as one of the most exciting events in cardiology in decades. His advancements replace the typical open-heart surgery for all patients, greatly reducing recovery times and improving patient safety.
Nursing bursary education awards established
Offering funding to support the future of nursing, these awards help further education, provide professional development and offer life-long learning opportunities, ultimately improving patient care for British Columbians.
Robert H.N. Ho Research Centre opens
The facility provides the space and equipment with a focus on research in early detection and prevention of disease.
Robert & Lily Lee Family Community Health Centre opens
This community health centre provides a range of health services in a single location, including: public and community health, mental health and addictions, speech therapy, and more.
Pancreas Centre BC established
This centre is dedicated to advancing care for British Columbians with pancreatic cancer by making research discoveries that can rapidly translate to better treatments.
Sports Cardiology Clinic opens
SportsCardiologyBC works to advance research, advocacy, education and patient care for athletes of all levels across BC.
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health opens
Bringing together experts in the fields of neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, and rehabilitation in a hub for training, research, and clinical care.
Brain Bolt introduced at VGH
The first Brain Bolt is brought to VGH. It allows for careful monitoring to dramatically improve and personalize ICU care of patients with brain injuries.
The first Hybrid OR opens at VGH,
allowing surgeons to complete imaging instantly inside the operating room, optimizing safety and surgery times.
UBC Hospital Cardiovascular Centre of Excellence Opens
Home to SportsCardiologyBC, Diagnostic Cardiology, SaveBC, the Jack and Elly Senior Cardiac Clinic and Neuro-Cardiology, the centre contains state-of-the art research labs with expert clinicians and investigators working collaboratively to advance scientific knowledge in cardiology and sport and exercise medicine.
Joseph & Rosalie Segal & Family Health Centre opens
The centre consolidates inpatient and outpatient services under one roof, providing clients with the treatment, programs and skills they need to resume life in the community.
3M TAVR
Dr. David Wood unveils the 3M transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgical technique he helped pioneer. This reduces the need for open heart surgeries, reducing recovery time for patients from months to a just a few hours.
Psychiatric Assessment Unit (PAU) opens at VGH
A renovated space to provide thoughtful support, the new PAU provides short-term assessment, stabilization and treatment services for individuals experiencing a psychiatric and/or mental health crisis.
Geropsychiatry and Rehabilitation Intensive Day (GRID) launched
The GRID program provides specialized therapeutic day programming to clients aged 65 and older living in the community who are frail, have active psychiatric symptoms and are at-risk of psychiatric hospitalization. GRID enhances the out-of-hospital supports for these clients, providing individual counselling and group therapy, in addition to social activation and peer-based assistance.
Foundation celebrates $1 Billion raised
Within seven years of reaching $500M, the Foundation proudly achieves $1B in philanthropic funding. This support greatly benefits all British Columbians by transforming health care, and saving lives.
Doctors at VGH perform the first double lung transplant in Canada for a COVID-19 patient,
whose lungs were devastated by the disease. New and ongoing research and treatments for severe COVID-19 reactions are still being treated in our ICU.
The Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Surgical Centre opens.
This remarkable achievement marks the opening of 16 new ORs and a 40-bed perioperative care unit.