Thanks to a generous gift from North Vancouver resident Greg Wolfe, Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) has once again set a new standard for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), becoming the first hospital in Canada to perform a pulsed field ablation procedure.   

AF is a common irregular heartbeat that can lead to blood clots, stroke, and even heart failure. Traditionally, some cases of AF required ablations that use heat or freezing to block the faulty heart signals and restore a typical heartbeat.   

Pulsed field ablation instead uses high energy electric pulses, a non-thermal approach that requires less time in the heart and reduces collateral damage to surrounding structures. For patients with AF, this means fewer complications, shorter waitlists, and, ultimately, improved access to care. With the Medtronic PulseSelect pulsed field ablation system funded by Wolfe’s donation to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, VGH will be able treat nearly twice as many patients per day.  

“This is an exciting advancement for cardiac care in British Columbia,” said Dr. Jason Andrade, director of Electrophysiology and the Atrial Fibrillation Clinic at VGH. “Pulsed field ablation offers a safer, faster, and more controlled approach to treating atrial fibrillation, minimizing damage to surrounding heart structures and giving more patients access to this life-saving technology.” 

“None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of Mr. Wolfe and VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s dedication to our community’s well-being,” Dr. Andrade added. “We are immensely grateful for their commitment to enabling novel solutions to treat people living with atrial fibrillation, and for partnering on our journey towards better health and a brighter future.”    

Fuelled by philanthropy

After his own diagnosis of AF, Wolfe began researching the different treatments available and whether the most modern technologies were being used.  

That research led him to the pulsed field ablation system and Dr. Andrade, a world-renowned leader in the management of AF. Using the PulseSelect system, Dr. Andrade and his team at VGH performed Canada’s first Health Canada-approved pulsed field ablation procedure last April and have since performed around 200 procedures in total.  

“We are so lucky to have people like this in British Columbia and available to us,” Wolfe said.  

Wolfe lives with what’s called paroxysmal AF, in which the symptoms usually come and go. He first noticed something was wrong while he was playing hockey. He thought it might be cramping. But then it happened at another game. And another one. And several after that. Sometimes, he wakes up around 2 a.m. feeling his heart beating irregularly, and won’t be able to sleep the rest of the night.  

“That said, I am not in urgent need of an ablation, unlike those who experience symptoms 24/7, which I can only imagine would be unbearable,” Wolfe said. 

Through his donation, Wolfe hopes to achieve two key goals.

“First, I want to help others living with AF by accelerating the adoption of pulsed field ablation technology across the province – and ideally, the country. This would allow more patients to access life-changing care without requiring additional doctors or nurses,” said Wolfe, a longtime member of Vancouver’s tech community and currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Boomi Inc., a global Enterprise Software company with a rapidly expanding Vancouver presence.

”Second, I want to inspire others in the private sector to drive change by supporting the integration of modern technologies into the healthcare system through philanthropy. Without private investment, we risk falling behind the rest of the world in adopting groundbreaking medical innovations.”

In addition to this recent contribution, Wolfe has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the early adoption of modern medical technologies, including AI-based imaging for colorectal cancer screening. 

Global leader in management of AF

VGH is recognized on a global scale for its leadership in the management of AF and one of the top referral sites in BC for those affected by the condition.  

With philanthropic support, VGH was previously the first site in North America to treat AF with a novel cryoablation balloon catheter, setting a new standard for care. Dr. Andrade’s team has also led multiple research programs that have changed the way atrial fibrillation is managed.  

AF is the most common type of cardiac arrhythmia and a leading cardiac cause of stroke. As many as one million Canadians live with AF, according to the Canadian Cardiovascular Society. 

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation partners with donors to fuel groundbreaking research, cutting-edge technology, and life-saving care benefitting everyone in BC. To donate, visit vghfoundation.ca/ways-to-give. 

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