Patient care, research and teaching
In the years since it was established, the Fondation has donated over $60 million to help the CHUM carry out its key mission of providing ever-better support, treatment and cures for people afflicted with illness.
Here are just a few examples of initiatives that were financed through donations.
Acquisition of advanced equipment
Positron emission tomography (PET) scanner – Financing: $2.4 million
Thanks to a special fundraising campaign conducted by the Fondation, the CHUM was the first hospital centre in Montreal to obtain a PET scanner, a medical imaging scanner used in nuclear medicine. This leading-edge technology can detect tumours much earlier and monitor patients more closely in the course of treatment for cancer, cardiological or neurological problems.
"Technology is making giant steps forward these days, but acquisitions of new equipment have been moving at a snail’s pace. Without their donors’ generosity, hospitals would really be missing out."
Marlène Boudreau
(One of the first CHUM patients to
benefit from PET scan technology)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system – Financing: $5 million
This apparatus, which is used to explore heart problems or dilate blood vessels, is particularly helpful in treating infarctions, especially in emergency situations.
Interventional hemodynamics apparatus – Financing: $1.02 million
This apparatus, which is used to explore heart problems or dilate blood vessels, is particularly helpful in treating infarctions, especially in emergency situations.
Endoscopic ultrasound apparatus – Financing: $500,000
The CHUM treats 75% of all Quebec patients needing a gastroenterology ultrasound test. This Pentax camera, which obtains extremely high resolution images of tumours, cysts and other anomalies in the esophagus, stomach pancreas, bile ducts and colon, ensures earlier diagnosis and more effective treatment.
"The CHUM is proud to offer the finest endoscopic ultrasound services in the world. With our new equipment, we can treat over 75% of all endoscopy patients in Quebec. This means, for example, that we can detect colon cancer and pancreatic cysts much earlier and intervene more effectively."
Dr Anand Sahai
Head of Gastroenterology
Advanced research
The Fondation du CHUM has contributed to the creation of some 15 chairs at Université de Montréal, with endowments totalling over $7.5 million. These investments make the Fondation one of the university’s largest donors. The various chairs are devoted to research and teaching in fields such as orthopedics, arthritis, breast cancer, hepatology and family medicine. The Fondation also subsidizes specific research projects, including research on liver disease. Last but not least, every year the Fondation donates $1 million to help the CHUM Research Centre in its mission to conduct clinical, epidemiological and fundamental medical research.
Training the next generation
In cooperation with the Conseil des médecins, dentistes et pharmaciens (CMDP) and the CHUM, the Fondation invests over $1 million every year in postdoctoral fellowships. These fellowships are given to young CHUM healthcare professionals who wish to continue their education outside Quebec, and to doctors and researchers from other countries who wish to obtain advanced training at the CHUM. The competition for these fellowships contributes substantially to the university hospital centre’s reputation, since it attracts some of the world’s finest physicians. This program also nurtures the CHUM’s tertiary and quaternary care work, by encouraging the training of advanced specialists and helping the CHUM attract and retain medical staff.