Philanthropists Martin and Denise Pick have contributed an extra $1 million to help with improvements at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
New signage was unveiled during a private family event at the hospital on Tuesday to acknowledge the couple’s donation. The hospital used the funds for cutting-edge diagnostic technology and to finance two new CT scanners, which offer safer and more precise scans for conditions like cancer, stroke, and traumatic injury.
The donation to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation (PRHCF) was made through the Remembering Otto and Marie Pick Charitable Foundation, a family charitable fund named after Martin’s parents.
In 2019, the couple gave the majority of the $3.1 million needed for a new learning center at the regional hospital in Peterborough, Ont.
“Martin and Denise believe in the power of philanthropy to improve their hospital and hometown,” said PRHCF president and CEO Lesley Heighway.
“They have a long history of making transformational gifts and their generosity has been shaping the future of health care in this region for years. We’re extremely grateful for their ongoing support.”
The couple have been longtime donors and volunteers with the hospital and say they continue to be inspired by the hospital’s commitment to innovation and excellence.
“Denise and I feel that the quality of health care available in a community is linked to its overall quality of life — to its ability to grow and prosper,” Martin said.
“We want to help ensure the doctors and nurses at PRHC have the necessary tools to provide the best care. To do that, we need to support them and provide the equipment that will enable them to innovate.”
Denise hopes their donation encourages others to join their cause.
“The more we can do to support PRHC, the more we can help improve health care for patients from Peterborough and our surrounding communities,” she said.
Heighway notes that the Picks’ contribution allowed the hospital to upgrade a general operating suite with advanced surgical tools last winter — one of four suites the foundation aims to upgrade.
Dr. Joslin Cheverie, PRHC general surgeon, stated that the investment has given physicians access to new, state-of-the-art equipment for cancer surgeries and has introduced fluorescence-guided imaging to general surgery.
“This new, specialized system is allowing us to operate with increased precision,” she said. “It’s an advancement that has enormous potential for the treatment of bowel and other cancers.”
Dr. Lynn Mikula, PRHC’s president and CEO, mentioned how she and hospital staff are often inspired by the generosity of Foundation donors like the Pick family.
“It’s so encouraging to have the support of people like Martin and Denise Pick, who care as much about our health care future as we do and are willing to invest in us and the technology we need to make our vision a reality,” she said.
“This is more important than ever, given the system-wide challenges we are facing. Addressing these challenges requires fresh thinking and innovative solutions. We simply can’t move forward without the partnership of individuals, families, and organizations who share our vision for the hospital and what we can achieve together.”
