Mackenzie Health receives $10M donation from SmartCentres founder

The state-of-the-art Mitchell Goldhar Surgery Unit at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will be a centre of surgical excellence in western York Region

thestar.com
June 2, 2022
Yoyo Yan

In honour of a $10-million donation to Mackenzie Health from a respected real estate developer, the surgery unit at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital has been named the Mitchell Goldhar Surgery Unit.

Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital --- the first hospital for the city of Vaughan and the first net-new hospital to be built in Ontario in more than three decades --- opened as a full-service community hospital in June 2021.

"It is a privilege to support the vision of making Vaughan a centre of health care innovation and excellence," said Mitchell Goldhar, founder and CEO of SmartCentres.

Every day, 40 to 50 people receive life-changing or life-saving surgery at Mackenzie Health. As many as 70 per cent of those benefit from minimally invasive techniques.

The Mitchell Goldhar Surgery Unit features seven operating suites, two angiography/interventional radiology rooms and one procedure room. Surgical teams have the latest smart technology at their fingertips, so care is faster and more efficient than ever before.

The unit is already drawing top-notch surgical staff from across the province who see how Mackenzie Health's commitment to leading-edge technology is driving better health outcomes for a growing community.

Goldhar's donation is also a major accelerator for the $250-million Ultimate fundraising campaign chaired by Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, which has raised $222 million to date.

"Together, we're building a strong, resilient hospital system that uplifts and empowers us all," said Bevilacqua.

"Philanthropy plays such an important role in making the ultimate health care experience possible," said Altaf Stationwala, president and CEO of Mackenzie Health.

"This gift is a clear testament to his commitment to the community, and it will benefit our staff and physicians as well as residents of Vaughan, Richmond Hill and King for many years to come."