Breadcrumb Trail Links
‘This gift strengthens our ability to deliver safe, high-quality surgical care’
Published Mar 12, 2026 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 3 minute read
David McNeil, left, president and CEO of Health Sciences North, Dr. Susan Vokey, medical director of the Surgical Program at HSN, Roch Baronette, administrative director of the Surgical Program at HSN, Steve Sherrington, manager of the Media Device Reprocessing Department at HSN, and Anthony Keating, President & CEO of the Health Sciences North Foundation, were on hand for a transformative $1.041 million donation from the FDC Foundation supporting modernization of the hospital’s Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD). John Lappa/Sudbury Star/Postmedia Network Photo by John Lappa /Sudbury StarArticle content
Health Sciences North’s teams use almost 1,000 medical instruments each day. Cleaning, sterilizing and preparing surgical instruments used in operating rooms across the hospital is critically important in keeping patients safe.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
It’s a job that will get a bit easier thanks to a $1.041 million donation from the FDC Foundation to modernize the hospital’s Medical Device Reprocessing Department, or MDRD.
Article content
Recommended Videos
Article content
Health Sciences North (HSN) and the HSN Foundation recognized what it called a “transformative” donation from the FDC Foundation, announced on Thursday.
“In our department, we handle everything from heavy orthopedic drills to tiny cataract tweezers so fine you need a magnifier to inspect them,” Dr. Susan Vokey, Medical Director for HSN’s Surgical Program, said in a release. “One missed detail means a set must go back and start the entire four-hour process over again.
“Our staff often say they do this work for the patients, families, and communities we serve. This gift strengthens our ability to deliver safe, high-quality surgical care.”
Sudbury Star Morning Briefing
Thanks for signing up!
Article content
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
The FDC Foundation donation will pay for a new high-capacity cart washing system and a low-temperature sterilizer, modernizing workflow, reducing manual labour, and ensuring surgical instruments are prepared to the highest safety standards. These improvements allow surgical teams to focus on patient care while keeping operating rooms on schedule, ultimately enhancing surgical capacity and patient safety, the release said.
“Many people walk past the doors of the MDRD without realizing the incredible precision and scale of the work happening behind those walls,” said Anthony Keating, president and CEO of the HSN Foundation. “Our MDRD team is truly on the frontline of patient safety.
“Every improvement we make in this department directly supports surgical capacity and high-quality care. Philanthropy fuels high-quality healthcare, and we are deeply grateful to the FDC Foundation for this gift.”
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
David McNeil, president and CEO of Health Sciences North, said the donation will help patients across the region. “Our MDRD team processes nearly 1,000 sets of instruments every day, with 85 per cent going directly to operating rooms. This volume drives our ability to perform safe, timely surgeries across the hospital.
“Donor support allows HSN to advance clinical capacity faster than we could ever do on our own, helping us meet increasing surgical demand while maintaining the highest standards of care for every patient who walks through our doors.”
The release said the FDC Foundation’s donation reflects the critical role philanthropy plays in supporting hospital programs and patient care across northeastern Ontario.
Advertisement 5
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“On behalf of the organization and the board of directors, HSN and the HSN Foundation extend their sincere thanks to the FDC Foundation for this investment, which will touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients in the region,” the release said.
For more information on how to support HSN and the HSN Foundation, visit hsnfoundation.com.
The FDC Foundation is a Mississauga-based private family foundation established in 2000 by Carlo Fidani, chairman of Orlando Corporation, an industrial real estate developer and landlord. It primarily supports healthcare, education, and medical research, with a focus on improving patient care, providing student scholarships, and funding innovative health science initiatives in Ontario.
Among its significant donations are a $10 million matching gift in 2022 for student aid at NOSM University and funding for MRI technology, lab equipment, and mental health services.
In 2023, the foundation announced a gift of up to $1.3 million to NOSM University’s student endowment fund to support first-year medical students.
Bluesky: @sudburystar.bsky.social
X: @SudburyStar
Article content
Share this article in your social network