The University Hospital Foundation is dedicated to advancing cardiac care in Alberta, bringing groundbreaking innovation and hope to patients and families.
A powerful example of this work is the Servier Virtual Cardiac Centre (SVCC) at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. Supported by a $1 million donation from Servier Canada, the SVCC uses advanced 3D imaging technology that allows doctors to see the heart in unprecedented detail.
This technology is improving diagnoses, empowering patients and delivering life-saving treatments in ways never before possible.
Traditional imaging, like X-rays and MRIs, has long been essential for diagnosing heart conditions, but these two-dimensional images can miss critical details. At the SVCC, however, doctors can view a patient’s heart in 3D—rotating, enlarging and even making virtual “cuts” to analyze its internal structure. This capability allows for earlier and more precise detection of heart issues, giving patients better chances for recovery.
Dr. Noga, is the director of the SVCC, and Dr. Khoo, who you may recognize from our Hope is Here campaign, is a pediatric cardiologist who regularly consults with Dr. Noga at the centre to help develop best care plans for his patients based on 3D imaging.
By showing patients their own hearts in 3D, the SVCC also empowers patients to make informed decisions. Visualizing their condition helps them understand their treatment and the importance of following medical advice, whether that means medication adherence or lifestyle changes.
This new level of patient engagement fosters trust and a sense of control over their health.
It’s like comparing a 3D movie to a flat-screen TV. This technology helps us look deeper into each patient’s heart, understand their condition better, and ultimately give them a better chance at recovery.
Your contributions to the Foundation make a meaningful impact in the battle against Alzheimer’s, heart disease, diabetes and other devastating conditions. Together, we can nurture a future filled with hope.
One in four Canadians will be diagnosed with heart disease in their lifetime, and it can happen at any age.
The Mazankowski Heart Institute (Maz) at the University of Alberta Hospital is one of the most advanced heart institutes in Canada and covers a catchment area from northern Alberta to the Territories, eastern British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Servier Virtual Cardiac Centre is only one of the many ways the Maz serves its patients. It also offers a state-of-the-art cardiovascular intensive care unit, and some of the most advanced equipment, technology and work environments in the world — as well as the best and brightest minds working in cardiac care today.
Our donors contributed $1 for every $4 it took to build the Mazankowski, and community support is needed to help keep the Maz on the leading edge. In this way, your donations help to advance cardiac care in the province and attract some of the amazing talent that keeps this program at the top of its class.
The way the doctors talk to you, the way they treat you. We joked and laughed; it was very nice. After the surgery, every member of the team from the surgeon to the anesthesiologist all came and told me they were glad I was okay. With the Maz, I feel safe. I can’t really explain it. It’s very—it’s a privilege. Many people don’t have that in other countries. I don’t think a lot of centres are that advanced.
None of these advancements would be possible without the support of donors who believe in the Foundation’s mission. Philanthropy accelerates the transition from research to patient care, making life-saving technology and programs available more quickly to those who need it.