When millimetres matter.

Thanks to a nearly $5-million gift from Edmonton philanthropist Harold Roozen, that clarity is now sharper than ever. Roozen, who made his gift to the University Hospital Foundation in support of neurology and neurosurgery, funded the purchase of two state-of-the-art Zeiss microscopes — tools that are transforming what’s possible in the operating room.

The new microscopes feature advanced optics, built-in robotics and a fluorescence mode that highlights tumours and maps blood flow. Surgeons can save precise positions mid-procedure, cutting down the time patients spend on the operating table.

“These new Zeiss microscopes have a lot of advanced features. The light is better, it’s easier to focus and the optics are quite amazing. They are far superior to the previous ones we’ve been working with,” says Dr. O’Kelly.

Beyond the operating room.

But Roozen’s impact reaches beyond the operating room. His gift also funds neurology fellowships designed to attract subspecialist physicians to Canada, improving access to brain health care for patients across Alberta. A portion is also dedicated to quality improvement initiatives within the neurology program.

A legacy of giving back.

Roozen, a longtime supporter of the University Hospital Foundation, credits the late Dr. Charles Allard — his father-in-law and a towering figure in Edmonton’s medical and philanthropic communities — with shaping his commitment to giving back. “He just said, ‘We’ve got to make sure we support the community and the hospitals,'” Roozen recalls. “And that just became something we did.”

This Brain Health Awareness Month, his generosity is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when community support meets world-class medicine.