PRHC Foundation President & CEO, Lesley Heighway, has an exciting update to share about the $70 million Campaign for PRHC.
Continue readingWe’ve reached another milestone in the Campaign for PRHC
Welcoming the New Year with gratitude for you
We’re grateful for your generosity and for everything you’ve helped make possible for patients from across our region in 2025.
It’s thanks to your steadfast support that the Campaign for PRHC has raised an outstanding $58.8 million as of June 30, 2025, reaching 84% of our $70 million goal. As we approach the New Year, we celebrate this milestone with gratitude and look forward to what we can achieve together in the months ahead.
Continue readingCelebrating donors’ $6 million reimagination of interventional radiology at PRHC
On December 9, 2025, donors gathered at Peterborough Regional Health Centre with the PRHC Foundation and members of the hospital’s leadership team to celebrate the official completion of the Campaign for PRHC’s $6 million investment in interventional radiology (IR) made possible by the generosity of our regional community.
Guests toured the bright, modern spaces where PRHC’s IR team now performs some of today’s most advanced minimally invasive procedures. It was an opportunity to see the new, cutting-edge technology and better understand the impact that donations are having on patient care at PRHC.
“This is a transformative moment for patient care at PRHC,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “Because of you, the Health Centre’s experts have the advanced tools and space they need to perform even more complex, minimally invasive procedures right here, while innovating for the future. Thank you!”
Interventional radiology is a fast-growing field. Dr. Fady Abdelsayed, PRHC Interventional Radiologist says, “Interventional radiology is the future of medicine. Using real-time imaging technologies such as CT, X-ray and ultrasound, we perform procedures through a tiny incision, using only needles, wires, and catheters. This means less pain, fewer complications, and shorter hospital stays compared to conventional surgery. We’re so grateful to the donors for their generosity. Their support means we can deliver even better care in our region.”
The renovation and upgrade were made possible through a multi-year fundraising effort championed by grateful patient ambassadors, PRHC’s interventional radiologists, nurses and medical radiation technologists, hospital leadership, and donors from across the region. This collaboration raised an extraordinary $6 million to expand PRHC’s two existing IR suites, replace out-of-date equipment with state-of-the-art imaging technology, and add a third suite dedicated to rapid, high-demand procedures. The preparation and recovery area was also expanded to accommodate 14 patients instead of ten.
Before this advancement, PRHC’s five interventional radiologists, who work on a 24/7 rotation, were already performing more than 6,000 procedures a year. Now, on a typical day, they’re equipped to care for 20 to 25 patients suffering from critical conditions such as cancer, stroke, organ failure, bleeding and trauma, among others.
As a regional hospital, PRHC’s IR team supports a population of more than 300,000 people across Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland, Peterborough, and North Hastings County. With the new suites, PRHC is better positioned to meet the growing regional demand for minimally invasive care, enhance patient outcomes, continue attracting and retaining top medical talent, and pave the way for the future introduction of new minimally invasive treatment options.
“Donor vision and support have once again proven to be a driving force behind innovation at PRHC,” says Dr. Lynn Mikula, President & CEO of PRHC. “Together, we’re reimagining what’s possible for patients from across our region. Thank you so much.”
“When you hear the word cancer, anxiety builds, not in just you, but your whole family.”
Len Powers has never forgotten the anxiety of waiting for answers that confirmed he had prostate cancer. That’s why he believes strongly in what the PRHC Foundation is raising funds for right now. He wants to help bring state-of-the-art digital pathology to our region.
Continue readingAn update on the progress of the $70 million Campaign for PRHC
When the PRHC Foundation launched the Campaign for PRHC, we knew it would take a bold vision and an even bolder community of supporters to bring it to life. Today, we’re thrilled to share just how far we’ve come, thanks to your amazing generosity.
As of June 30, 3035, together we’ve raised an outstanding $58,863,702 – that’s 84% of the $70 million goal.
Continue readingHow a hybrid operating room will transform vascular care in our region
When Mike Leach was diagnosed with a serious diabetic ulcer, his surgeon delivered a stark warning, “without surgery, you could lose your foot.” Suddenly, Mike was facing not one, but two urgent, lifesaving vascular surgeries at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC).
Continue readingAnother record-breaking year for Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival
On October 6, the PRHC Foundation welcomed members of the Peterborough’s Dragon Boat Festival Planning Committee, the Survivors Abreast Dragon Boat Team, Platinum Sponsor Kawartha Credit Union, paddlers, volunteers and supporters, to celebrate the Festival’s historic achievement: A record-breaking donation of $400,104.01 – the largest single gift in the Festival’s history!
Continue readingCelebrating the opening of the donor-funded Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit Courtyard
On August 6, 2025, donors, community members and the media joined PRHC and the PRHC Foundation to celebrate the opening of the new Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Courtyard. This secure, purpose-built outdoor space is designed to support the recovery and well-being of some of the hospital’s most vulnerable mental health patients.
Made possible by donor generosity, the $1.5 million courtyard is more than a new physical space—it’s a symbol of compassion, community and progress. It’s also one of the early mental health priorities brought to life through the Campaign for PRHC.
“This is a transformative moment for mental health care at PRHC,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of the PRHC Foundation. “The PICU Courtyard changes where and how patients heal. It will support PRHC’s healthcare team in delivering expert, compassionate care.”
Patients in the 6-bed PICU have never had access to the outdoors, even though hospital stays can last weeks or even months. “This secure, outdoor treatment space is not only safe and dignified—it’s healing,” says Jennifer Cox, PRHC’s Director of Mental Health & Addictions. “It allows our patients to engage in mindfulness, movement and connection with others and their environment in ways that improve outcomes and quality of care.”
The new outdoor space has already been recognized as a model for other Ontario hospitals. And the need for such innovation is clear: like hospitals across the country, PRHC has seen a staggering increase in patient volumes. In the last year alone, PRHC experienced more than 31,000 mental health patient visits.
“Thanks to donor support, PICU patients now have access to natural light and fresh air—factors that are proven to improve outcomes, reduce hospital stays, and decrease the need for medications like antidepressants,” says Sean Martin, Vice President of Clinical Services & Health Equity and Chief Quality Officer at PRHC.
The PICU Courtyard has been designed with outdoor therapy in mind, with input from mental health experts, PRHC staff, and the lived experience of volunteer community members. Every detail of the space was chosen with intention:
- Colourful native vegetation to attract butterflies, a natural aid for mindfulness
- Seating areas in different configurations that offer patients solitude when they need it and space to visit with care providers and loved ones
- Open gathering areas for group activities and social connection
- A shaded area to accommodate those who are sensitive to sunlight due to their treatments
- A colourful, tactile recreation surface
During the PICU Courtyard celebrations, Lesley also announced a $10 million expansion to the Campaign for PRHC.
“The hospital has brought forward some additional, extraordinarily visionary, future-focused projects,” she says. “These projects will fundamentally change the way patient care is delivered across all areas of care at PRHC. We’re ready to rise to the occasion once again and we know our incredibly generous community is ready, too.”
The Campaign for PRHC began with a $60 million dollar goal and is now a $70 million campaign. This increase will allow PRHC to move forward with cutting-edge initiatives that directly respond to the specific healthcare needs of our region. One of those bold, innovative projects is a digital command centre.
“It’s still in the early stages of planning,” says Sean. “Once complete, the command centre will be a behind-the-scenes hub that will use real-time data to streamline patient flow, reduce wait times, and improve access to care.”
“This is a bold, transformational project and we’re excited to say, yes, let’s support it,” says Lesley. “Let’s continue to reimagine health and care—just like donors have done through the PICU Courtyard.”
Pictured left to right: (back row) PRHC VP Finance & Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer Jen Taylor, PRHC Outpatient Mental Health Manager Miriam McCann, PRHC Mental Health & Addictions Chief & Medical Director Dr. Raj Basker, PRHC PICU Manager Dakota Forsyth, PRHC Foundation President & CEO Lesley Heighway; (front row) PRHC Director of Mental Health & Addictions Jennifer Cox, PRHC RN Erica Earl, PRHC RN Shayne Luangvisa.