Latest news with #DavidWood
CBC
07-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
$60M donation will fund cardiovascular institute at Vancouver General Hospital
Social Sharing The head cardiologist at Vancouver General Hospital says a $60 million donation toward a new cardiovascular health institute and innovation fund will have a life-saving impact around the world. Dr. David Wood, head of cardiology at the hospital, said Thursday that $35 million is earmarked for the new institute, while $25 million is for a new "innovation fund" to immediately bolster research, while attracting top talent in the field from all over the world. Angela Chapman, president of the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation, said the donation from the Dilawri Foundation is the largest in the hospital foundation's history. "That innovation fund, $25 million, completely changes the game," Wood said. WATCH | New, innovative cardiac care centre coming to Vancouver: $60M donation expected to make Vancouver a world leader in cardiac care 20 hours ago Duration 1:44 A new, innovative cardiac care centre is coming to Vancouver General Hospital thanks to a record-setting philanthropic gift from a Canadian company. As Chad Pawson reports, the new centre aims to be one of the best in the world. Wood said the fund will allow him and colleagues to quickly implement new ideas without having to wait for government funding, including from the United States. He said the infrastructure to support research in the U.S. "has completely changed." "The [National Institutes of Health], the funding of research, the [Food and Drug Administration] getting new technology devices approved is now dramatically different than it was six months ago," he said. "I feel very bad for some of my colleagues across the border." Wood said the funding is a "transformative gift" that will help attract top foreign talent, and he said he had already received "hundreds of resumés." Chapman said the land for the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute on West 12th Avenue in Vancouver is currently being rezoned, with a plan to begin construction in 2027 and complete it within three or four years. "It's a big project, so it has a lot of different components that are going to take time. The rezoning is one of them," she said. "We've been working with the city since we started to purchase the land." She said the city has been "incredibly supportive of the project." Ajay Dilawri, whose family company owns dozens of car dealerships, said the foundation made the donation after his father sought out treatment for heart issues around the world. Dilawri said his father was 90 years old at the time, and the "overwhelming response" from health professionals, including at the Mayo Clinic in the United States, was that he needed "invasive" and complex open-heart surgery. But Dilawri said Wood and his team proposed a different plan. "They were very confident that they had the expertise to avoid open-heart surgery and do a procedure that was not as invasive," Dilawri said. "Obviously, it was a sigh of relief. We were so grateful because, again, at his age, there could be complications and the risk factor is quite a bit higher. It was a godsend. It was an absolute feeling of relief."
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Flour firm fined £300k after worker loses finger
The owner of a flour mill has been fined £300,000 after a maintenance worker's finger was severed by a machine. The incident happened at ADM Milling on the Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby, Northamptonshire, in 2023. An investigation found the firm had failed to plan and risk assess the job correctly. The firm pleaded guilty to one count of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was sentenced at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which brought the prosecution, said the incident demonstrated that all maintenance tasks should be "carefully assessed". David Wood, who was 59 at the time, had been carrying out maintenance work on a packer closing station. The HSE said: "The 800kg (126 stone) machine became unbalanced and tipped backwards, trapping his left hand. "This resulted in the little finger on the hand being severed." The HSE found that the firm "failed to safely manage the risks of people performing maintenance at its factory". The health and safety legislation requires employers to make sure people working on their site who are not employed by them are not "exposed to risks to their health or safety". The firm was ordered to pay a total of £309,517.40 in fines and costs. An HSE spokesperson said: "HSE guidance states that maintenance work needs to be correctly planned and carried out. "Unsafe maintenance has caused many fatalities and serious injuries, either during the work or as a result of using badly/wrongly maintained machines." The Workers' Union said: "Health and safety breaches can result in more than financial penalties - they can damage a company's reputation, lower workforce morale and change lives in an instant." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Hospital fined £480k over manhole brain injury Carlsberg fined £3m over fatal ammonia leak Man dies in building site 'industrial accident' Health and Safety Executive ADM Milling
BBC News
06-06-2025
- BBC News
Corby flour mill fined £300,000 after worker loses finger
The owner of a flour mill has been fined £300,000 after a maintenance worker's finger was severed by a incident happened at ADM Milling on the Earlstrees Industrial Estate in Corby, Northamptonshire, in investigation found the firm had failed to plan and risk assess the job firm pleaded guilty to one count of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was sentenced at Northampton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which brought the prosecution, said the incident demonstrated that all maintenance tasks should be "carefully assessed".David Wood, who was 59 at the time, had been carrying out maintenance work on a packer closing HSE said: "The 800kg (126 stone) machine became unbalanced and tipped backwards, trapping his left hand."This resulted in the little finger on the hand being severed."The HSE found that the firm "failed to safely manage the risks of people performing maintenance at its factory".The health and safety legislation requires employers to make sure people working on their site who are not employed by them are not "exposed to risks to their health or safety".The firm was ordered to pay a total of £309,517.40 in fines and costs. An HSE spokesperson said: "HSE guidance states that maintenance work needs to be correctly planned and carried out."Unsafe maintenance has caused many fatalities and serious injuries, either during the work or as a result of using badly/wrongly maintained machines."The Workers' Union said: "Health and safety breaches can result in more than financial penalties - they can damage a company's reputation, lower workforce morale and change lives in an instant." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
National Post
06-06-2025
- Health
- National Post
Dilawri Foundation makes historic $60-million donation to VGH, UBC
Article content Four and a half years ago, Ajay Dilawri's father, Ram Dilawri, began experiencing heart troubles. Article content The Dilawris, founders of Dilawri Automotive Group, the largest automotive dealership in Canada, immediately began consulting with experts at leading heart institutes across the U.S. and around the world, most of whom recommended complex open-heart surgery. Article content Article content Article content 'My father was looking for another, less-frightening option,' said Dilawri. Then they heard about Dr. David Wood, head of the division of cardiology at Vancouver General Hospital and the UBC Hospital. Article content 'We heard that if anyone could save my father's life without open heart surgery, it would be him.' Article content Article content The donation, a gift from the Dilawri Automotive Group's charitable foundation, is the largest in VGH and UBC Hospital history, and will fund the new institute, led by Wood. Article content 'Like so many families, ours has been personally touched by heart disease,' said Dilawri. 'It's a cause that hits close to home.' Article content Wood's vision, of a leading cardiovascular institute in Vancouver, was bold. Article content 'Why can't we create the Mayo Clinic of the North right here in Vancouver?' Wood said at Thursday's event. Article content Article content Article content Article content Wood said the institute will have 15 centres that will be ready to treat patients immediately, and will include centres for Indigenous heart health, women's heart health, youth heart health, and core research areas such as a centre for AI, data science and imaging, as well as the centre for cardiovascular innovation. Article content 'We are going to transform how we care for patients. Replacing heart valves on patients, and going home three hours later — using new technologies to treat heart rhythm problems before they become permanent, so you can go on to live a long and healthy life, minimally invasive heart surgery using robots and small incisions,' said Wood.
Cision Canada
05-06-2025
- Health
- Cision Canada
Dilawri Foundation Makes Historic $60 Million Gift to Revolutionize Heart Care
The Dilawri Foundation has made a record $60 million donation to establish the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI) on the campus of Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), the largest hospital in British Columbia. Led by Dr. David Wood, Head of Cardiology at VGH and UBC Hospital, the new Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute is embedded within the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, one of the top-funded research institutes in Canada. This transformative gift, the largest in the history of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, is unique as $35 million will help fund a proposed new multi-use tower at the corner of Oak Street and West 12 th Avenue and $25 million is for an unprecedented Innovation Fund. Building on Vancouver's global reputation, the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute will use the Innovation Fund to achieve its goal of becoming a national cardiovascular hub and one of the world's leading cardiovascular institutes. This will be accomplished by establishing a cardiovascular research and clinical care network with partner sites throughout North America and Europe and by recruiting the best clinicians and scientists from Canada and around the globe. Since 2002, the Dilawri Foundation — the philanthropic outreach of the Dilawri Group of Companies, Canada's largest automotive group — has contributed millions of dollars to health care, education, and social-impact initiatives. The Foundation is committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of Canadians by advancing health care, education, and social services across the country. This $60 million donation represents the Foundation's largest gift since its inception. VANCOUVER, BC, June 5, 2025 /CNW/ - In a landmark announcement, the Dilawri Foundation has made a record-setting $60 million philanthropic gift to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to establish the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute (DCI) on the Vancouver General Hospital campus. "For our family, this is about bringing our values of compassion and community to life through meaningful investments that allow us to give back in a lasting way," said Ajay Dilawri, Co-founder of both the Dilawri Foundation and Dilawri. "We're honoured to support the exceptional team at Vancouver General Hospital and help advance a future where everyone in British Columbia — and beyond — has access to world-class cardiac care. Our goal is to help establish a global centre of excellence that will set a new benchmark for cardiac innovation and treatment. We hope this gift will help improve health care and quality of life on a broader scale." The gift also represents a major milestone in the mission of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, which plays a critical role in enabling innovation, recruiting top talent, and helping the people of British Columbia have access to the best care possible. As the leading charity investing in health care innovation in the province, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation connects visionary donors with world-class health care teams to help build healthier communities across British Columbia. By supporting Vancouver General Hospital, UBC Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, and Vancouver Community Health Services, the Foundation plays an essential role in fueling groundbreaking research, cutting-edge technology, and life-saving care. "This is a truly historic moment for health care philanthropy in Canada," said Angela Chapman, President and CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. "The Dilawri Foundation's extraordinary generosity will help Vancouver and British Columbia attract and retain world-leading clinicians and researchers from Canada and around the globe. It will allow the talented specialists at VGH to accelerate discoveries and translate them into better patient care and outcomes for the people of British Columbia and beyond. Inspired by a first-hand experience of the specialized care provided at VGH, this is an incredible act of gratitude and philanthropy." The new Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute will be led by Dr. David Wood, a world-renowned structural and interventional cardiologist and Head of the Division of Cardiology at VGH and UBC Hospital. "Our clinicians and researchers are focused on using new technology and discoveries to improve access to care, shorten wait times, improve outcomes, and decrease recovery times. We have already taught centres throughout North America and around the globe how to replace heart valves in under 30 minutes so patients can go home the same day, or how to treat heart rhythm problems sooner — long before any cardiac damage becomes permanent," said Dr. David Wood. He added: "I am so incredibly proud of the amazing work our investigators have already accomplished. The new infrastructure and Innovation Fund will allow us to fulfill our goal: to become one of the leading cardiovascular institutes in the world. Our goal is to help patients live longer, symptom-free lives thanks to the disruptive innovation made possible by the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute." "The Dilawri Foundation's visionary support will have a profound and lasting impact on heart health for generations to come. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality, innovative health care, and this investment will enable us to continue our goal of providing leading-edge cardiac medicine, contributing to the global advancement of this field," said Vivian Eliopoulos, President and CEO, Vancouver Coastal Health. "Our family has been deeply moved by the incredible care, expertise, and compassion we've received from the team at Vancouver General Hospital," said Kap Dilawri, Co-founder of both the Dilawri Foundation and Dilawri. "We believe the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute will have a profound and lasting impact on patients, families, and communities — not only in Vancouver but also globally." To learn more about the Dilawri Cardiovascular Institute, visit About VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health's primary philanthropic partner, raising funds for specialized adult health care services and research for all people living in British Columbia. As the leading charity investing in health care innovation in British Columbia, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation partners with donors to raise essential funds for Vancouver Coastal Health, supporting VGH, UBC Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, and Vancouver Community Health Services. To learn more about VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, visit About Dilawri Privately owned and operated since 1984, Dilawri continues to build on its legacy as Canada's largest automotive group. While its roots are firmly planted in automotive retail, Dilawri has expanded its portfolio through a dedicated investment division with strategic interests in real estate and a range of diversified holdings. Dilawri is committed to leadership in the communities it serves as well as in business. Through the Dilawri Foundation, established in 2002, the company has contributed millions of dollars to a wide range of charitable causes. To learn more about Dilawri, visit About Vancouver Coastal Health Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to delivering exceptional care to 1.25 million people, including the First Nations, Métis and Inuit, within the traditional territories of the Heiltsuk, Kitasoo-Xai'xais, Lil'wat, Musqueam, N'Quatqua, Nuxalk, Samahquam, shíshálh, Skatin, Squamish, Tla'amin, Tsleil-Waututh, Wuikinuxv, and Xa'xtsa. To learn more about Vancouver Coastal Health, visit
