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February 17, 2016 – Today, Trillium Gift of Life Network will present Dr. Giuseppe Pagliarello, Site Chief of the Civic Campus ICU at The Ottawa Hospital with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to practice-changing advances in Ontario’s organ donation system. The Ottawa Hospital will also receive the Hospital Achievement Award and the Award of Excellence for its dedication to helping improve organ and tissue donation in Ontario and saving lives through transplantation.

Dr. Pagliarello, who is also a hospital donation physician and co-chair of The Ottawa Hospital Organ Donation Advisory Committee, participated in the first donation after cardio-circulatory death (DCD) case in Canada and was monumental in implementing DCD as a standard practice in Ontario.

In 2006, the Therien family wanted to donate their daughter’s organs upon her death but she did not meet criteria for ‘brain death.’ Donation could proceed only after ‘cardio-circulatory death,’ which was not part of TOH’s practice at that time . Dr. Pagliarello and the organ donation team obtained authorization the Therien donation became the first DCD in Canada, in the modern era.

“I might have been the one constant in the program all these years but this is really an award for our ICUs and the entire organ donation team,” said Dr. Pagliarello. “We take great pride in providing excellent end-of-life care and we try very hard to honour and respect the wishes of patients and families.”

“We look at every donation as a precious gift and thank all of the families who have supported their loved ones’ wishes to become an organ and tissue donor,” said Dr. Jack Kitts, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital. “Organ and tissue donation can save lives, restore health, sight and more. It enables people to do the things they love with their family, friends, colleagues and community.”

The Hospital Achievement Award – Provincial Conversion Rate is given to hospitals that met or exceeded the target of a 67 percent Conversion Rate in 2014/15.  The Ottawa Hospital’s conversion rate of 84 percent represents the percentage of actual organ donors from the total number of potentially eligible organ donors identified upon deceased health record review. As one of three provincial hospitals who have met the conversion rate for four or more consecutive years The Ottawa Hospital will be presented with the Award of Excellence.

“We’re very proud of our achievements and of our commitment to improve donation best practices alongside our provincial partners,” said Dr. Jack Kitts, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital. “The results demonstrate the collaboration of many team members and we look forward to continued success in contributing to a culture of generosity through organ and tissue donation.”

“We are proud to acknowledge the important contributions of our hospital partners. The success of organ and tissue donation in Ontario relies on their hard work and dedication,” said Ronnie Gavsie, President and CEO at Trillium Gift of Life Network. “Together, we work to make sure families are given the opportunity to honour their loved ones’ wishes and save lives through organ and tissue donation.”

For more information, please contact:

Kate Eggins
Communications Specialist
The Ottawa Hospital
Email: keggins@toh.ca
Tel.: 613-737-8460

For more information on organ and tissue donation in Ontario, or to learn more about the TGLN award, please contact Trillium Gift of Life Network at 416-619-2327.

The Ottawa Hospital

The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals, with more than 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff members and an annual budget of about $1.2 billion.

Our focus on learning and research helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.

From the compassion of our people to the relentless pursuit of new discoveries, The Ottawa Hospital never stops seeking solutions to the most complex health-care challenges.

The Ottawa Hospital