Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman Donate $15 million to Mount Sinai’s Emergency Care Ward

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The  couple’s generous  gift will help to dramatically speed up treatment capacity in the  Toronto hospital’s accident and emergency wards

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Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman / Getty

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Two  of Canada’s most active philanthropists Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman  have continued their support of the accident and emergency ward at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Thanks to the couple’s generosity the ward will be able to double in size as well as capacity.

In addition Schwartz and Reisman, both of whom are Mount Sinai board members, will be providing funding for the construction of a new research institute.

Announcing their decision to donate $15 million Gerald Schwartz stated that when people arrive at the emergency wards, they are understandably pretty upset, and need to know that they will get the proper attention right there and then.

“Being able to provide the hospital with an improved facility to more efficiently absorb patients and continues to treat  them well, with respect and dignity, should be hospitals responsibility  to do the ultimate good for their patients at their most vulnerable moment. ”Mr. Swartz summed up.

Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman’s donation will go towards funding the emergency ward’s proposed expansion that should see  the hard-pressed staff increase patient intake by more than 40%.

When completed Mount Sinai Hospital’s accident and emergency Ward will be capable of accommodating 80, 000 patients annually,

The proposed expansion represents an update from expansion of the hospital’s emergency wards that took place around 15 years ago, that was also also funded by Schwartz and Reisman.

Schwartz recalled that when they funded the redevelopment in the late ninteen nineties, the hospital fitted with all of the most current equipment available at that time. “However there have been some dramatic development since then, meaning that our donation will not only be used to physically expand the Ward, but also to bring in the most modern of equipment as well as study  all the latest and most telling practices in emergency patients care that have been developed around the world, ” Schwartz observed.

For that reason Schwartz and Reisman have  also allocated a sum of money to fund a in-house research institute to improve emergency treatment, that will be the first of its kind in Canada.

According to Dr. Howard Ovens, director of the Mount Sinai hospital’s Schwartz/Reisman Emergency Centre, the research center could rank as  the most exciting aspect of the upgrade, which on paper, will be  unique in its design and structure, with the unit’s research department planning to  partner with other hospitals to on researching methods  of improving emergency room care at the hospital, with one of the principal topics of study will be on how to decrease waiting times for patients, up to  dealing with  emerging infectious diseases and antibiotic-resistant organisms.

Mount Sinai’s emergency ward is regarded as being among the most  successful in cutting down wait-times, whilst  handling an annual patient volume of about 50, 000. However when the new extension, planned to cover  8, 500 square meters, equivalent to  half of the hospital’s ground  floor will be completed, that number is expected to rise to 80, 000.

Gerald Schwartz and Heather Reisman’s donation is part of a $500-million campaign to renew Mount Sinai’s Hospital facilities and expand its clinical and research programs.

Including their most recent  donation, Schwartz and Reisman have invested a total of  $28 million in the hospital.

Gerald W. Schwartz, was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, going on to study at the University of Manitoba, graduating with a degree in law, before we want to study for his masters at Harvard University, before graduating with an MBA degree in 1970.

In 1977 Schwartz began his career as a business owner by co-founding CanWest Global Communications Inc in 1977, following that up in 1983 by establishing the Onex Corporation. In addition Gerry Schwartz has held a seat on the board of Scotiabank since 1999.

Gerald Schwartz is well known for his acts of philanthropy both within Canada and throughout the world.

Heather Reisman was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, going on to study social working at the city’s McGill University.

After graduating, Ms. Reisman was involved in a variety of business ventures throughout Canada, which added considerably to her experience in marketing, especially in the retail sector.