A significant donation of medical equipment valued at $1.2 million dollars was made to the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Division of Orthopedics. Called a once in a lifetime gift by Dr. Dane Bowe, Consultant Orthopaedic & Arthroplasty Surgeon at PMH, the donation comes in response to Hurricane Dorian and the range of injuries treated in the wake of the storm’s passage.

The initiative began with Professor Dr. Ross Leighton of Dalhousie University, who reached out to Dr. Bowe in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Dorian. Dr. Bowe recalls, “I received a text from Dr. Leighton - one of numerous mentors at Dalhousie University, asking about what he could do to help our situation. I responded by requesting equipment needed to treat severely damaged/crushed limbs.”

Dr. Leighton contacted representatives from DePuy Synthes, a division of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. DePuy Synthes sent equipment valued at 1 million dollars via an NGO within days. The equipment includes battery operated power drills, saws and external fixators used to treat and save mangled limbs. Dr. Leighton also secured $200,000 worth of similar equipment from Smith & Nephew, an international medical technology company, via Dalhousie University.

The donation to the Princess Margaret Hospital enhances the quality of care delivered to patients with serious orthopedic injuries. “The equipment is very important, it is not new to us, but it is certainly the gift of a lifetime, because we really needed this equipment to save limbs, especially after Hurricane Dorian,” Dr. Bowe explained.

Dr. Bowe expressed the gratitude of the hospital’s Orthopedic Division and the entire PMH family to Mr. Dave Simpson (CEO), and Mr. Jeff Deane & Mr. Rob Pikula of DePuy Synthes. Gratitude is also extended to Mrs. Gwenael Gouery, Mrs. Amanada Paniagua and Mr. Ryan Huggett in addition to the donors from Smith & Nephew and mentors from Dalhousie University who made this donation possible.