message from the board of trustees
From a Little Hospital on the Hill...
Let me begin by saying that I am both humbled and honoured to be stepping into the role of Chair of Burnaby Hospital Foundation’s Board of Trustees. As a member of the Board over the last few years, I am grateful for the friendship and mentorship of Past Chair Rahim Rajan in preparing me for this role. Throughout his seven year tenure, Rahim’s pivotal role ensured Burnaby Hospital was in the best possible position to help those in the community who needed its services. Most notably, his leadership helped acquire a new $4.85 million MRI suite for Burnaby Hospital in 2009. The shoes he passes on to me will be big to fill, but I am excited for this opportunity and look forward to carrying the torch he has lit so brightly.
As we celebrate Burnaby Hospital’s 60-year history of serving our community, we reflect on how far Burnaby Hospital has come from being known as the “little hospital on the hill” in an area that was primarily farmland. Today, Burnaby Hospital receives over 200,000 patient visits each year and has the third-busiest Emergency Department in all of B.C.—a testament on the importance of Burnaby Hospital to the communities that rely on its health care delivery. This change did not happen overnight and many of our supporters have been with us through this journey. I am constantly moved by the stories shared from patients and those whose lives have been touched by the hospital, and am thankful for your unwavering support. The hospital staff are passionate, committed individuals who work closely as a team to provide the best level of health care possible—putting the patient needs as their top priority. We are lucky to have them. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I wish to assure you of our unwavering commitment. Together, we can continue to build a strong future for Burnaby Hospital and our community. Sincerely,
Tinu Mathur Chair, Board of Trustees Burnaby Hospital Foundation
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burnaby hospital foundation | annual report 2012–2013