big give
From Surviving to Thriving Dr. Susan Gilmour has helped thousands of children survive liver transplantation, but she’s also concerned with the longterm happiness of her patients.
ED WIRUN. ED WIRUN.
THE COMPANY KNOWN FOR ROLLBACKS PAYS IT FORWARD
Since its arrival in Canada in 1994, Walmart has supported Champion kids like Jack and Lily, and the work of children’s hospitals, through CMN. “It was a natural fit, right out of the gate,” says Ed Wirun, VP operations for Walmart Canada. Not only are many Walmart shoppers parents, but its employees include many mothers and fathers. Over the years, Walmart Canada has raised $110 million for hospitals across Canada, including $7 million for the Stollery. On top of supporting the Champion Child program, the company solicits donations from customers at the till and donates sales from certain products throughout the year. In Edmonton and northern Alberta, all of the donations go to the Stollery. “I think when you’re donating and it’s in your backyard, going to your local hospital, it means a lot,” says Wirun. Over the years, he’s had the opportunity to attend Champion events in Orlando and has been struck by the strength of the children. “The kids are resilient and have so much passion,” he says.
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HEROES MAGAZINE | SPRING 2018
For Jack and Lily’s doctor, Dr. Susan Gilmour, there’s something special about practicing pediatric medicine. “I’ve always been inspired by children and their resiliency,” she says. “And I’ve always enjoyed engaging with families.” Since arriving at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in 1997, the gastroenterologist has cared for thousands of kids with liver problems. Because Dr. Gilmour’s area of specialization is childhood liver disease and liver transplantation, the Stollery was a natural fit. For decades, the Hospital has been a leader in childhood organ transplantation, though it didn’t have a stand-alone pediatric liver transplant program when Dr. Gilmour arrived.
“At the time, it was completely integrated with the adult program,” she says. Seeing a need for specialized supports for children, Dr. Gilmour helped to establish a pediatric liver transplant program complete with a dedicated health team that now includes a nurse, dietician, social worker, child life specialist and clinical research co-ordinator. As the director of the program, Dr. Gilmour oversees the transplants of children from across Alberta, BC and Saskatchewan. Over the years, Dr. Gilmour has also helped establish a Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology/ Nutrition at the University of Alberta and has created a subspecialty residency program for new doctors interested in gastroenterology, pediatric liver disease and transplantation. She’s also moved into several leadership roles within both the Stollery and Alberta Health Services, but she finds a way to juggle her administrative and clinical work with research into the long-term wellness of liver transplant patients. “I’m interested in how they’re functioning as kids post-transplant,” she says. “It means nothing to a 12-year-old that their liver values are fine when they’re failing in math or struggling in their friendships.” Even when transplant patients are medically stable, they may not be as healthy and happy as their peers thanks to the long-term effects of treatment. Transplant kids are more likely to have learning disabilities, for instance. “I think we do a good job of supporting these children through their transplants and back home,” says Dr. Gilmour. “But we need to go the next step and make sure they grow up to be happy, productive adults who are able to succeed socially.”
SUSAN GILMOUR PHOTO BY KEVIN TUONG
WESTERN CANADA