This holiday season, the MUHC Foundation is focusing on the power of small gestures. Just 28 seconds of your busy day can help create a world of change – because really, that’s all it takes.

The doctors of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine are matching every donation to the MUHC Foundation’s 28 Seconds. A World of Impact campaign, dollar-for-dollar. Because every dollar counts, and this time, yours will go twice as far.

All funds raised will support innovation and patient care across the hospital and go where they’re most urgently needed. Ranging from personalized cancer treatment and heart care to infectious disease research, the MUHC has a wide range of vital initiatives that are funded by the MUHC Foundation.

“A key focus for MUHC experts is personalized medicine, based on the principle that every patient – from each heart to every immune response – is unique.”

A key focus for MUHC experts is personalized medicine, based on the principle that every patient – from each heart to every immune response – is unique. This approach is especially valuable in cardiology, where each heart has markers that reveal its health status, helping doctors predict everything from the risk of heart disease to responses to specific medications. Dr. Renzo Cecere, MUHC Cardiac Surgeon and Director of the Myocardial Regeneration Lab at the RI-MUHC, is currently working on an innovative project that involves testing new treatments on lab-grown heart muscles.

“What’s exciting is that we’re currently using our patients’ own heart stem cells to create heart muscles in the lab, and then we use these identical heart muscles to test new therapies and see how the patient will respond,” shares Dr. Cecere. “It’s personalized and non-invasive medicine at its very best.”

This groundbreaking research—once the stuff of science fiction—is made possible by donations to the MUHC Foundation, showcasing the true power of philanthropy. Your donation brings tomorrow’s solutions to patients today.

“Community support is essential for advancing health care,” explains Dr. Marc Rodger, Chair of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine. “While government funding supports established programs, donations enable true innovation—from groundbreaking clinical trials to the latest medical equipment.”

Another mission of the MUHC’s Foundation is to end cancer as a deadly disease. Thanks to the MUHC’s unique bench-to-bedside approach, challenges by the bedside drive innovation in the lab, especially when it comes to precision oncology. One such innovation is liquid biopsy – a minimally invasive screening test that detects even microscopic cancer cells in saliva, urine, or blood samples.

“A liquid biopsy can identify tiny fragments of a tumor in the bloodstream, enabling us to detect and monitor cancer much earlier,” shares Dr. Julia Burnier, Scientist with the Cancer Research Program at the RI-MUHC. “Early detection is key to saving lives, and donations make this possible.”

Donations to the MUHC Foundation also advance equity in health care through initiatives like Dr. Judy Luu’s POWER Hub (Pathways to Cardiovascular Care for Women from Ethnic, Racialized, and Remote Communities). Dr. Luu is committed to empowering women in our community – especially those from racialized and underserved backgrounds – to understand and reduce their heart health risks. With a focus on preventive care, her team is addressing the alarming statistic that one in three women will die from heart disease – despite that 80% of heart disease is preventable!

“While government funding supports established programs, donations enable true innovation—from groundbreaking clinical trials to the latest medical equipment.” – Dr. Marc Rodger, Chair of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine.”

As the doctors themselves contribute to this campaign that calls on you to take 28 seconds to make a world of impact, they send a powerful message: they believe in the MUHC Foundation, and so should you.

“The MUHC Foundation is proud to partner with the doctors of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine. It’s such an honour to collaborate with them and support their incredible work,” shares Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation. “Our community truly cares, and we want to build on this momentum for change and keep striving toward a healthier future for all Quebecers.”

“The MUHC Foundation is proud to partner with the doctors of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine. It’s such an honour to collaborate with them and support their incredible work.” – Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation

From innovative and equitable heart care to personalized cancer treatment, there are so many ways where your 28 seconds can create a world of change—all it takes is the will to make a difference.

“All of this is personal,” reflects Dr. Rodger. “We all have family touched by illness, and we want the best care for ourselves and our loved ones. That’s why we’re matching all donations to the MUHC Foundation campaign – as health care workers, we want to do as much as we can to ensure that Quebecers receive the very best care.”

This holiday season, the MUHC Foundation invites you to join the doctors of the MUHC’s Department of Medicine in making a difference. Remember, it’s not about how much you give, but the lives you impact. When our community comes together, even one small gesture can create a chain reaction, and inspire others to join the cause.

What will you do with your next 28 seconds?

Donate to the MUHC Foundation’s 28 Seconds. A World of Impact campaign today and double your impact: https://muhcfoundation.com/works/28seconds

The MUHC Foundation is accredited by Imagine Canada for excellence in non-profit accountability, transparency and governance. https://muhcfoundation.com