When a patient arrives in an emergency department, minutes can mean the difference between uncertainty and diagnosis, between treatment and delay, and sometimes between life and death.
Thanks to a transformational $1.25 million gift from Kingston philanthropist Stephen Sorensen, patients throughout southeastern Ontario will soon benefit from some of the most advanced diagnostic imaging and emergency-care technology available at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC).
The targeted investment will fund a new suite of advanced diagnostic imaging and critical-care equipment for the Emergency Department at Kingston General Hospital (KGH) and the Urgent Care Centre at Hotel Dieu Hospital (HDH). Selected in consultation with front-line physicians, nurses, technologists, and clinical leaders, the equipment will help clinicians diagnose illness and injury more quickly, improve patient flow, and support faster treatment decisions when every second counts.
“This wasn't about writing a cheque and walking away," said Sorensen. "It was about listening to the healthcare professionals who are there when patients need help the most. I choose to support focused, implementation-ready projects where I’m directly involved with clinicians who know where the gaps are, what equipment is needed, and where a donor dollar can have the greatest immediate impact. If we can help our clinicians make faster decisions, and improve patient outcomes within months rather than years, then we've made a real difference. I call it 'Targeted Clinician-Based Philanthropy' “
The investment includes:
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Two GE HealthCare Definium™ 656HD Gen 6.1 fixed digital radiography (X-Ray) systems — one for the KGH site Emergency Department and one for the HDH site Urgent Care Centre;
- One GE HealthCare AMX™ Navigate mobile digital X-ray system for bedside imaging in the Emergency Department;
- A video laryngoscope to assist with airway management and intubation of critically ill patients;
- A fiberoptic nasopharyngoscope camera for examining the nasal passages, throat, and vocal cords;
- A transesophageal ultrasound probe to provide rapid cardiac imaging during life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrest.
The two Definium 656HD Gen 6.1 X-Ray systems represent GE HealthCare's most advanced fixed digital radiography platform, combining high-definition detectors, artificial intelligence-assisted image processing, automated workflows, and exceptional image quality. The systems are designed to reduce repeat examinations, accelerate diagnosis, and provide clinicians with the detailed images needed to make critical decisions with confidence.
Complementing the fixed systems, the AMX Navigate mobile X-ray unit brings advanced imaging directly to the patient's bedside, allowing emergency teams to obtain diagnostic images quickly for critically ill, injured, or unstable patients who cannot be safely transported to an imaging suite.
Together, these investments will significantly enhance emergency diagnostic capabilities in Kingston and strengthen the region's ability to provide timely, high-quality emergency care to the more than 650,000 residents who rely on KHSC as the tertiary care centre for southeastern Ontario.
"As the trauma centre for southeastern Ontario, our Emergency Medicine teams must be able to act quickly, and to do that, accurate information is crucial," said Dr. Kyla Caners, Head of Emergency Medicine at KHSC and Queen's University. "This new technology will allow our teams to gather information quickly and use it to guide treatment. Investments like this directly improve our ability to care for patients during some of the most critical moments of their lives."
"Access to the right diagnostic tools at the right moment can fundamentally change outcomes in health care," said Dr. Omar Islam, Head of Radiology at KHSC and Queen's University. "With this investment, we can move more quickly from uncertainty to diagnosis, and from diagnosis to treatment, when minutes matter most. These imaging systems will provide clinicians with exceptional image quality while helping us deliver care more efficiently."
"Mr. Sorensen didn't simply fund equipment — he helped shape a solution," said Dr. David Pichora, President and CEO of KHSC. "By working closely with our clinical teams, he ensured these investments are practical, impactful, and directly aligned with improving patient care. This is a remarkable example of how targeted clinician-based philanthropy can accelerate innovation and make an immediate difference for patients."
This latest gift builds on Sorensen's longstanding commitment to advancing healthcare innovation at KHSC. Previous donations have helped bring a first-in-Canada artificial intelligence cardiac CT imaging tool, a portable MRI system for critically ill ICU patients, a new interventional radiology suite, and advanced breast cancer surgical technology to Kingston. Each investment has been focused on improving patient outcomes, enhancing access to care, and ensuring residents of southeastern Ontario can receive leading-edge treatment closer to home.
"Hospitals in Ontario have always depended on philanthropy to fund state-of-the-art equipment and innovation," said Tom Zsolnay, President and CEO of University Hospitals Kingston Foundation. "Stephen Sorensen's investments in KHSC are making a meaningful and lasting impact on the care available to the people of southeastern Ontario. This gift reflects a deep commitment to supporting front-line teams and ensuring patients have access to the very best care close to home."
