On April 21, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation welcomed donors, sponsors, and frontline healthcare professionals to Innovate for Impact, a new event bringing together the people who give and the teams who care—each playing a vital role in advancing the patient experience close to home.
The event created an opportunity for members of the GBGH team to pitch innovative ideas shaped by what they see and experience every day caring for patients—proposals for tools, equipment, and programs beyond current hospital priorities. Attendees heard from five teams and voted to fund the idea that inspired them most.
“Innovate for Impact is about seeing the incredible ideas our care teams bring forward every day—and making sure they’re heard,” said Victoria Evans, senior key relationships officer, GBGH Foundation. “It connects people who want to give with the people who are delivering health care, so together we can make a real difference for patients and families in our community.”
This year’s winning project, Surgical Care App: SeamlessMD, presented by Michelle Blake and Alex Rawn, will support patients through their surgical journey with education, guidance, and direct connection to their care team.
“As care providers, we see firsthand where patients need more support and connection throughout their surgical journey,” said Michelle Blake, manager of surgical services, ambulatory care, obstetrics, telemedicine and medical device reprocessing at GBGH. “SeamlessMD is about meeting patients where they are—helping them feel informed, prepared, and supported every step of the way. It’s incredibly meaningful to see our community believe in and invest in ideas that will make that experience better.”
The GBGH Foundation thanks event sponsors Bourgeois Auto Group, LabX Media Group, and Whitfields Guardian Pharmacy (Abadir Nasr) for helping make the evening possible.
Special thanks to emcees and co-chairs of the We See You capital campaign, Dr. Cait Button, Chief of the Emergency Department at GBGH, and Chris Bondar of Gilkon Construction, whose energy and enthusiasm helped bring the event to life.
Events like Innovate for Impact reflect the power of a community that sees and supports both the people providing care and those receiving it.
For more information about participating in next year’s event or to view our 2026 event highlights, please visit: https://gbghf.ca/innovate-for-impact
