Former EnCana Corp. CEO and Wife Donate $1.375M to Honour the Vitreo-Retinal Surgeon Who Saved His Sight
Vancouver, September 16, 2009 — St. Paul's Hospital Foundation and the University of British Columbia (UBC) Faculty of Medicine are pleased to announce the creation of the William H. Ross Fellowship in Vitreo-Retinal Excellence.
This fellowship was established with a visionary $1.375-million commitment from the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation in honour of Dr. William H. Ross, whose extraordinary expertise recently saved the vision in Morgan's only seeing eye, after he lost the sight in his other eye several years ago.
Each year for the next 25 years, this prestigious new fellowship will allow Dr. Ross, one of Canada's most experienced retinal surgeons, to select one post-graduate retinal fellow from among the world's best to train with the retinal staff at UBC.
“Dr. Ross is one of North America's most respected vitreo-retinal specialists,” says Gwyn Morgan, former president & CEO of EnCana Corp. “Over a career spanning 36 years, he has saved the vision of thousands of patients, including my own. Patricia and I are pleased to recognize his outstanding expertise and contributions and to provide an opportunity for other promising young doctors to follow in his footsteps.”
The annual contribution from the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation will be commensurate with the salary of a second-year ophthalmology resident at UBC to accommodate any possible inflation over the next 25 years.
“Dr. Ross has advanced the knowledge and skills of medical students, ophthalmology residents, and fellows now caring for patients in hospitals around the world,” says Dr. Frederick Mikelberg, Professor and Head, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia.
Dr. Ross has pioneered the development of surgical materials used in the management of different types of retinal detachments. His many publications have provided insight into the management of retinal detachments, the timing of surgery, and the prognosis for good visual recovery.
“I am awed by the generosity of Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier and humbled to have this fellowship named in my honour,” says Dr. William H. Ross, a vitreo-retinal surgeon at St. Paul's Hospital and chair of the UBC Vitreo-Retinal Fellowship Program. “It has been my pleasure to train some of the world's leading vitreo-retinal specialists at St. Paul's Hospital and UBC over the past 24 years. This new fellowship ensures the next generation of specialists will continue to advance the medical education, clinical research and care of patients with retinal diseases in B.C. and around the world.”
“This exceptional contribution from the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation is a sincere and generous expression of support to St. Paul's Hospital's centre of excellence in vitreo-retinal diseases,” says Stephen Shapiro, president & CEO of St. Paul's Hospital Foundation. “On behalf of the board of St. Paul's Hospital Foundation, I extend my deepest thanks to Gwyn and Patricia for their generosity to St. Paul's.”
“This fellowship in Dr. Ross' name recognizes the global contribution that he has made in educating medical students, ophthalmology residents and fellows throughout a long and distinguished career and on behalf of the entire Faculty I congratulate him on this outstanding achievement, and admire Mr. Morgan and Ms. Trottier for their generosity,” says Dr. Gavin Stuart, Dean of the UBC Faculty of Medicine.
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Media will have an opportunity to speak with Dr. William H. Ross and Gwyn Morgan about this donation today at 1 p.m. at St. Paul’s Hospital.
Media Contacts:
Leslie Dickson
St. Paul's Hospital Foundation
604-806-9850
Linda Bartz
Faculty of Medicine, UBC
604-822-2792
About Gwyn Morgan
Gwyn Morgan is the retired founding President and CEO of Calgary-based EnCana Corporation, North America's largest natural gas producer. Morgan led the creation of EnCana Corp. through a merger which was widely viewed as the most significant transaction in Canadian energy sector history. He has been recognized as Canada's Outstanding CEO of the YearTM and also as Canada's Most Respected CEO. An ardent believer in the importance of world-class Canadian headquartered international enterprises, a lover of the great outdoors, and a wellness enthusiast, Morgan has a strong belief that business leaders should demonstrate the professional, entrepreneurial and moral values that keep our country strong.
About Patricia Trottier
Patricia Trottier is a community leader and former investor relations/corporate communications executive. Over the past decade, Patricia has dedicated her time to a variety of wellness, social and business causes including founding the Integrative Health Institute in Calgary, Fundacion Nan Paz in Ecuador, chairing Calgary's Economic Development Authority and leading Calgary's 2010 Winter Olympic Bid. She currently sits on the Board of Advisors of the University of Victoria Business School and manages the Gwyn Morgan and Patricia Trottier Foundation.
About the PHC Department of Ophthalmology at St. Paul's Hospital
The Providence Health Care (PHC) Department of Ophthalmology is an internationally renowned centre of excellence for the treatment, research and education of vitreo-retinal diseases. Last year, more than 1,900 patients with vitreo-retinal diseases from across B.C. were treated at St. Paul's using the most advanced technology. St. Paul's Hospital is operated by PHC, one of Canada's largest faith-based health-care organizations.
St. Paul's Hospital Foundation raises funds to support inspired care, research and teaching at St. Paul's Hospital, a leading academic health science centre located in Vancouver, Canada.
About the UBC Faculty of Medicine
The UBC Faculty of Medicine with its campuses in Vancouver and also in partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia, University of Victoria and the Province's health authorities provides innovative educational and research programs in the areas of health and life sciences. Founded in 1950, the Faculty now has over 2,590 students at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels across a broad spectrum of health professionals including physicians, physical therapy, occupational therapy and Master of Health Administration among others.
