Fondation du CHUM benefit raises $475,000 - Seven recognition awards
presented to members of CHUM team

MONTREAL , Oct. 15 /CNW Telbec/ -The 2009 Benefit Evening of the Fondation du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), which took place last night in Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier at Place des Arts, helped raise $475,000 for the CHUM. The event starred André-Philippe Gagnon, together with the foundation's official spokesperson Yvon Deschamps and Judi Richards .

Quebec health and social services minister Yves Bolduc was guest of honour at the CHUM benefit. The event was organized in partnership with National Bank Financial Group.

"As the hub of university medical teaching and research in Quebec , the CHUM plays a leading role in our healthcare system. For National Bank Financial Group, it's a real priority to contribute toward better community life by supporting the Fondation du CHUM," said the evening's honorary chair, Kathleen Zicat, senior Vice-President, Sales and service - Retail Baking, National Bank Financial Group.

The event also served as an occasion to present awards in recognition of distinguished performance by CHUM staff members in the past year. "These recognition awards are eloquent evidence of the tremendous talent at work in building our success. CHUM management is proud to highlight the contributions these dedicated individuals each make in helping our organization strive for excellence," said CHUM interim director general Serge LeBlanc.

Seven prestigious awards were presented in the first part of the evening. This year, a separate award "Homage Award for a Remarquable Career" was added to the six regular awards. This distinction pays homage to the brilliant work of Dr. Pavel Hamet . As the founder of the CHUM Research Centre, Dr. Hamet is a leading researcher in the field of arterial hypertension and Canada Research Chair in Predictive Genomics. The Excellence Award was presented to Dr. Pierre Drouin for his work on behalf of women stricken by gynecological forms of cancer.

Here are the 2009 Fondation du CHUM's Award Winners :

Volunteer Award: Diane Charland , Christiane Dumoulin , Marie-Blanche Leblanc and Ghislaine Rouly , volunteer members of the palliative care team at Hôtel-Dieu of the CHUM

Innovation and Patient Services Award, care and service sector: Dr. Renée Lévesque and the hemodiafiltration team

Innovation and Patient Services Award, administrative and support sector: The managers and professionals responsible for implementing the unidose drug distribution system

Leadership and Outreach Award, in the paramedical field: Marthyne Brazeau, audiologist

Leadership and Outreach Award, in the medical field: Dr. Marie-Dominique Beaulieu, general practitioner at the family medicine clinic of the CHUM

Excellence Award: Dr. Pierre Drouin , gynecologist-oncologist

Homage Award for a Remarkable Career: Dr. Pavel Hamet , physician, professor and researcher

Complete feature stories on the winners of the foundation recognition awards may be read online at http://fondationduchum.com/sites/fondationduchum.com/files/data/FasciculeFondation_anglais_14_octobre_2009_web_0.pdf and videos are available at www.youtube.com/user/chumontreal.

"We would like to thank all our partners, especially National Bank Financial Group, which has sponsored this activity since the very beginning and contributes toward its success year after year," said Ékram Antoine Rabbat, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Fondation du CHUM.

About the Fondation du CHUM

The mission of the Fondation du CHUM is to provide the CHUM with an ongoing source of private funds to complement public funding, in order to help it improve patient care, acquire cutting-edge equipment and carry out research, teaching and health promotion activities. To make a donation to the Fondation du CHUM, visit our website at www.fondationduchum.com, or call 1 866 DON-CHUM (1 866 366-2486) or 514 890-8077, extension 35205. Giving... makes a world of difference!

For further information: Julie Desbiens, [phone] (extension 36182), [email protected]; Source: Fondation du CHUM