$1 million from Stuart and Nonie MacLeod advances diagnostic care at Cape Breton Regional Hospital
A transformational gift of $1,000,000 from Stuart and Nonie MacLeod is bringing new, state-of-the-art diagnostic technology to the Pathology and Microbiology laboratories at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital (CBRH).
“Every day at Nova Scotia Health, we see the incredible impact philanthropy has on patient care, innovation and research,” shares Dr. Nicole Boutilier, President and CEO, Nova Scotia Health. “I am grateful to the MacLeods for their commitment to their community and investment in the future of healthcare in Cape Breton. Bringing this new technology to Cape Breton Regional Hospital will help enhance patient care while strengthening education, research and training.”
The MacLeods are longtime leaders in the Nova Scotia business community and owners of MacLeod Lorway Insurance Group, the largest employee-owned independent insurance brokerage in Atlantic Canada. This year, they are celebrating 60 years in business.
The MacLeods’ million-dollar gift has purchased eight vital pieces of equipment for the CBRH, including the first ever Leica Slide Scanner to arrive in Cape Breton.
A Leica Slide Scanner is a critical diagnostic tool that transforms traditional pathology by converting patients’ tissue samples into high-resolution digital images. Instead of relying solely on glass slides and a microscope, pathologists can analyze samples on screen, allowing for greater clarity, consistency, and precision in diagnosis.
Lori Reid, Director Pathology & Lab Medicine Eastern Zone, stands with Cape Breton’s first ever Leica Slide Scanner. To her left is Nonie MacLeod, and to her right is Leslee MacLeod, who were some of many guests to participate in a laboratory tour which showcased the impact of the MacLeods’ gift.
This technology also enables seamless, real-time consultation with specialists beyond our region, supporting collaboration and faster second opinions. Currently, more than 125,000 pathology slides are manually created at the CBRH each year, often requiring extended turnaround times due to transportation to Halifax (or even out of country) for external review.
Introducing the first Leica Slide Scanner to Cape Breton will significantly improve accuracy, reduce delays, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen education, research, and training.
“Having a Leica Slide Scanner will be a giant step forward for both stabilizing the Eastern Zone pathology service and giving our patients rapid access to consults,” shares Dr. Tim Mailman, Senior Medical Director, Provincial Diagnostics and Therapeutics Network; and Interim Dept. Head, Eastern Zone Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. “Instead of transporting glass slides around the province in all weather conditions, the Eastern Zone will be able to instantly send digital images. This is also a big incentive for recruiting the new generation of pathologists who train in digital pathology.”
Additional pieces of equipment that have been purchased thanks to the MacLeods’ gift include:
- A rapid bacterial identification analyzer, which can diagnose sepsis in 24 hours or less as opposed to 48-72 hours;
- A ventilated workstation used for the safe examination of tissue specimens;
- Laboratory instruments that help guide physician’s treatment plans;
- Two microscopes;
- A new labelling system for specimen archival;
- And, a slide stainer that is critical for hematology testing and patient diagnosis.
“Nonie and I are so pleased that we are able to contribute to this wonderful equipment,” says Stuart MacLeod. “It brings us much joy to see and hear the excitement of the professionals who will be using it in their daily routine to provide faster diagnoses, better access to specialists, and create better collaboration among pathologists.
The MacLeods’ gift is part of the Foundation’s Clear Path Forward Campaign, focused on advancing diagnostic imaging and pathology at the CBRH, ensuring patients have timely access to accurate diagnoses, clear treatment plans, and the best possible care, here at home.
“This is what transformational philanthropy looks like,” says Paula MacNeil, CEO, Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation. “Stuart and Nonie’s gift is giving our Island’s health care experts the tools they need to provide the best possible care, right here, at home. This gift is an investment in clarity, confidence, care, and community. On behalf of our Board of Directors and our entire community, we thank Stuart and Nonie for believing in what is possible and for choosing to make such a profound investment in the future of health care in Cape Breton.”