Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation

02/06/2026

With the Winter Olympics underway, we’re cheering on Team Canada while taking a look back at Olympians from our community featured in past issues of Healthy. Together.

Milos Raonic, Michelle Li, Andre De Grasse, and Phylicia George share a special connection to Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital. Not only accomplished athletes, they also support care close to home.

Swipe to see their Healthy. Together. magazine highlights from 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2018.

Go Team Canada! 🥇

02/05/2026

From the moment Arden Warren joined Oak Valley Health's Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH), she knew she had found the right place to practice nursing.

A Registered Nurse and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant with 25 years of experience, Arden works in the outpatient Breastfeeding Clinic, where she supports parents and newborns as they navigate their earliest moments together.

Arden is deeply passionate about women’s and infants’ health. “It’s incredibly powerful to see a parent go from doubt and frustration to confidence and connection,” she shares.

The MSH Heroes program gives patients and families a way to recognize nurses like Arden, whose care makes a lasting difference.

Meet Arden and discover more stories from our 35th anniversary magazine at https://bit.ly/4t14pVh

02/04/2026

Stacy DiPasquale’s life took an unexpected turn when she trusted her instincts and sought answers for a concern she couldn’t ignore.

A busy mom of two, Stacy turned to Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital, where she received an aggressive stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis and quickly found herself surrounded by a care team ready to take action.

As Stacy continues her treatment at The Shakir Rehmatullah Cancer Centre, she is using her voice to encourage early detection and regular screening, especially for those with a family history of breast cancer.

In recognition of World Cancer Day, stories like Stacy’s remind us how access to cancer care and support can make all the difference during life’s most difficult moments.

To learn more about Stacy's journey, visit https://bit.ly/49VNs76 💙

02/03/2026

February is the month of love — and a time to show care and compassion for patients and families at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH). 💙

There’s no shortage of ways to take part, including supporting our Winter 50/50 Raffle, sharing Valentine’s Day bear hugs with patients, and cheering on your team in Game 4 of the Markham Stouffville Cup.

Swipe ⬅️ to see what’s happening this month and how you can get involved.

Full event details are available at https://bit.ly/4drWO9G

01/29/2026

For many patients and families, a friendly face makes all the difference, and Genevieve Payumo is often the first to offer it.

Genevieve joined the Oak Valley Health Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) team in 1998 and worked in nearly every department before settling into her current role as a Unit Secretary in the Transitional Care Unit. For her, meaningful care starts with connection and understanding the patient beyond their diagnosis. “You can’t judge a person by their disease,” Genevieve says. “It’s important to get to know them.”

The MSH Heroes program allows patients and families to recognize staff members like Genevieve, while helping support care across our hospital.

Discover Genevieve’s story and more of the people behind MSH in our 35th anniversary magazine, available at https://bit.ly/4t14pVh

01/28/2026

Congratulations to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation on a successful Telethon and 25 years of impact! Thank you for making a difference in NICUs across Canada and helping support our tiniest patients at Oak Valley Health's Markham Stouffville Hospital.

On our 25th birthday, we are proud to share that we once again broke our Telethon record. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised more than $1 million in support of NICUs across Canada.

Because of you, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation can continue supporting babies born too soon, too small, too sick, or too far, helping ensure they receive the care they need when they need it most. ❤️💙

A huge thank you to our incredible partners TSN Curling, Curling Canada, and Net2phone Canada for helping us achieve this accomplishment on this special milestone.

If you didn’t have a chance to donate yesterday, donations are welcome anytime through: 💻sandraschmirler.org

01/28/2026

We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. John Di Costanzo for more than 35 years of dedicated service to our community.

Dr. Di Costanzo (affectionately known to many as Dr. D) has devoted his distinguished career to countless patients and our hospital’s advancements over the years. Since Oak Valley Health's Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) opened in 1990 he has played a pivotal role in shaping surgical services at our hospital. Admired and trusted by generations of patients, he is known for his clinical expertise, compassion, reassurance, and respect he shows every individual he cares for. His contributions to clinical research have also been recognized with awards from the University of Toronto and McGill University.

The MSH Foundation is proud to call Dr. Di Costanzo an MSH Hero, honoured by grateful patients for his extraordinary commitment to their health and well-being. As he begins this exciting next chapter, our Foundation looks forward to seeing Dr. Di Costanzo in the community and wishes him all the best with the opening of his new clinic in Stouffville.

To celebrate his profound impact at MSH, and the many lives he has touched through his life-saving care, MSH Foundation has established the Dr. John Di Costanzo Legacy Fund in his honour. The Legacy Fund will support our hospital’s priority needs in Surgical Services and help carry forward his vision of exceptional care close to home.

To support Dr. Di Costanzo’s Legacy Fund, visit https://bit.ly/4rbUFpi

01/27/2026

Share the love this Valentine’s Day with Bear Necessities. 🧸

On Thursday, February 12, bear hugs will be delivered throughout Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital to bring comfort and joy to patients and families.

Thanks to the incredible support of our community, every bear is a reminder that our patients are not alone during their care journey. When you purchase a bear, you’re not only brightening someone’s day, you’re also supporting priority needs and equipment at our hospital.

Help make this Valentine’s Day beary special. 💕 To learn more or purchase a bear, visit https://bit.ly/4k16xIf.

01/26/2026

Our community plays an important role in supporting care close to home at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital.

We are grateful to Pris-T-giS Montessori, The Sercan Family and Markham Aquafit Buddies for their generosity and commitment to our hospital. Your contributions help ensure patients and families have access to life-saving equipment and exceptional care when it matters most.

Thank you for making a meaningful difference. 💙

01/23/2026

Meet Anton Manuel Pillai, a Registered Practical Nurse at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) since 2010. Known for arriving early to every shift, Anton makes it a priority to learn about his patients beyond their medical conditions, so he can truly connect with them. “I don’t see them as patients; I see them as people.”

Through the MSH Heroes program, patients and families can honour remarkable staff members like Anton, while helping fund the life-saving resources our hospital teams rely on every day.

Discover Anton’s story and more inspiring MSH Heroes who go above and beyond to provide compassionate, personalized care at our hospital in our 35th anniversary magazine, available at https://bit.ly/4t14pVh

01/22/2026

With heavy hearts, we join our community in honouring Graham Wright, a humble and dedicated philanthropist whose generosity helped strengthen care at Oak Valley Health's Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH).

Graham and his late wife Gale began supporting our hospital in 2010, giving quietly and selflessly with a deep commitment to making a meaningful difference for patients and families. In 2021, their support helped establish the Gale & Graham Wright Breast Health Centre, bringing life-saving care to our community for generations to come.

MSH Foundation extends our sincere condolences to Graham’s family and loved ones. We are deeply grateful to be included in his enduring legacy, shaped by a life of humility and compassion.

01/20/2026

2026 calls for a Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation rewind to 2016. 💙

These moments reflect some of the special people and initiatives that have helped shape our hospital. Nearly a decade later, that same spirit guides our work as we look ahead to the future.

Thank you to everyone who continues to be part of our story and supports care close to home.

Swipe through for a look back at 2016.