$10 Million Gift to Expand Orthopaedic Care at Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. David Backstein

One in five Canadians suffer from long-term pain and disability as a result of musculoskeletal disorders and that number is rising as a result of an aging population.  Thanks to an extraordinary $10 million gift by Toronto philanthropists Ira Gluskin and Maxine Granovsky, more Canadians will benefit from improved access to complex reconstructive orthopaedic surgeries, such as hip and knee replacement, as well as leading-edge research that will help Mount Sinai Hospital develop innovative treatments to better serve its patients. 

The newly named Granovsky Gluskin Division of Orthopaedics will help transform the area of orthopaedics at Mount Sinai that focuses on corrective bone and joint procedures resulting from arthritis, rheumatologic conditions, chronic or congenital bone conditions, cartilage damage and past or recent trauma. 

The philanthropic gift will also fund a purpose-designed orthopaedic surgical suite to be built as part of Mount Sinai’s capital redevelopment project.  The $500 million Campaign to Renew Sinai, the largest campaign in the hospital’s history, will fund the transformation of the hospital’s facilities and growth of many of its internationally-recognized clinical and research programs.

Under the leadership of Dr. David Backstein, Division Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai’s arthroplasty surgeons see some of the most complex cases in Ontario. To a great extent,  Mount Sinai is Canada’s leader in joint revision joint replacement surgery ― which are repeat surgeries to correct prior procedures or replace failed implants.  Approximately 50% of the 700 hip and knee replacements performed at Mount Sinai Hospital are revisions, accounting for a large proportion of revision procedures in Ontario.

Quotes:

“Throughout our lives, we have been inspired by those who are committed to living vibrant, meaningful and fulfilling lives. We know the exceptional orthopaedic care at Mount Sinai is enabling a better quality of life for so many.  Our hope is that, through this gift, more people will live their lives more fully”.  Ira Gluskin and Maxine Granovsky, Philanthropists. 

“This incredible gift will have immediate impact on the care that we are able to offer our patients. It will enable us to offer our patients the most leading-edge equipment, facilities and innovation available to them”. Dr. David Backstein, Division Head of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital.

“Offering patients a better quality of life is something that we strive for every single day and this gift will allow the Hospital’s outstanding clinical leadership in orthopaedics to truly transform patient care”. Joseph Mapa, President and CEO, Mount Sinai Hospital. 

“Ira Gluskin has been an outstanding volunteer, board member and philanthropic leader for Mount Sinai. I am deeply grateful for Maxine and Ira’s continued vision, generosity and commitment to bringing our Hospital from strength to strength”.  Jay Hennick, Chair, Mount Sinai Hospital Board of Directors.

“This extraordinary gift brings us one step closer to realizing the completion of the largest transformation in Mount Sinai’s history. We are so grateful that Ira and Maxine will be counted among our Renew Sinai luminaries.” Brent Belzberg, Chairman, Mount Sinai Hospital Foundation Management Board & Governing Council