Tell us a little about yourself!

“Every donation and gift to Humber makes possible life-changing impacts that will be felt by patients and families like mine for years to come. It’s these outcomes that drive me,” says Fausto.

My name is Fausto Gaudio, and I am the president and CEO of IC Savings, a community credit union. I am also a long-time member of the Humber River Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, and chaired the Hospital’s Capital Campaign Cabinet that brought in $81 million dollars from individual and corporate donors. Following a brief break, I returned this spring to the Board, and I now chair its Development Council.

What makes you passionate about Humber River Hospital?

Humber is where my children were born and where my elderly parents received care over the years. As an integral part of the health system in the GTA’s northwest, Humber delivers exceptional programs and services day in, day out, for the benefit of about 850,000 individuals who live in surrounding neighbourhoods that are among the most diverse in our region and province. Every donation and gift to Humber makes possible life-changing impacts that will be felt by patients and families like mine for years to come. It’s these outcomes that drive me.

Is there a Program of Care that you are particularly passionate about or that you have a personal connection to?

It doesn’t seem long ago that our credit union announced a pledge of one million dollars to the Hospital’s capital campaign, in 2012. It was an especially proud moment for all of us at IC Savings, and I am grateful that we could support a world-class Hospital, with its impressive programs, in this way. On a more personal note, since seniors care is an area that has always been important to me, I am closely following the construction of the new 320-bed long-term care home at Humber’s Finch legacy site. While both my parents have since passed on, this is the type of modern care centre that our seniors need and deserve if they can no longer live at home. I am also among the founding members of the Calabrian Benevolent Association of Ontario. We came together several years ago to make a $500,000 donation to the Hospital’s state-of-the-art cardiology clinic. That was a proud moment for me and these donors. We knew that with this support Humber could do more for its patients.

In your opinion, what are the most interesting ways technology is being used at Humber?

The Command Centre is a highly advanced ‘mission control’ situated at the very heart of Humber River Hospital. It enables the Hospital to monitor and manage the flow of our patients at every stage of their care journey with Humber.

Humber is on a clear path to revolutionizing health care in our community and, as a teaching hospital, across our country. A few years ago, the hospital purchased the patented Cysview and Blue Light Cystoscopy equipment for its urology department. At the time, Humber was the first hospital in Canada to acquire this innovative technology, which was made possible by a gala fundraiser, the Community Builders Tribute, that I co-chaired. One million dollars was raised that night. This innovative technology assists surgeons in diagnosing and managing non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. My Dad – even at 90 years of age – was an ideal candidate for this procedure. In his case, a tumour that covered more than a third of his bladder was skillfully removed by urologist Dr. Jack Barkin. Thanks to Dr. Barkin, my Dad lived another eight years.

That is just one of the many examples of how technology can advance and improve the quality of care that patients like my Dad receive at Humber. There are so many more. Whether it’s the da Vinci Surgical Robot, the pharmacy’s cutting-edge PillPick or the Hospital’s Command Centre, another Canadian first, technology is an essential tool that has enabled everyone at Humber to deliver the best possible care to patients. But acquiring technology requires dollars and it’s my hope that these examples will help people see how technology has advanced care for patients.

Do you have a favourite fundraising project?

“Anyone can make a Gift of Gratitude in honour of someone who works at Humber, and the simple act of acknowledging the good we see around us and appreciating those who work to create these outcomes is important,” says Fausto.

As a volunteer who has had the fortune of speaking with health care workers about the critical work they do, I would highlight Gifts of Gratitude. Anyone can make a Gift of Gratitude in honour of someone who works at Humber, and the simple act of acknowledging the good we see around us and appreciating those who work to create these outcomes is important.

What inspires you?

If the past 18 months have taught us anything, it’s that when we pull together, we can do immense good. Despite it being a difficult time for many, there have been many stories of hope and resilience that have inspired me. From skilled health care teams to essential frontline workers, including the team at our credit union, people pulled together and relied on one another for support. Businesses pivoted, people adapted, neighbourhoods worked. It gives me much hope for the future.