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National Post

Dilawri Foundation makes historic $60-million donation to VGH, UBC

Article content Four and a half years ago, Ajay Dilawri's father, Ram Dilawri, began experiencing heart troubles. Article content The Dilawris, founders of Dilawri Automotive Group, the largest automotive dealership in Canada, immediately began consulting with experts at leading heart institutes across the U.S. and around the world, most of whom recommended complex open-heart surgery. Article content Article content Article content 'My father was looking for another, less-frightening option,' said Dilawri. Then they heard about Dr. David Wood, head of the division of cardiology at Vancouver General Hospital and the UBC Hospital. Article content 'We heard that if anyone could save my father's life without open heart surgery, it would be him.' Article content Article content The donation, a gift from the Dilawri Automotive Group's charitable foundation, is the largest in VGH and UBC Hospital history, and will fund the new institute, led by Wood. Article content 'Like so many families, ours has been personally touched by heart disease,' said Dilawri. 'It's a cause that hits close to home.' Article content Wood's vision, of a leading cardiovascular institute in Vancouver, was bold. Article content 'Why can't we create the Mayo Clinic of the North right here in Vancouver?' Wood said at Thursday's event. Article content Article content Article content Article content Wood said the institute will have 15 centres that will be ready to treat patients immediately, and will include centres for Indigenous heart health, women's heart health, youth heart health, and core research areas such as a centre for AI, data science and imaging, as well as the centre for cardiovascular innovation. Article content 'We are going to transform how we care for patients. Replacing heart valves on patients, and going home three hours later — using new technologies to treat heart rhythm problems before they become permanent, so you can go on to live a long and healthy life, minimally invasive heart surgery using robots and small incisions,' said Wood.