Well Foundation’s inaugural Fireside Chat: Innovations in Healthcare brought together supporters, clinicians, community leaders and healthcare advocates for an evening celebrating the people and ideas helping shape the future of care across North Shore and Waitākere Hospitals.
Hosted at The B:Hive, Smales Farm, the event gave guests a rare opportunity to hear directly from clinicians about innovations in medical training, breast cancer surgery, infusion services and ultrasound guided care, and the difference these advances can make for patients and families.
The evening featured Dr Eva Fong, Dr Katherine Gale and Dr Tom Sapsford, alongside a facilitated discussion with Dr Laura Chapman, Dr Richard Webster and Dr Anneke Cummack.
From mixed reality technology helping clinicians develop new skills, to more precise breast cancer surgery, plans for a new regional infusion service and ultrasound guided cannulation training, each presentation offered a glimpse into the work happening behind the scenes in our hospitals to improve care.
MC David Downs facilitating a Q&A with Dr Katherine Gale, Dr Laura Chapman, Dr Richard Webster, Dr Anneke Cummack, Dr Eva Fong and Dr Tom Sapsford.
Helping innovation move further and faster
A common thread throughout the evening was the role philanthropy can play in helping clinicians turn good ideas into better care.
The projects featured at the event are all areas where Well Foundation has provided, or will provide, philanthropic funding support.
This includes investment in innovative technology, clinical training, specialist equipment and new approaches to care that can help improve both patient outcomes and experiences.
While public funding provides the foundation of our health system, philanthropy can give clinical teams opportunities to progress initiatives that may not otherwise be possible, or to make them happen sooner.
That is where Well Foundation and its community of donors, funders and partners can make a very real difference.
Dr Laura Chapman, Dr Richard Webster and Dr Anneke Cummack
Hearing directly from the people delivering care
One of the most positively received aspects of the evening was the opportunity for guests to hear directly from clinicians.
Rather than focusing on the challenges so often associated with healthcare, the Fireside Chat provided a window into the innovation, expertise and ambition that exists within our local hospitals every day.
The clinicians generously shared their knowledge, explained complex areas of medicine in an accessible way and gave guests a clearer understanding of what new technology, training and investment can mean for a patient receiving care.
The evening also created an opportunity for supporters to ask questions and speak directly with clinicians following the formal programme.
The first of more to come
The event marks the beginning of Well Foundation’s Fireside Chat Series, designed to connect our community with the people and projects advancing healthcare across North Shore and Waitākere Hospitals.
Well Foundation would like to thank all of the clinicians who gave their time to participate, our supporters and guests who joined us, and Well Foundation Board Chair David Downs for MCing the evening.
We are also grateful to Harcourts Cooper & Co, principal sponsor of the inaugural event, and our ongoing partner Forsyth Barr for their support.
Following the positive response to the first event, planning is already underway for future Fireside Chats, providing more opportunities to showcase the extraordinary work taking place within our hospitals and connect it with people in our community who want to help make even more possible.
