Tom Murdoch needs no convincing that the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax saved his life. The retired former food industry executive had watched the key protein numbers from his prostate rise dramatically before his physician suggested they consult with medical experts at Nova Scotia’s leading research hub and academic hospital.

“I had a total of 20 treatments each lasting an average of 30 or 35 minutes over a month-long period,” he says of the Varian Ethos, AI-enhanced radiation therapy machine, the first in Canada purchased for $8.5 million through funds raised by the philanthropic QEII Foundation. “My numbers came down to where they are now very, very low. It’s a true technological success story.”

But, more than that, he says the attention he received from the doctors and nurses helped him help them restore his health. “It really was quite extraordinary,” he says now, nearly a year after his treatment. “It was watching those dedicated professionals commit themselves to me that sparked me to become a fully engaged member of the team on my own case.”

That, says QEII Foundation CEO Susan Mullin, is exactly what it’s all about—innovation and personal care that has made the hospital “Nova Scotia’s leading health centre of excellence” with specialized services in cancer care, heart health, organ transplantation, neurosurgery, robotics surgery and ophthalmology, among many other life-changing and life-saving areas.

And supporting it all is the QEII Foundation, itself—just designated as one of Atlantic Canada’s Best Places to Work—whose “secret sauce” in the way its approximately 40 employees operate, Mullin says, helps fulfill its values of “leading with heart, taking integrity to the next level and embracing boldness… Being named a ‘Best Place to Work’ is truly a reflection of every team member here and their contribution each day. We win and grow as a team. We celebrate the moments as a team because when all else is stripped away, health matters most.”

It’s been that way since 1996, when the Foundation launched on its mission to advance health by raising the money needed for breakthrough science and patient care. Today, raising on average, $20 million annually, for exquisite expertise and transformative technologies, like the Varian Ethos machine, the Foundation is a philanthropic leader who cares deeply about the health of the community and the health of its team members.

“It makes us want to get up in the morning, and get to work,” says Catherine Green, the Foundation’s executive assistant for philanthropy. “We keep a bell in the office that gets rung whenever there’s good news. Staff also meet every two weeks, where we have ‘mission moments of kudos’ to hear, for example, news from a grateful patient… At the end of the day, there is that cohesion of everyone knowing why we’re here and that what we’re supporting means something vital.”

The work Mullin says, is far from over. “We are on the move from intentional to authentic equity, diversity and inclusion, as we uphold the values of collaboration and inclusivity in all that we do. Whether through career development or innovative work approaches, we’re on it.”

All of which feeds back into daily effort to make experiences like Tom Murdoch’s—enriched by the latest, most effective technologies, expertise, and patient care—possible.

“The special part,” says Mullin, “is that everyone in the community can be part of the QEII Foundation by donating to support health care. Every donor matters and we are truly grateful for the support.”