Together, We Can Revolutionize Women’s Health
Last year, 27,371 women shared their experiences through the IWK Foundation’s landmark women’s health survey, The Voices of Maritime Women: The Unspoken Burden of Women’s Health—the largest open survey of women’s health in Canada.
The findings inspired the launch of a movement— Women’s Health Equity Now (WHEN™)—which aims to create awareness of the burden and bias women face when it comes to their health care, to raise funds for research, equipment, and care, and to support advocacy to change the systemic bias.
The IWK Foundation also partnered with Deloitte Canada to co-publish a national paper, The Case for Advancing Women’s Health in Canada, which included a call to action for the federal government to create a National Women’s Health Strategy. Both the report and survey were cited in proposed legislation for a National Framework for Women’s Health, Bill S-243.
Together, these efforts are helping women’s voices to be heard, their health needs to be prioritized, and meaningful change to be made for generations to come.
To learn more, visit iwkfoundation.org/women
A New Option— A Life-Changing Difference
Hana, IWK patient
For years, uterine fibroids turned everyday life into a constant challenge for Hana. Heavy bleeding, pain, and exhaustion made it difficult to work, care for family, and participate in the moments that mattered most. Like many women living with fibroids (noncancerous growths), the condition had a profound impact on Hana’s quality of life.
Because of generous donors like you, IWK Health now offers Acessa® Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation. This innovative, minimally invasive technology provides a new treatment option for women with fibroids while preserving the uterus.
After months of debilitating bleeding caused by fibroids, Hana’s life had been turned upside down. She experienced extreme fatigue, required a blood transfusion, and tried multiple treatments that provided little to no relief. A hysterectomy seemed like the only remaining option, but she wasn’t ready to take that step.
With this new technology available at IWK Health, Hana was able to receive a procedure that treated her fibroids while allowing her to preserve her uterus.
“The difference has been incredible—I can live my life without my period controlling it,” says Hana. “I can go to work, care for my family, and make plans without wondering if I’ll have to cancel. After everything I’ve been through, that freedom feels extraordinary.”
Because of your generosity, women like Hana have access to a less invasive treatment option that wasn’t available before. By bringing this new technology to IWK Health, you helped drive new and improved possibilities for women’s health care across the region.
(L-R): Myriam Lapointe, Dr. David Rittenberg, Brae Greencorn, Megan LeLoup (Photo by Ryan Wilson, IWK)
Cerene Cryoablation:
A Canadian First
IWK Health has become the first site in Canada to perform Cerene cryoablation therapy. This revolutionary new approach uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy the endometrial lining of the uterus, reducing heavy menstrual bleeding and pain.
Each Cerene procedure takes less than five minutes, requires minimal pain management, and can be done in an outpatient setting. Patients benefit from quicker treatments, faster recovery, and a return to normal daily activities as soon as the next day.
“Cerene cryoablation allows IWK Health to offer the most up-to-date technologies in women’s health,” says Dr. David Rittenberg, Ambulatory Lead of Gynecology, IWK Health, “and aligns with our goal of being a leader in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.”
Innovations like the Cerene cryoablation, in addition to donor-funded specialized equipment, are having a dramatic impact on gynecological care. For example, the Gynecology Ambulatory Procedure Room’s capacity increased from under 300 procedures in 2024 to over 655 in 2025. More than doubling the number of patients receiving ambulatory treatments helps free up operating room resources, reduce wait times, and improve access to care.
DID YOU KNOW?
The IWK was the first hospital in Canada to introduce the Adult Comfort Promise Toolkit. It empowers women to choose pain management options that best meet their physical, emotional, and cultural needs, and aims for every woman to feel heard, supported, and respected throughout their care experience.
Improving Women+ Health Through
Patient-Centred Research
Dr. Margaret Oulton and Dr. Justine Dol
Dr. Justine Dol, the inaugural Dr. Margaret Oulton Accelerate Chair in Women+ Health Research, is leading innovative research projects that aim to improve women+ health.
One project is the Maritime Women+ Health Priority Setting Partnership, which asks women+ to identify the region’s most important women+ health research priorities.
“The IWK Foundation’s Voices of Maritime Women survey found gaps in women+ health care—our goal is to turn those gaps into research questions and address them in a scientifically rigorous way,” says Dr. Dol. “That means future studies, and ultimately future health-care innovations, will be driven by the questions that matter most to the people we’re trying to serve.”
To learn more about Dr. Dol and the Dr. Margaret Oulton Accelerate Chair in Women+ Health Research, visit iwkfoundation.org/future/womens-health/research
The Fifth Wave Podcast returns in September 2026 with Season 3. Created to educate and open minds, The Fifth Wave invites experts from around the world to share insights on a range of women’s health topics. Hosted by Avis Favaro, the podcast struck a chord with listeners, who made it among the top 25% of podcasts worldwide.
Listen on iwkfoundation.org/thefifthwave or anywhere you listen to podcasts.