Dauphin Hospital Foundation supports DRHC staff to enhance their skills
With an added focus on recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals across the Province, the Dauphin Hospital Foundation has worked hard over the past few years to enhance a staff education fund that can be accessed by Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC) employees. The Delha Cort Educational Trust is an endowment fund that is administered by the Board of Directors of the Dauphin Hospital Foundation. The fund remains invested, with the interest gained available to be distributed to successful applicants for the advancement of their education and skills.
The fund was established for the Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC) in the 1990s. The bequest was left by a lifetime resident of Dauphin, Irene Delha Cort, who passed away in 1990 but wished to leave a gift primarily to benefit hospital staff education and skills development in the future. The fund’s interest, which accumulates annually, is used to support education requests that meet established and defined criteria.
Some recent successful program applicants include Erin Forsyth, Janelle McIvor and Paige Pogany.
“Thanks to the Delha Cort educational fund, I was able to complete online courses specializing in Asthma and COPD,” Forsyth stated. “These courses were essential for the type of respiratory testing and education we provide to our community clients in the Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region. I am now a Certified Respiratory Educator and feel better equipped to provide quality care and up-to-date education to the people in our community and surrounding area.”
After working as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at the Dauphin Hospital for the past 15 years, McIvor decided to return to nursing school to further her education and take the next step in her career path.
“While my years of experience provided me with a strong foundation, I knew that expanding my skill set and deepening my knowledge would allow me to deliver even better patient care and open new doors of opportunity. Returning to school after so many years was both exciting and challenging, but it is a choice I made with purpose and determination,” she said.
McIvor says her dream has always been to earn her Bachelor of Nursing degree and specialize in pediatric and trauma nursing. “I want to feel fully confident in caring for the younger population, especially in high-stress, emergency situations where skilled and compassionate care can make all the difference.”
McIvor says one of the biggest hurdles in pursuing this dream was the financial strain of relocating and returning to school full-time.
“Thanks to a generous monetary grant from the Dauphin Hospital Foundation, I was able to ease that burden and make the move to attend Brandon University to complete my two years of bridging education,” she stated. “Not only has the support helped cover essential expenses, but it’s also provided peace of mind, allowing me to focus entirely on my studies and clinical training.
“I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and the community behind it, and I am committed to using this education to give back, especially to my patients in the Emergency Department during their critical moments,” McIvor stated.
Pogany’s health care journey started in 2021 when she graduated with her Health Care Aide certification from ACC Parkland campus in Dauphin. Since then, she has advanced her education as she works towards future goals.
Operating Room Assistant
“I’ve recently started my LPN nursing journey at Parkland Campus. The LPN program is approximately two years long and is a full-time course. In 2023, while working at the DRHC, I took additional courses through Prairie Mountain Health to become an Operating Room (OR) assistant. Working in this position allowed me more time to perform hands-on tasks, learn about the surgical equipment used on a daily basis, and provided me with more opportunities to understand how the OR functions and flows. Upon completion of my course, I hope to return to the OR where my interest and passion have grown,” Pogany stated.
Pogany adds that having the financial support through the Delha Cort initiative and the Dauphin Hospital Foundation has made the transition from working life to student life much more manageable.
“Being back in the classroom comes with a lot of new expenses, so this assistance was greatly appreciated,” she said.
More information on the Delha Cort Education Fund, including the application form, eligibility requirements, and reference requirements, can be found on the Foundation website at dghf.ca under the “About Us” section. DRHC staff should contact their supervisor to see how the fund may fit with their future professional development or career plans.
