The following is a message from Nicole Robson, President and CEO of Surrey Hospitals Foundation:
Whether you’re a donor or supporter; a community member; a hospital staff; or someone who has simply visited our office; you’ve probably had a warm encounter with our Chief Operating Officer, Azra Hussain.
After 15 transformational years with the Foundation, Azra Hussain has announced that she will be moving on from Surrey Hospitals Foundation (SHF) to embark on a new chapter in her career. Azra’s journey with SHF began in 2009 when she first joined as Financial Controller. Quickly growing within the organization, three years later, she became Director of Finance and Operations and for the last 8 years, Azra has faithfully worked on the senior leadership team as our Chief Operating Officer, helping to improve the healthcare system for those south of the Fraser. Over the past few months, I have witnessed first-hand the passion and heart that Azra puts into the community, her work, and volunteering.
Working alongside the Surrey Hospitals Foundation senior leadership team with Jane Adams, President & CEO and Don Hickling, VP Leadership Giving, Azra has helped change the trajectory of healthcare in Surrey and redefine what it means for patients to receive excellent care close to home.
Some of Azra’s favourite moments of impact driven by the Foundation and our donors include:
- The opening of the Jim Pattison Outpatient Care and Surgery Centre
- The opening of Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Critical Care Tower
- Supporting the RED FM Radiothon over the years – last year’s Radiothon raised over $1 million for Cardiac Care in a single day!
- Seeing the McElhanney playground come to fruition at Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Children’s Health Centre
- The gifting of Czorny Alzheimer Centre to SHF; this was SHF’s largest donation yet
- Helping support Surrey Hospitals Foundation’s very first Mini Med School, a free event to engage local youth with some of Surrey’s top health care professionals
- Seeing the community support healthcare workers with equipment purchases and coordinating the meal program during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic through the foundation.
- Seeing the successful evolution of SHF’s annual summer fundraiser, Champion of the Crescent
- The Growth of the Surrey Hospitals Foundation annual Celebration of Care Gala becoming one of the most recognized events in our community funding Surrey Memorial Hospital’s health campus most critical needs.
Azra has worked tirelessly to serve the community through her efforts at the Foundation as well as her volunteer work for Surrey Board of Trade, Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP Greater Vancouver Chapter), Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), and more. Her deep and profound connection for the community is evident.
Though this is the closing of a chapter, the Surrey Hospitals Foundation Team and Board of Directors are grateful for her contribution, leadership, kindness, and all that she has done to help make the delivery of healthcare better for the many families and individuals in Surrey and beyond.
Azra, we thank you for leaving a legacy of impact for our community through your work at the Foundation and wish you all the best in this next chapter.
