Children's Hospital Foundation donates $2M for pediatric research in Sask.

A $2-million donation is funding new pediatric research at the University of Saskatchewan.

The Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation announced the donation to the U of S college of medicine at a media event Wednesday afternoon.

Dr. Terry Klassen is a pediatric emergency medicine specialist and is in charge of the fund. He is also the new provincial pediatric department head, a joint position between the Saskatchewan Health Authority and the university's college of medicine.

Klassen said the fund will help recruit doctors specializing in children's medicine.

"Many of the brightest and the best sub-specialists want to work in a place where they can continue to do the cutting-edge research, to be among the best," Klassen said.

"So I really think we will see that change [in Saskatchewan] and see a lot of development in the coming months and years."

The pediatric research fund could lead to new medical discoveries while also helping children who are sick now.

Klassen said that while children in the province currently participate in medical trials, the new fund will open up more ways for children to get treatment. This could mean accessing federal grants previously out of reach because of a lack of resources in Saskatchewan.

"Because we have this donation, we can now be a player in that national grant and we can ensure Saskatchewan can enter into the trials and other things and have access to these treatments," Klassen said.

The donation is a five-year commitment. Foundation president and CEO Brynn Boback-Lane said this is the first donation to the university's college of medicine and that it can expect more partnerships like this in the future.

"Research is fundamental to advances in human society. Research must direct or indirectly address real everyday issues," Boback-Lane said. "Addressing early life diseases and adverse childhood medical needs has long term benefits, for the child, for their family, and for the community."

Specialist shortage

Wednesday's announcement came slightly more than a year after Saskatchewan's only pediatric gastroenterologist closed their practice.

It also came in the same month that the provincial Ministry of Health announced it would provide financial assistance for children and their families who need to travel outside the province for necessary medical procedures.

The ministry announced the change after a Saskatoon family travelled to the legislature asking for help, as their son has to travel to Toronto for treatment now that there are no longer any pediatric gastroenterologists in Saskatchewan.