Originally published in the Maritime EDIT, Volume 35, Winter 2025–2026.
Written by James Mullinger.

Bringing the Future of Surgery home.

At the Saint John Regional Hospital, excellence in care begins with people — the surgeons, nurses, technologists, and specialists dedicated to the health and well-being of New Brunswickers. Every day, they perform some of the most advanced cardiac and spinal procedures in Atlantic Canada, caring for patients from across the province and beyond.

As New Brunswick’s largest tertiary care centre and only Level 1 Trauma Centre, the Saint John Regional Hospital serves 170,000 residents in southern New Brunswick and acts as a referral hub for more than one million people across New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. It is a place where skill meets compassion — and where innovation has a direct impact on thousands of families each year.

A New Era in Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac surgery is one of the most complex and high-stakes areas of medicine — but at the New Brunswick Heart Centre, it’s also one of the most collaborative.

Dr. Jean-François Légaré, who now leads the province’s Cardiac Care program, has been a driving force behind the next evolution of heart care in New Brunswick: a cardiac-enabled Hybrid Operating Room — the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. This state-of-the-art space will combine advanced real-time imaging with surgical precision, enabling procedures that are safer, less invasive, and more effective.

“Our healthcare professionals are among the best in the country,” says Dr. Légaré. “But we are the only major cardiac centre in Canada without a Hybrid Operating Room. This technology represents the new standard of care — one that allows us to perform complex procedures with greater safety and precision, and get patients home faster.”

Dr. Christopher White, Cardiovascular Surgeon at the New Brunswick Heart Centre, shares that vision. Having recently stepped into a leadership role, he’s seen firsthand how innovation and teamwork can transform outcomes across the province.

“The cardiac surgery program in New Brunswick is unique in that, despite being a small place, we really provide all the advanced cardiac surgical procedures available in any other major centre in the country,” says Dr. White. “Having a Hybrid Operating Room in Saint John would make ours the only one in the province that provides cardiac care — allowing us to continue evolving and maintaining the high quality of care New Brunswickers have come to expect.”

He also sees this investment as key to recruiting and retaining the next generation of specialists.

“Cardiac surgery has evolved rapidly, and improving technologies is an imperative part of that,” he explains. “As we look to recruit new surgeons trained in these new techniques, we need to have the infrastructure to support them.”

Innovation in Spine Care

Across the hospital, spinal surgeons are also preparing for a new era of innovation.

Dr. Chris Small, Orthopaedic Surgeon and Principal Investigator at the Canada East Spine Centre, joined the Saint John Regional Hospital from Newfoundland — drawn by the hospital’s collaborative spirit and by the promise of what donor support could make possible.

“I came to Saint John because of the team that has been built here,” says Dr. Small. “There’s a genuine culture of collaboration at SJRH — surgeons, nurses, researchers, and donors all working toward the same goal: better outcomes for patients right here at home.”

Dr. Small’s vision extends beyond today’s operating rooms. He is helping to lead the introduction of robotic spinal surgery — one of the first programs of its kind in Canada. This technology enables millimetre-level accuracy through 3-D planning and real-time navigation, enhancing safety and precision in every procedure.

“When talented young surgeons see the technology, support, and vision we have here, they want to be part of it,” he explains. “Programs like spinal robotics don’t just improve patient care — they attract the next generation of surgical innovators.”

He believes this investment will not only transform outcomes but secure the future of spine care in the region.

“With advanced robotics, we can offer more precise surgeries, which means less risk, better outcomes, and faster recoveries,” says Dr. Small. “To retain and recruit the very best people, you need the best technology.”

Dr. Najmedden Attabib, Spine Neurosurgeon and educator, sees this advancement as part of a larger mission — to ensure New Brunswickers have access to world-class care close to home.

“When I came to Saint John, I realized this was a small place doing big things,” says Dr. Attabib. “Every advancement we have made — from navigation to endoscopic surgery — has been possible because of donor support. The generosity of this community is the reason New Brunswickers do not have to leave the province for world-class spine care.”

Dr. Attabib, who performed the first endoscopic spinal surgery in Canada, adds that donors aren’t just funding equipment — they’re funding hope.

“Every surgery we do changes someone’s life — someone’s parent, sibling, or child,” he says. “That’s why we do what we do.”

A Shared Future

The combined spirit of innovation across cardiac and spinal care is at the heart of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation’s $10.5 million Campaign for Surgical Excellence. This initiative will support advanced surgical technology, strengthened facilities, and the recruitment of top surgical talent.

It’s an investment in people — because people are the heart of exceptional care.

As the province’s population grows and demand for care increases, these physician champions are working together to ensure New Brunswick’s health-care system is ready — not just for today, but for decades to come. The Campaign for Surgical Excellence is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the future of cardiac and spinal care and to support the people who make it possible.

Because every surgery is someone’s tomorrow.