November 15, 2019

Today we celebrated the official naming and grand re-opening of the Jack & Jean Marchese Dialysis Unit at the Charlton Campus. This 16-month project has been a true labour of love and a demonstration of what can be accomplished when we all work together.

Mr. Marchese and his family (right), with Melissa Farrell, President, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Rick Badzioch, Vice-President, of Kidney Urinary Services, Ambulatory Program, Diagnostic Imaging & Laboratory Services (left).

This bright and spacious new unit was designed with input from the patients and families St. Joe’s serves, our team of physicians, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, learners and researchers, our volunteers and our community. It’s so much more than just a renovated space—the new unit improves patient flow, offers more natural light, protects the privacy and dignity of our patients, and provides our staff with quiet spaces to work, learn, grow and most importantly, to care for our patients.

We want to thank Jack and Jean Marchese, whose names this Unit now bears, and their remarkable leadership gift of $1 million to this project. In total, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Foundation helped to raise and allocate $2.5 million for the Unit’s renovation—none of which would have been possible without our community of grateful patients, donors and friends.

Jack Marchese (right), unveiling the naming wall at the newly redeveloped Jack & Jean Marchese Dialysis Unit with Melissa Farrell, President, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Rick Badzioch, Vice-President, of Kidney Urinary Services, Ambulatory Program, Diagnostic Imaging & Laboratory Services (left).

Special thanks also goes to our Hospital’s remarkable redevelopment team and especially Jamie Wraight and MaryAnn Breitigam for their help in making this space as functional as it is beautiful.

Perhaps it is fitting that the grand re-opening of the Jack & Jean Marchese Dialysis Unit took place on November 15, because it’s also National Philanthropy Day. This is a special day established by the Association of Fundraising Professionals to recognize and honour the great contributions that philanthropy has made to our lives, our communities, and our Hospital.

Renovations and changes to the Hospital’s physical space are one of the most visible ways we see the community’s generosity come to life.

Let us share with you how this remarkable $1 million donation came to be.  The hemodialysis program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton provides over 75,000 treatments annually across four locations. The Dialysis Unit at the Charlton Campus is by far the busiest, receiving more than 37,500 patient visits each year. Patients and families often spend 3-4 days per week for four hours at a time in the dialysis area, and while some upgrades had been made over the years, the unit was quite dated.

Treatment bays at the redeveloped dialysis unit.

This was something Mr. Jack Marchese, a long-time Hamiltonian and founder of Marchese Pharmacy, noticed as he was walking through the Hospital one day. For Mr. Marchese, St. Joseph’s has always been his hospital. His late wife Jean received care at St. Joe’s as have many members of his family.

Having worked in the healthcare industry while also spending time inside several departments at St. Joe’s, Mr. Marchese knew that a donation to the Hospital could transform the Dialysis Unit and make a tremendous difference in the lives of tens of of thousands of patients.

Today, new spacious treatment bays, enhanced waiting rooms for friends and family members, space for research and education as well as updated nursing stations are doing just that..

“When I see the changes that have been made to the Dialysis Unit…the difference it is making for those who are in it every day—patients, families, and staff—I feel happy. I’m pleased to have been a part of making those renovations possible, and I know that Jean would have felt the same way. Our philanthropy has been well-placed at St. Joe’s.” says Mr. Marchese.

Jack Marchese, pictured with his late wife, Jean.