Thanks to the generosity of Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation donors—including the John and Judy Bragg Innovation Fund through the River Philip Foundation, dedicated to advancing orthopedic innovation, and longtime champion Fred Smithers through the Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care—seven more patients have taken an important step toward renewed movement and independence. On December 19, the Dartmouth General Hospital orthopedic team achieved a record-breaking milestone, completing seven hip replacement surgeries in a single operating room in one day.
For the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, this achievement reflects what is possible when philanthropy and clinical excellence work hand in hand. Donor investment in innovation, equipment, and specialized care at the Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care has helped create an environment where teams can continuously push the boundaries of what is possible for patients.
Innovation and collaboration have long been hallmarks of care at Dartmouth General Hospital. The Fred Smithers Centre for Orthopedic Care was the first in Nova Scotia to offer partial knee replacements and total joint replacement surgeries on an outpatient basis, completed the province’s first robotics-assisted total hip replacement, and has now set another benchmark—becoming the first orthopedic team in Atlantic Canada, and among the first in Canada, to complete seven hip replacement surgeries in one operating room in a single day.
“This is an exceptional outcome and a clear demonstration of what is possible through thoughtful planning, experience, and teamwork,” said Dr. Scott Mawdsley, surgical site lead at Dartmouth General Hospital.
An experienced surgical team—including orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jhase Sniderman, anesthetist Dr. Brian Norman, skilled surgical nurses, and many others—completed the procedures between 7:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. They were supported by recovery room staff, medical device reprocessing teams, and environmental services staff who ensured instruments were ready and operating room turnover was seamless. This coordinated effort exemplifies the high-performance culture that exist at Dartmouth General, where the team is all in. Donors help make possible.
The achievement was further supported by the Dartmouth Orthopedic Assessment Clinic and Prehabilitation team, who prepare and optimize patients before surgery and guide them through recovery—another area strengthened through philanthropic investment.
On a typical day, orthopedic surgical teams complete three to five procedures within a block of operating room time. Reaching seven surgeries in one day required not only exceptional clinical coordination, but also the tools, processes, and environment that have been built over time through innovation and donor support.
“A special shout out and thank you to Dr. Sniderman, whose leadership, efficiency, and clinical expertise were central to making this day such a success,” said Mawdsley, who noted that Dartmouth General Hospital often functions as a living lab, allowing teams to trial new concepts, implement operational improvements rapidly, and learn in real time.
“This was a great example of what we can do as a team in Dartmouth. We optimized our resources to deliver safe and efficient care,” said Sniderman.
While increasing surgical volumes and reducing wait times is a provincial priority, this milestone also highlights the unique role Dartmouth General Hospital plays as a centre for innovation—and the critical role that donors have in making that innovation possible.
“We’ve challenged our teams to meet ambitious goals and are proud to see them stepping up time and time again to find new ways to improve access and care,” said Eileen MacGibbon, Central Zone, Vice President of Operations for Nova Scotia Health. “This is the latest in a growing list of achievements that will spark further innovation and more efficient, timely care for the patients who rely on us.”
Across Nova Scotia, surgical wait times are improving, with recent national reporting showing strong performance in hip and knee replacements. At Dartmouth General Hospital, philanthropy has been an essential partner in these gains—supporting investments in people, technology, and new models of care that allow teams to treat more patients, more safely, and more efficiently.
For the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation, moments like this represent more than a record-setting day. They reflect how donor generosity directly translates into shorter waits, faster recoveries, and better outcomes for patients across our community—helping more people get back to moving, living, and thriving.
