Stollery critical care doctor recognized with national Impact Award
Dr. Allan de Caen and his team at the Stollery have spent many years establishing and enhancing a program to address critical health-care needs of kids in rural Alberta and beyond. For his work, Dr. de Caen received the Canadian Hospital Impact Award at this year’s Children’s Hospitals Week.
Dr. Allan de Caen, a visionary in pediatric critical care, has dedicated more than 30 years to advancing life-saving transport medicine at the Stollery Children’s Hospital. As the Medical Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU) Transport Team at the Stollery, Dr. de Caen recognized a crucial need more than three decades ago: specialized care for critically ill children — before they even reach the Hospital.
Thanks to Dr. de Caen and his team’s leadership, the Stollery has built a PICU transport team that serves one of the largest catchment areas in the world, covering more than 500,000 square kilometers.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the Stollery Transport Team is comprised of medical experts including respiratory therapists, registered nurses and physicians. Every year, their team transports up to 400 critically ill children, operating 24/7 by air and ground with some patients coming from nearly 2,000 kilometers away.
And Dr. de Caen’s work doesn’t stop there—he has also led initiatives like the Pediatric Rapid Response and Outreach Teams, ensuring expert care reaches children no matter where they are.
Through education, research and advocacy, Dr. de Caen’s impact extends far beyond the Stollery Children’s Hospital’s four walls, improving outcomes for thousands of children in rural and remote communities.
Foundation funds, including funds raised by our national partners with the Children’s Miracle Network and Canada’s Children’s Hospitals Foundation, directly support the Stollery Transport Team and the work done by Dr. de Caen. This funding has not only facilitated the creation of the team itself but has also allowed for innovation that results in better care for patients living beyond the metropolitan area.
During this year’s Children’s Hospital Week, Dr. Allan de Caen was recognized as the Canadian Hospital Impact Award winner. Congratulations to Dr. de Caen and his team for making a life-changing difference for kids from backyards across Alberta and beyond – and for bringing a spotlight to the incredible and innovative work being done at the Stollery.
