Community’s First MRI Scanner Arrives at SMGH  

Strathroy, ON – January 9, 2025 – Community’s First MRI Scanner Arrives at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital 

The Middlesex Hospital Alliance (MHA) is excited to announce the arrival of our community’s first MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine at Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH). The MRI was delivered to SMGH by Siemens Healthineers on Monday January 6, 2025.  

“Our teams have been hard at work on the MRI suite here at SMGH over the past year and the delivery of the machine was a very exciting day,” says Julie McBrien, President & CEO of the Middlesex Hospital Alliance and Interim CEO of the SMGH Foundation. “The MRI project is on-time and on-budget, and we are planning for the first patient scans in the MRI to happen in March. An MRI for our community is an example of the MHA delivering on our strategic priority and commitment to “Advance How We Deliver Care”.   

The MHA’s new MRI machine is equipped to produce detailed 3D images, aiding in the diagnosis of health conditions, disease detection, and treatment monitoring. By utilizing a powerful magnet and radio waves, it generates clear visuals of internal organs and structures. This cutting-edge technology provides exceptional image quality, enabling our medical team to deliver precise and accurate diagnoses. 

SMGH was selected by Ontario Health to receive operational funding for the machine back in January 2023, however funding was not allocated for the MRI machine itself, nor the extensive renovations required to house it. 

As such, the SMGH Foundation announced Phase 1 of its largest ever fundraising campaign in July 2024 which was to focus on the equipment and renovations required to complete the MRI suite at SMGH. The overall fundraising goal for this phase is $8,640,000, and thanks to significant leadership donations by Bill and Lynne Gray of Gray Ridge Egg Farms, Marilyn Buttery, CommonWealth Financial, and many others, there remains approximately $3,640,000 left to raise. 

It is not too late to support and be part of this important healthcare advance close to home. There are several ways the community can donate: 

• In-person at the Foundation office Monday – Friday between 9 AM and 4 PM, or use the safe and secure drop box on the Foundation office door after hours 
• Online at www.smghfoundation.com/donate
• By phone at 519-246-5906. 

The Government of Canada has extended the 2024 charitable donation deadline for income tax purposes from December 31, 2024, to February 28, 2025. 

For more information, please contact: