Barrick Gift Supports Global Outreach by Renowned Neuro-surgeon

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) - October 17, 2011 - Dr. Mark Bernstein, a world-renowned neurosurgeon, will be able to expand his teaching activities in developing countries and in Toronto, thanks to a $5.5 million gift to the Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation made in honor of Barrick’s late CEO Greg Wilkins.

“We are very excited to be able to make such a positive impact in communities that are struggling to care for patients with neurosurgical conditions,” said Dr. Bernstein. “Most people in the world never get access to the people and equipment Greg Wilkins did. They get sick, they suffer and die without medical help. The incredibly generous gift of Vera Wilkins and Barrick Gold will help us decrease some of these global inequities in health care, and enrich the lives of those less fortunate than us.”

Dr. Bernstein is the inaugural holder of a chair named in honor of Greg Wilkins, and will be spearheading a larger program focused on treatment of diseases of the brain.

Vera Wilkins, Greg’s wife, explains, “Greg and Mark had many conversations about the need to increase resources and knowledge in this highly specialized medical field – especially in poorer countries where the need is enormous. Greg wanted to give back for the excellent care he received at the Toronto Western Hospital and wanted patients less fortunate than him to have a real, fighting chance. Ultimately, it was Peter Munk, Mark and Barrick physician Dr. Bernie Gosevitz who came together to find a way to achieve this vision that was so important to Greg. He would be honored and proud of what is being done here today and what will come out of this in the years to come.”

Dr. Bernstein is passionate about using his surgical skills to help others abroad. About 10 years ago, he began traveling to developing nations to work with local surgical teams. He describes what he does on these visits as “sustainable teaching,” but others may see it as something much larger than that: a literal matter of life or death for patients and the medical staff he trains in new surgical techniques.

Read more at BarrickBeyondBorders.com 

About Barrick

Barrick Gold Corporation is a Toronto-based gold mining company and industry leader, with a portfolio of 26 operating mines, and projects on five continents. Barrick trades on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges and employs 25,000 people worldwide. In 2010, Barrick’s global economic contribution to the local, regional and national economies of its host countries totaled approximately $9.7 billion. The company has been ranked as a world leader in social and environmental responsibility for the fourth consecutive year by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Barrick is also listed on the NASDAQ Global Sustainability Index of the top 100 companies.

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