Newsroom

The Ottawa Hospital launches Canada’s first Medical 3D Printing Program


February 3, 2017



The Ottawa Hospital is pleased to announce the launch of the first hospital based, multi-departmental Medical 3D Printing Program in Canada. This program will improve surgical planning and enhance education and research in collaboration with the University of Ottawa.

The 3D printing program will allow doctors to produce models for the planning and practice of complex surgeries, develop prosthetics for patients, and create new research opportunities. This places the hospital’s Medical Imaging Department at the forefront of international developments in radiology and moves The Ottawa Hospital closer to becoming one of North America’s top hospitals.

“3D modelling will allow surgeons to create detailed anatomical plans in advance of the patient arriving in the operating room,” says Dr. Frank Rybicki, Chief of Medical Imaging at The Ottawa Hospital and Chair of Radiology at the University of Ottawa. “This is about personalized medicine that reduces the need for invasive surgeries, lengthy anesthetics and ultimately improves outcomes at a reduced cost.”

Having this technology in-house will improve patient care and provide new ways to meet the medical needs of those who visit The Ottawa Hospital. It provides new opportunities for research and treatment, and will reduce operating times, resulting in better patient outcomes with fewer complications during surgery.

“This is an important and exciting step as we move forward with our vision of providing 21st-century care for the people of eastern Ontario,” says Dr. Jack Kitts, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital. “Our 3D Medical Printing Program opens the door to many exciting and innovative research opportunities, but most importantly it will improve the care we provide for our patients.”

The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion


The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.

University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas


The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca

For further information, please contact



Stephen Chang-Fong
Communications Coordinator
The Ottawa Hospital
Email: schangfong@toh.ca
Tel.: 613-798-5555 x71642