Meet the four inspiring women who are building their legacy with the MUHC Foundation

November marks Make a Will Month, a special time to honour those whose generosity creates lasting impact far beyond their own lifetimes. This year, the MUHC Foundation is proudly featuring four inspiring women—Pamela C. Georges, Valerie Josset Aitken, France Mailloux, and Susan Balogh-Miletics—whose legacy gifts are helping shape the future of women’s health care in Quebec.

“Planned giving is about making a meaningful difference that lives beyond us,” Valerie explains. “It’s a way to leave a legacy of hope and innovation that can transform lives.”

While Valerie and Pamela are lifelong friends, all four of these extraordinary women came together through their shared commitment to philanthropy and advancing women’s health. They are leading the Women’s Health Campaign Legacy Fund at the MUHC Foundation—a vital part of the Foundation’s new Forward Fund: For Women’s Health campaign, a $5 million commitment supporting grants for women-centered research, groundbreaking innovation, and equitable access to care.

Valerie’s journey, as a patient with Ovarian Cancer, has shaped her advocacy. She has become a passionate voice for early detection and patient empowerment and made it her personal mission to help women facing this often silent and devastating disease. It’s what led her to partner with the MUHC Foundation, where she serves as a dedicated supporter for women’s health and ambassador for the Foundation’s planned giving program.

“When I was faced with ovarian cancer, my community was a lifeline for me. I called my circle of support my ‘teal sisters,” and they mean so much to me. Now I want to be there for other women going through this challenging health journey,” shares Valerie.

Valerie started giving back during her lifetime by creating the Valerie Josset Aitken Innovation in Women’s Health Award, which supports critical research aimed at catching ovarian cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage—work that means hope for countless women and a future where survival rates rise dramatically. The award will eventually continue as a legacy gift with the support of her family.

“I don’t want the care and impact I can provide to women’s lives to end, once I’m gone. I want it to live on. It brings me joy to know that it will,” says Valerie.

As a retired Director of Nursing at the Jewish General Hospital and a patient herself, Pamela lives with metastatic breast cancer and paralysis. She has a nuanced understanding of the historic challenges women have faced when navigating the health care system. That’s why she is committed to shaping the future of women’s health by creating the Pamela C. Georges Award for Innovation in Women’s Health, to support inclusive medical training and innovations that recognize the full spectrum of women’s health across all life stages.

“Historically, women were left out of medical research—there was an assumption that what works one way in men, would work the exact same way in women. We now know that this isn’t the case. The Women’s Health Campaign Legacy Fund is about closing the gap in research and care, and I know that no one is more equipped to take this on than the specialists at the MUHC. I want to ensure that future generations of women receive the care they need, right when they need it,” explains Pamela.

France Mailloux’s late husband John Klein was treated for heart disease at the MUHC. His life was extended far beyond expectations thanks to exceptional care made possible by donations to the MUHC Foundation. Grateful for this care, France and John chose to leave a legacy gift to Dr. Nadia Giannetti—the cardiologist specializing in advanced heart failure and heart transplantation who gave them more time together.

“What mattered most to me was keeping John’s memory alive. As someone who loved giving back to his community, leaving a legacy gift in our will was a meaningful way to honour that, it is a lasting tribute to who he was when he was alive, that still lives on today now that he’s gone,” shares France.

France’s advocacy extends beyond heart health. Since May 2025, France has been at the helm of the Forward Fund: For Women’s Health campaign, helping build a future rooted in inclusive, innovative health care.

Rounding out this inspiring group is Susan Balogh-Miletics, whose philanthropy spans multiple medical specialties—neurology, ophthalmology, ENT, endocrinology, and breast cancer care. Her thoughtful giving supports diverse areas of patient care and research, underscoring the interconnectedness of medical disciplines and the importance of funding dynamic, multidisciplinary initiatives at the cutting-edge of science.

“I am choosing to build my legacy with the MUHC because I’ve witnessed firsthand how lives are changed through donations to the MUHC Foundation. Our community is passionate, and as Quebec’s number one research hospital, the teams are made up of some of the brightest minds in medicine. This combination is helping to build the future of health care right here in Montreal, and I love knowing that I’m a part of that,” shares Susan.

As a passionate advocate for the Women’s Health Campaign Legacy Fund, Susan’s goal is to advance health care equity and innovation that benefit Quebec today and for generations to come.

“We are so grateful to have such inspiring women lead the Women’s Health Legacy Fund. Not only are they passionate, but they carry a wealth of knowledge that inspires our community to act. They remind us that we can make an impact that extends far beyond our lifetime,” shares Marie-Hélène Laramée, President and CEO of the MUHC Foundation.

Leaving a legacy behind is a beautiful thing, and it’s a privilege to be able to do it. While the process can feel challenging, the MUHC Foundation has trained specialists who will guide you through it with care. This Make a Will Month gives us the opportunity to create our legacy, and we are reminded that leaving a gift in your will is about creating a lasting impact that reaches far beyond a lifetime.

To learn more about how you can start building your legacy today, click here.