The crowd gathered beneath the amber maple in front of Belleville General Hospital seemed small against the sprawling healthcare facility, but their purpose couldn’t have been weightier. Standing among them on this crisp November morning, I watched as Catherine Walker dabbed at her eyes while describing her late daughter Shannan Hickey’s relentless pursuit of knowledge.
“She never stopped learning,” Walker said, her voice steady despite her tears. “Even in her final days, she was reading research papers and discussing new healthcare approaches with her colleagues.“
The Shannan Hickey Memorial Education Endowment Fund, announced today by the Quinte Health Care Foundation, honors a woman whose 27-year nursing career at Quinte Health embodied the essence of lifelong learning and compassionate care. The $250,000 endowment will provide ongoing education opportunities for healthcare staff across all four Quinte Health hospital sites.
Hickey, who passed away earlier this year after a brief illness, had served as a clinical educator in the emergency department, where colleagues remember her insatiable curiosity and dedication to evidence-based practice. The fund named in her memory will support continuing education, specialized training, and professional development that might otherwise remain financially out of reach for many healthcare workers.
“Shannan believed that better-educated staff meant better patient outcomes,” explained Dr. Ranji Khanna, who worked alongside Hickey for over a decade. “She would constantly seek out the latest research, then find practical ways to implement those best practices here in our emergency department.”
The establishment of this endowment comes at a critical time for healthcare in Ontario. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, hospitals across the province face persistent staffing challenges, with approximately 15% of nursing positions vacant as of early 2025. Rural and smaller community hospitals like those in the Quinte region often struggle most with recruitment and retention.
Standing near the podium was Michael Hickey, Shannan’s husband of 32 years, surrounded by their three adult children. “Education was never just a professional obligation for Shannan,” he told the assembled crowd. “It was her passion. She believed that learning was an act of service – to patients, to colleagues, and to the community.”
The endowment represents a significant investment in local healthcare capacity. Studies from the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement demonstrate that targeted professional development programs can reduce staff turnover by up to 17% while improving quality metrics across various departments.
“When healthcare workers have opportunities to grow their skills, everybody wins,” said Jennifer Frasier, Executive Director of the Quinte Health Care Foundation. “Patients receive more advanced care, staff feel more fulfilled, and our hospitals become more resilient. This fund will make those opportunities accessible to staff who might otherwise miss out.”
Walking through the hospital corridors after the ceremony, I spoke with emergency department nurse Damon Williams, who credited Hickey with transforming his approach to patient care. “Shannan once paid out of her own pocket to send me to a conference on trauma-informed care,” he recalled. “That weekend completely changed how I interact with patients in distress. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used those techniques since then.”
The endowment will provide approximately $10,000 annually for educational initiatives across Quinte Health’s hospitals in Belleville, Trenton, Picton, and North Hastings. Staff can apply for funding to attend conferences, pursue certifications, or complete specialized courses that align with organizational priorities.
Chief Nursing Executive Stacey Daub emphasized that the fund will prioritize learning opportunities that directly enhance patient care. “We’re focusing on high-impact education – the kind that translates immediately to the bedside,” she explained. “Shannan was always practical that way. She wanted learning that could help the person in front of you today, not just theoretical knowledge.”
The first recipients of educational support will be announced in January 2026, following an application process open to all clinical and support staff across the organization. Priority will be given to proposals addressing current challenges in the Quinte region, including elder care, mental health, and rural healthcare delivery.
For Walker, watching as hospital staff shared stories about her daughter, the endowment represents something more personal than professional development. “Shannan lives on through every nurse who learns something new because of this fund,” she said. “And through every patient who receives better care because of that learning.”
As the crowd dispersed and hospital staff returned to their duties, Dr. Khanna lingered for a moment under the maple tree. “You know what Shannan would say about all this fuss?” he asked with a small smile. “She’d say, ‘Stop talking about it and start studying something already.’ That was Shannan – always pushing us forward.”
The Quinte Health Care Foundation is accepting additional contributions to the Shannan Hickey Memorial Education Endowment Fund. Those wishing to support healthcare education can contact the Foundation office or visit their website for more information.
