Caring for Patients Today. Helping Shape Care for Tomorrow.

For more than 35 years, Dr. Kathleen Michalski has cared for patients at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. She has supported families through some of life’s most significant moments, from welcoming new babies into the world to helping patients navigate illness, recovery, and loss. 

But her connection to Soldiers’ extends far beyond her role as a physician. 

The hospital has cared for her family, too. Her children were born here. Family members have received care here. Over the years, she has experienced Soldiers’ not only as a healthcare provider, but also as a patient, family member, and community member. 

“I cherish this hospital,” she says. “I’ve seen the level of care, professionalism, and compassion that patients receive here.” That gratitude inspired Dr. Michalski and her family to begin supporting Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation as monthly donors. As the years passed and their children became established in their own lives, they began thinking about how they could continue supporting the hospital’s future. 

“We wanted to ensure that support could continue,” she explains. “The needs of the hospital will continue. A new hospital is being built. Healthcare will always need community support.” 

Today, Dr. Michalski’s commitment includes a gift in her estate plans, a decision rooted in the same values that have guided her throughout her career: caring for people, strengthening her community, and helping ensure excellent healthcare remains available close to home for future generations. 

For Dr. Michalski, giving through her Will isn’t about leaving a large gift. It’s about helping shape healthcare for generations to come. 

“I think anybody can do it,” she says. “Whether it’s a percentage of your estate, a specific amount, or a particular asset, any gift can make a difference. It’s a wonderful opportunity for those assets to continue doing good in the community.” 

She also hopes people understand that supporting a charitable cause doesn’t have to come at the expense of their loved ones. 

“Many people think they’re taking something away from their family, but that’s often not the reality,” she says. “For many families, there can still be more than enough to provide for loved ones while supporting the causes that matter most and a charitable gift may also help reduce taxes owning by your estate.” 

A gift in your will can take many forms, including a specific dollar amount, a percentage of your estate or other assets. Many donors find they’re able to make a larger charitable gift through their estate than they would comfortably make during their lifetime, while still ensuring their family is cared for first. 

One of the reasons Dr, Michalski chose to build her career in Orillia was the strong connection she felt between the hospital and the people it serves. “It didn’t take long to realize how connected people are to this hospital,” she says. “You see it everywhere. People volunteer, they fundraise, they advocate, and they support one another.” 

For Dr. Michalski, that connection between the hospital and the community made 

including the Foundation in her estate plans feel especially meaningful. “Everybody uses the hospital at some point,” she says. “Whether it’s you, a family member, or a friend. Having exceptional healthcare close to home matters to everyone.” Her estate gift builds on a relationship she has spent her career nurturing and has made her feel even more invested in the future of the hospital she has dedicated so much of her life to.

As Soldiers’ continues to evolve and prepare for the future, gifts made through wills and estates will help support emerging healthcare needs, new technologies, equipment, education, innovation, and enhancements to patient care. 

As Dr. Michalski believes, the decision ultimately comes back to something simple: ensuring future generations can count on the same quality of care that her patients, her family, and this community have relied on for decades. 

“If you care about your community,” she says, “it’s something really worth considering.” 

This Make a Will Month, we invite our community to think about the future and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Creating a will is one of the most important acts of care we can take for the people and causes we love. 

By including Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation in your estate plans, you can ensure exceptional healthcare remains available close to home for generations to come. After caring for your loved ones, even a small gift can make a meaningful difference for patients and families across our region. 

Because caring for tomorrow starts with the choices we make today. Discover how a gift in your will can shape care for generations to come. Contact Jessica today.