Meet Our Board - Dr. Michelle Georgi

Dr. Michelle Georgi

As a busy Winnipeg optometrist, Dr. Michelle Georgi has referred many patients to Misericordia for cataract and eye surgery.

Although some were fearful about having the procedures, the Misericordia Health Centre Foundation board member says “because of my job, I hear feedback from my patients. They come back and say how understanding everyone is.”

“The wonderful staff [at the Buhler Eye Care Centre] always give 100 per cent to their patients,” she adds.

Georgi, who has worked as an optometrist for nearly 30 years, says a number of years ago, she was the president of her local optometrist organization and decided it was important to foster a relationship with more organizations.

Working so closely with the Buhler Eye Care Centre, she felt that she would like to give back to the profession. So her eventual role as a member of the MHCF board happened quite naturally.

“I thought we should be supporting Misericordia, so I ended up joining the Foundation’s Gala committee,” says Georgi.

She has served on the Gala committee for six years, two as its chair. Because she was so involved with Gala, Georgi was asked to join the MHCF board.

2017 is Georgi’s fourth year on the board and she says she enjoys the variety of ways it helps with MHCF initiatives.

“The mandate of the board is to support the work of the Misericordia Sisters. Our focus is on raising funds for programs like music therapy and equipment for the centre.”

Georgi says one of her favourite fundraisers is the annual Angel Squad. She takes part each year, dressed as an Angel on the Maryland Bridge and accepting donations from passersby. And she proudly recounts taking part in the Guinness Book of World Records gathering of angels in December 2015 as part of the Angel Squad fundraiser.

At Christmas, she enjoys serving food at dinners held for the staff of Misericordia.

Georgi really enjoys the chance to give back.

“I’m proud of the fact I can be a small part of a great organization that provides such great care to Manitobans. I really do think they do a great job in the Buhler Eye Care Centre in particular. I’m proud to support the things they do there.”

Georgi hasn’t missed a Gala until this year, when she and her husband, who are patriotic Canadians, and Manitobans, went to the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge in France. She says it was a once in a lifetime experience she won’t soon forget.

“There were 30,000 Canadians there. It was really emotional.” 

When she’s not working, Georgi enjoys playing tennis and running. She is running her first half marathon this spring.

She says she enjoys being part of the MHCF board and the good work that it does in support of Misericordia.

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