Siemens Healthineers joins the celebration of 50 years of nursing at Algonquin College with an equipment donation to support simulation-based education
Posted on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026
Photo, from left to right: Mistalyn Seguin, Director of Philanthropy, Algonquin College; Jens Merkel, Finance Director at Siemens Healthineers’ Point of Care Ottawa; Claude Brulé, President and CEO, Algonquin College; and Erin Stitt-Cavanagh, Dean of Algonquin College’s School of Health Studies.
Ottawa, ON (Feb. 17, 2026) – Algonquin College is proud to announce a new partnership with Siemens Healthineers, a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services with a development and manufacturing site in Ottawa. The partnership began on Jan. 29, 2026, when Siemens Healthineers visited the College’s Ottawa campus and joined the community in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the College’s Nursing programs.
To mark this special occasion, Siemens Healthineers donated epoc® Blood Analysis Systems (epoc Reader and epoc NXS Host) to Algonquin College. These highly advanced devices are made locally in Ottawa for distribution around the world.
The epoc® Blood Analysis System is a handheld, wireless device that enables comprehensive blood analysis testing at the patient’s side on a single room-temperature test card. It delivers results for a full panel of critical blood tests in less than a minute. The donated epoc® Blood Analysis Systems have been assigned to the College’s simulation laboratories, which support the Nursing programs and additional healthcare disciplines.
The College’s simulation labs complement academic learning by training learners in highly realistic scenarios that mirror situations they will encounter as frontline healthcare workers. This type of simulation-based education helps learners develop the hands-on, technology-enabled clinical skills they need to run bedside diagnostics—such as blood testing—and monitor patients in acute, community, and long-term care settings.
“Siemens Healthineers was honoured to attend the celebration of 50 years of Nursing at Algonquin College and we are proud to support hands-on education for future nurses with our technology,” said Jens Merkel, Finance Director at Siemens Healthineers’ Point of Care Ottawa. “The best possible outcomes for patients begin with confident and well-prepared clinicians. By supporting Algonquin College’s simulation labs and putting our advanced diagnostic tools in the hands of learners, we’re confident they will be ready to enable informed clinical decisions from their very first day on the job.”
Erin Stitt-Cavanagh, Dean of Algonquin College’s School of Health Studies, believes the timing of this new partnership is particularly apt. “Last November, the College reached a defining milestone when we began accepting applications to the new Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Honours) at both the Ottawa and Pembroke campuses,” she said. “With the support of industry partners like Siemens Healthineers, we can build on the half century of nursing excellence we’re known for and continue to enhance the educational experience we offer our learners.”
Collaborating with companies that share our vision helps Algonquin College prepare its graduates to thrive, uplifting the communities where they live and work. Thanks to medtech partners like Siemens Healthineers, we can better prepare the next generation of nurses and allied health professionals, who will alleviate the current labour shortage in healthcare and build healthier communities in Eastern Ontario and beyond.
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Media contact
Meg Fraser
Communications Officer
Algonquin College
613-302-0138
fraserm2@algonquincollege.com
About Algonquin College
The mission of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology is to transform hopes and dreams into lifelong success. Algonquin College, an Ontario public sector community college, does this by offering hands-on, digitally connected, experiential learning in close to 200 programs. Algonquin College is the largest polytechnic institute in Eastern Ontario, with campuses in Ottawa, Perth and Pembroke, with fully online programming delivered through AC Online.
About Siemens Healthineers
Siemens Healthineers is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. As a leading medical technology company, Siemens Healthineers is committed to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities worldwide and is striving to overcome the most threatening diseases. The company is principally active in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, cancer care and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. More information is available at siemens-healthineers.com.
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