The Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute (Maz) in Edmonton is a world leader in complex cardiac care. Our team of highly skilled cardiologists, cardiovascular surgeons, cardiac care professionals, researchers and educators are advancing the prevention, detection, treatment and study of cardiovascular health.
The Maz is the advanced cardiac care center for Edmonton, Northern and North-Central Alberta, Northern BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon and Northwest Territories.
Located on the Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre Campus, the Maz is physically integrated with the University of Alberta and Stollery Children’s Hospitals, making it one of the very few heart institutes to accommodate both adult and pediatric patients.
Inspiring Innovation and Knowledge; Leaders in Patient Care
The Maz was named after an Albertan who served this province and country with distinction for more than 35 years. First elected in 1968 as Member of Parliament for Vegreville, Alberta, the Right Honourable Don Mazankowski served as a cabinet minister under two prime ministers and as deputy prime minister from 1986 to 1993.
Following his distinguished political career, the heart institute’s namesake continued to serve Alberta and Canada through his commitment to improving our health system. He was founding chair of the Institute of Health Economics, chair of the Canadian Genetics Diseases Network and member of the Board of Governors of the University of Alberta. Under former Premier Ralph Klein, he reviewed Alberta’s health system as chair of the Premier’s Advisory Council on Health. His widely discussed report became known simply as The Mazankowski Report.
As part of the capital campaign for the heart institute, JR Shaw, Executive Chairman of Shaw Communications spearheaded a naming campaign to recognize Don Mazankowski’s legacy and commitment to Albertans and Canadians. This campaign received tremendous support from across Canada to honour the lifetime contribution of Don Mazankowski
In 2003, the year the sod was first turned on the construction of the institute, Mazankowski had a cardiac event requiring urgent treatment while travelling in New Zealand. In the weeks following, the former MP and health care champion saw another perspective on health systems and cardiac care. Eighteen months later on May 2, 2005, his name became the official moniker for Canada’s newest heart facility.
