Building the future of primary health care in Pictou County

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, …. When the Highland Health Home and Learning Centre opened in New Glasgow last fall, it introduced Nova Scotia’s first simulation lab designed specifically for primary healthcare, creating a dedicated space where current and future providers can train together.

As the Aberdeen Health Foundation celebrates 40 years of supporting local healthcare, the Learning Centre exemplifies how donor support strengthens immediate services while building tomorrow’s workforce.

For Dr. Aaron Smith, Medical Executive Director with Nova Scotia Health, the centre reflects a broader evolution in service delivery. “Primary healthcare has been on a journey of transformation,” he said. “A health home brings together healthcare providers who work collaboratively to meet most of a person’s healthcare needs. Patients receive care from the right provider at the right time, while every member of the team is supported to work to the full scope of their practice.”

A simulation specialist monitors a training scenario from a control room at the Highland Health Home and Learning Centre. Using lifelike patient simulators funded by the Aberdeen Health Foundation, health care teams can practice responding to realistic medical situations while the specialist controls the simulators’ responses. After each scenario, the team reviews what went well and what could be improved.

Dr. Smith noted that the Aberdeen Health Foundation embraced this collaborative vision from the earliest planning stages. “From the time we opened the door, it felt like a partnership. We had a shared purpose, and the conversations quickly became about how we could create a space that supports both patients and learners.”

As a teaching clinic, the facility welcomes medical students, family medicine residents, nurse practitioner learners, and other health professionals to build clinical skills within an interdisciplinary environment.

Supported by a $1.2 million investment from the Aberdeen Health Foundation spread over two years, community funding provided specialized equipment for the simulation lab. Life-sized patient simulators that can breathe, bleed, sweat, and respond to treatment in real time, alongside task trainers for procedures like wound care, injections, assessments, and suturing allow the entire team to practice in a realistic setting before treating patients.

Specialized training equipment allows teams to practice clinical skills such as injections, wound care, and suturing in a safe, realistic setting.

“We’re giving learners the opportunity to train in the same environment where they’ll practice,” said Dr. Smith. “They’re developing clinical skills while also learning how to work as part of an interdisciplinary team, because the future of primary healthcare is collaborative.”

“Donor support helped create a space where healthcare providers can continue learning throughout their careers while giving students and residents an exceptional place to train,” said Michelle Ferris, Executive Director of the Aberdeen Health Foundation. “By investing in education alongside patient care, our donors are helping strengthen primary healthcare today while supporting the next generation of healthcare providers who will care for our community in the future.”

Reflecting on the Foundation’s 40th anniversary, Dr. Smith emphasized that its impact extends far beyond equipment and programming. “This community cares very deeply about its people, and the Foundation is the connection between that generosity and direct impact. It’s helping meet people’s healthcare needs today while also investing in the future of health in our community.”

The Highland Health Home and Learning Centre’s primary healthcare simulation lab was featured by CBC News following its opening. Watch the story to see how the space is helping train current and future healthcare providers: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.7220531

The Aberdeen Health Foundation is the leading charity for enhancing health care in Pictou County. In 2025, the Foundation invested over $3 million to fund medical equipment and enhance health programs at the Aberdeen Hospital and in the community. Your contribution can be the catalyst for even greater change — find out how you can make an impact here.