Ruth Dolan

Ever since finding out her daughter had PH, Ruth has been a strong force in furthering the interests of the national PH community. It wasn’t long after the diagnosis in 2009 that Ruth joined Toronto’s PH support group, which she later co-led for over eight years without ever missing a meeting. Ruth has worked hard alongside the PH community, advocating tirelessly for better and more equal access to treatment as well as greater awareness. She helped organize the Let me Breathe fundraiser for five years with her brother Paul and travelled around the Toronto area assisting at various awareness events to help ensure more people knew about the disease. She was also eager to help grow November Awareness Month year after year, through proclamation requests and events all around the province. Ruth was so committed to providing people with information about PH that she would visit doctors in her local community to encourage earlier diagnosis, one of PHA Canada’s key priorities. Her advocacy work led her to speak out at Queen’s Park to help improve access to PAH medication, ultimately leading her to become a member of the Board of Directors of PHA Canada, for which she served as liaison to the organization’s first cohort of Ambassadors.

Ruth has not only worked hard to advocate for PH patients, she has—over the years—been truly committed to making sure newly diagnosed PH patients and their caregivers have all the support and information she can provide. She has dedicated herself to ensuring PH patients and their families receive a better quality of life.

Ruth’s hard work and commitment has been incredibly beneficial to everyone in the PH community. Her work as an advocate, educator, support group leader, and Board Member has left a lasting positive impact on Canada’s PH community. We are extremely proud of and grateful for all the work Ruth has done to improve the lives of those affected by PH.