Business and philanthropic leaders unite to raise $300M for UHN’s new surgical tower

15-storey tower at UHN’s Toronto Western site will set a new precedent for surgical innovation and the patient experience

UHN Foundation is pleased to announce its campaign cabinet to support fundraising efforts for a new state-of-the-art patient and surgical tower at University Health Network’s (UHN) Toronto Western Hospital. Comprising nearly 40 volunteers from Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, the cabinet will play a pivotal role in helping UHN Foundation raise $300M towards this $1.1B capital project – the largest at UHN to date.

Currently under construction, the new 15-storey tower is slated for completion in late 2028. Purpose-built to prioritize the experience of patients and their families, the tower will feature 82 private patient rooms, new critical care beds, and 20 state-of-the-art operating rooms equipped with the latest robotic equipment and real-time imaging technology. It is anticipated that the tower will help increase UHN’s surgical capacity by 20% – a critical step in reducing wait times and clearing surgical backlog in Ontario.

On February 6, 2024, the Government of Ontario announced an investment of nearly $800M towards the construction of the tower. UHN Foundation will raise an additional $300M to see the project through to completion and is well on its way to its goal, with $21.3M raised to date.

“This project will completely revolutionize surgical care in our city and around the world,” said Julie Quenneville, CEO of UHN Foundation. “We are so grateful to our donors who have supported the campaign so far, and I have no doubt that with the help of our incredible group of volunteer leaders, we will meet our ambitious fundraising goal. Every dollar makes a huge difference.”  

With world-renowned expertise in neuro and orthopedic surgeries, the tower at Toronto Western will serve not only members of the local community, but patients from across the province and country. It will also enable the recruitment and retention of top global surgical talent at UHN, and the training of surgical teams from around the world in UHN’s advanced techniques using state-of-the-art telepresence and telesimulation.

“As Canada’s #1 hospital, UHN handles the most complex surgeries in the country,” said Dr. Kevin Smith, President and CEO of UHN. “This tower will allow our expert teams to continue to lead the way in surgical innovation and training while allowing us to serve even more people in need of our care – all while putting the needs of patients and their families first.”

The campaign cabinet boasts a wide array of business leaders and philanthropists who will help UHN Foundation open doors to new prospective donors. Their guidance, expertise and passion for advancing health care will be instrumental in helping UHN Foundation reach its fundraising goal within the next four years. The cabinet will be co-chaired by Laura Dottori-Attanasio, President and CEO of Element Fleet Management Corp; John MacIntyre, Co-founder and Partner of Birch Hill Equity Partners; Darryl White, Chief Executive Officer of BMO Financial Group; and Cornell Wright, President of Wittington Investments, Limited.

“The creation of this new surgical tower is not just about upgrading facilities – it’s about transforming the future of surgical care,” said the co-chairs in a joint statement. “UHN’s reputation as a leader in surgical care is a testament to the dedication of its staff and the support of our community. This project is an opportunity for all of us to contribute to something truly monumental, and we hope others will join us in our mission to reimagine health care in Toronto and beyond.”

A full list of the Campaign Cabinet members recruited to date is below:

Co-chairs:

Members:

For more information on the tower project or how to get involved, please visit uhnfoundation.ca/surgicaltower

For media inquiries, please contact: Olivia Monardo, Public Relations Officer, [email protected], 416-669-0638