We are pleased to share that Joanne Kearney has been appointed Chair of the Board of Directors of the UHN Foundation. She brings years of board experience, deep expertise in communications and corporate affairs as President and Managing Partner of The Clú Group, and a personal connection to UHN as a kidney transplant recipient.
Joanne has served as a dedicated and passionate member of our Board since 2018 and, together with her family, is a founding supporter of the Centre for Living Organ Donation within the Ajmera Transplant Centre.
As a longtime advocate for patient care and innovation, through her work with the Foundation Joanne helps make UHN a place where patients and their families feel a sense of hope — hope for a healthier future and the belief that anything is possible.
We recently sat down with Joanne to talk about philanthropy, her new role, and the impact she hopes to make.
What inspired you to first get involved with UHN Foundation?
About ten years ago, my husband Brendan donated his kidney to a stranger so that I could receive one from a stranger. This was made possible by the incredible team at the Ajmera Transplant Centre at UHN. This extraordinary gift — a second chance at life together — is what inspires me. We want to help more Canadians access world-leading care.
What does accepting the role of Board Chair mean to you personally?
I am very humbled and honoured that the board has confidence in me as their representative and voice. I’m in awe of everyone I meet at UHN. I consider myself lucky to play a small role in helping to change the world for the better. It’s a true privilege to serve.
What do you hope patients and families feel when they walk through our doors?
Hope. Hope that anything is possible.
What message would you like to share with our patients, donors, staff, physicians, volunteers, and supporters as you begin this new chapter?
While the dollars we raise are important, it’s really about the impact we have.
Looking ahead, what impact do you hope to have during your term as Board Chair?
If, at the end of my term on the board, I can look back and say with confidence that more Canadians have hope, a second chance at life, and access to groundbreaking treatments and cures, then it will be a collective job well done.
Our Board members generously volunteer their time, talent and resources to help advance UHN Foundation’s mission. Their partnership is critical to our success, and the impact of their leadership is made possible through the dedication and hard work of teams across the organization.
No one ever changed the world on their own but when the bright minds at UHN work together with donors we can redefine the world of health care together.
