The Leadership Challenge – Julie Quenneville
By Julie Quenneville
At University Health Network (UHN), we’re shaping the future of healthcare through a bold vision: a state-of-the-art surgical tower that will redefine patient-centered care and surgical innovation. This ambitious $1.1B capital project – the largest in UHN’s history – will be a pivotal addition to UHN, a beacon of hope for patients and their families, a symbol of excellence in Canadian health care, and a testament to the power of philanthropy.
As Canada’s #1 hospital, UHN has long pioneered advancements in research and patient care, and has built its reputation on handling the most complex medical and surgical cases in the country. In addition to much-needed infrastructure upgrades, there is a critical need to create a space that matches the excellence of our surgical teams – one that can support their bold ideas.
The surgical tower will be home to 20 state-of-the-art operating rooms equipped with the latest robotics equipment, artificial intelligence support, and real-time imaging technology. With 82 private patient rooms, it will completely transform the experience of patients and their families, while helping UHN increase surgical capacity – critical to reducing wait times for patients who need our specialized care.
The tower will also serve as a training hub for future surgical leaders, and will help bring UHN’s excellence to remote areas via teleconferencing and telesimulation from right inside the operating room.
Building this tower is a massive undertaking that combines UHN’s vision, a generous investment of $800M from the Ontario government and a major gifts campaign to raise the final $300M. Time is of the essence: while the tower will be completed 2028, we know that major capital campaigns are more challenging to close as projects near completion. That’s why we’ve assembled an influential team of volunteers to help accelerate our efforts. Our Tower Campaign Cabinet, comprising more than 30 business leaders and philanthropists, are both personally contributing to our goal as well as leveraging their networks to introduce us to new prospects.
With the support of this powerhouse group, we already have huge momentum behind this campaign, and I am confident that together – united in a shared vision to reimagine health care – we will meet our goal on schedule, and create a new and enhanced space where lives are saved and the future of health care is redefined.
Julie Quenneville is the CEO of UHN Foundation. Quenneville’s acknowledged dedication to health care has earned her numerous accolades, including being named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women; one of Concordia University’s Top 50 under 50; and receiving the Medal of the Quebec National Assembly. She serves as Chair of the Banff Forum and is a member of the Executive Committee of the 2024 President’s Cup, a global team golf competition which will be played in Montreal. Her vast knowledge of philanthropy, modern business strategy, and government relations has made her a sought-after speaker on multiple platforms. Quenneville is a change agent, a passionate advocate for innovative research, and a firm believer that advancing medicine is a global responsibility.
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