About Us

Our purpose

Our purpose is to continuously seek, inspire and lead bold solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges and ignite new discoveries in health.

Our values

  • We respect our partners – those who support the Foundation, and those who work with us and for us.
  • We are trusted stewards of community members’ generous donations.
  • We are persistent advocates for health and better health outcomes.
  • We are brave and courageous, willing to be disruptive, ask bold questions, and seek innovative solutions.
  • We respect and value diversity of thought, ideas, cultures and contributions.

UHF distributed $15.4 million in 2019-2020 to help advance healthcare at the University of Alberta Hospital

$6 million was invested in critical areas of patient care

$9.4 million was invested in medical research

Who we support

Kaye Edmonton Clinic

Kaye Edmonton Clinic

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We are passionate promoters of the power of generosity – your generosity – to change and save lives in our community. We inspire people to help advance our hospitals as world leaders in specialized and complex care. 

Thanks to your donations, the University Hospital Foundation has raised $217 million in the past 10 years and that tally is growing every day. Your contributions are literally bringing innovation to life – supporting emerging ideas and technologies that are advancing excellence in patient care, education and research on a daily basis.

The impact of donor generosity cannot be understated

Because of our hospitals provide patients with the latest in diagnostic imaging and treatment

Because of you we support breakthrough research that brings discoveries to the bedside

Because of you the University of Alberta Hospital has the best and brightest minds

We’re passionate promoters of the power of your generosity

The University Hospital Foundation was created in 1962 by an act in the Alberta legislature. In the decades since, we have evolved into one of the most successful hospital fundraising organizations in Canada. We raise funds to advance patient care and innovation at the University of Alberta Hospital, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic. 

Meet the University Hospital Foundation Executive Team

Dr. Jodi L. Abbott, C.M., ICD.D

President and CEO

Dr. Jodi L. Abbott is a leader, a doer, and a woman of vision who believes that by bringing the right people from industry, government, healthcare and academia together – along with our invaluable donors – we can ignite the kind of change that transforms health in Alberta and around the world. Dr. Abbott strives to accelerate the impact of her actions for the benefit of community.

As President and CEO of the University Hospital Foundation, and former Senior Vice President, Quality Performance Improvement with Alberta Health Services, Dr. Abbott understands as well as anyone the ever-changing dynamics of Alberta’s healthcare system. Philanthropy can play a strategic and life changing role in accelerating advancements in disease prevention and patient care through research and innovation, the introduction of leading-edge equipment and technology, and initiating new models of care.

Her previous accomplishments include ten years as President and CEO of NorQuest College, during which time the school’s enrolment more than doubled and the stunning new Singhmar Centre for Learning opened (2017); Chairing the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board and Edmonton’s Health City initiative; and, for fun, serving as an international figure skating judge at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics Games. Dr. Abbott has been recognized for her leadership in sport, academia, healthcare and community being named as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2015 and 2018.

jodi.abbott@givetouhf.ca

Roseanne Carey

Chief Catalyst, Enabling Systems and Chief Financial Officer

Roseanne Carey’s vision for the University Hospital Foundation focuses on one critical question – how can the work we do ignite us towards greater strategic success internally and for the communities we serve?

A Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), business consultant and proven leader, Roseanne brings her expertise and passion to UHF as the Chief Financial Officer. Her creative, big-picture thinking and leadership abilities will support the UHF by empowering our team towards bold success and achieving our ambitious Ignite 2030 goals.

Roseanne comes to the UHF with more than 20 years of experience working with and advising organizations and clients in a variety of sectors, including not-for-profit, technology, financial, benefits and real estate. A passionate critical thinker who applies an array of technical skills to find practical solutions to complex problems, Roseanne balances her life with quality family time at hockey rinks or enjoying time outdoors.

roseanne.carey@givetouhf.ca

Sean Price

Chief Catalyst, Revenue Generation

Transforming the generosity of partners and donors into revolutionary innovation is a key to Ignite 2030 — and a strategy Sean Price is well practiced in. In his position as the Chief Development Officer, Sean’s focus is on leveraging the talent and ideas of the UHF team towards driving revenue and liaising with external stakeholders.

Sean’s wealth of expertise comes from a career leading a range of fund development activities, from planned giving to corporate partnerships. Over the last 12 years, Sean acted as Associate Vice President/Executive Director, Alumni Relations at the University of Alberta, guiding the university’s strategic engagement of 300,000 alumni from across the world, leading donor relations and directing the annual giving program. Before that, he worked with the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club in multiple roles, and the Edmonton Football Club of the Canada Football League as Vice President of Corporate Sales.

Outside of work, Sean enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He also stays physically active and volunteers his time with the Downtown Rotary Club of Edmonton.

sean.price@givetouhf.ca

Gail Stepanik-Keber, ICD.D, MA

Chief Catalyst, Strategic Marketing and Alliances

Gail Stepanik-Keber’s passion is strategy and innovation. A passion which will help guide the Foundation into the future while ensuring health care, finances and stakeholders remain the focus.

After returning to Canada in the late 90’s from a career in Malaysia as a managing director of a marketing communications company, Gail was introduced to the cooperative business model as a c-suite executive member of Servus Credit Union. For 21 years, she incubated, developed and led the functions of marketing, communications, corporate social responsibility, digital banking, product development, data science, innovation and purpose. Gail went on to set up a niche boutique firm called Triniti Solutions Inc, focused solely on helping individuals and businesses declare their purpose and design-think it into their life and work.

Outside of work, Gail serves on the board of numerous Edmonton organizations as well as volunteering as Program Chair for the Institute of Corporate Directors Edmonton, and the Chair of International Women’s Forum Edmonton.

When she’s not busy with work and volunteer commitments, she enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and many furry and feathery friends on a farm on Treaty Six Territory in Parkland County, Alberta.

gail.stepanik-keber@givetouhf.ca

About UHF

Board Members

The University Hospital Foundation Board is passionate about changing and saving lives through philanthropy. Through governance oversight of the Board and the philanthropy of our community, the University Hospital Foundation ignites brilliant minds who research and deliver patient care in a unique environment: the academic health centre.

Left: Dr. Shelley Scott, Current Board Chair of the University Hospital Foundation

Philanthropic and Operational Excellence

The University Hospital Foundation is proud to have achieved Imagine Canada accreditation and High Performer status from the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy; in recognition of the Foundation’s commitment to applying our mission – to advance excellence – to our governance, daily operations and financial integrity.

Imagine Canada Accreditation

Through accreditation, we join a growing community of more than 200 organizations dedicated to operational excellence. Imagine Canada exists to work alongside other charitable sector organizations to ensure that charities continue to play a pivotal role in building, enriching and defining our nation.

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AHP High Performer Status

As one of six organizations in Canada to receive such recognition in 2020, this designation is a testament to our commitment to our mission – to advance excellence – in everything we do, including our daily operations and financial integrity.
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Top 70 Employer

The University Hospital Foundation was recognized as one of Alberta’s Top 70 Employers for 2022. This special designation recognizes the Alberta employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.

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