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Campaign cabinet formed to realize the vision of UNB’s Integrated Health Initiative

Author: UNB Newsroom

Posted on Mar 21, 2023

Category: UNB Saint John , UNB Fredericton

The University of New Brunswick (UNB) is making a transformational investment in the future of healthcare in New Brunswick. Through the creation of a new Bachelor of Health degree program and dynamic healthcare and research partnerships housed in a state-of-the-art building, UNB’s Integrated Health Initiative (IHI) will positively change healthcare now and in the future.

While some funding has been secured from federal and provincial government partners, the university has formed a campaign cabinet to engage philanthropic partners to bring the IHI vision across the finish line. Larry Hachey (BBA ’87), president of Canlease, is leading this group of community influencers.

Hachey joined UNB’s board of governors in 2011 and served as chair for two terms. He currently sits on the executive committee and serves on several other board committees. He is the past president of UNB’s Associated Alumni, a member of the UNB Saint John Alumni Action Team and was on the campaign cabinet for both the Hans Klohn Commons and It Begins Here capital campaigns at UNB.

“Healthcare is something that I’m very passionate about, and I am proud to lead the charge on the Integrated Health Initiative,” he said. “Reforming New Brunswick’s healthcare system will require team-based approaches. The collaboration and innovation stemming from the IHI will help find bold solutions to tackle the grand challenges of tomorrow.”

Remaining members of the cabinet include: Dr. Roxanne Fairweather, C.M., O.N.B. (DLitt ’18), Dr. Geoff Flood (DLitt ’16), Stephanie Fox (BBA ’04), Tom Gribbons (BSF ’83), Charlie Harling, ICD.D (BBA ’85), Olive Ozoemena (MBA ’16), John Runcie, MM, CCLP (BA ’12), Dr. Ruth Shaw (BDA/BSDA ’80, MScCS ’86, PhD.CS ’94), Li Song (BA/BEd ’08) and Dr. Rob Stevenson (BSc'98).

This dynamic, diverse group of leaders will focus on raising awareness about and securing investment in the IHI for scholarships, research chairs and the new Health and Social Innovation Centre (HSIC).

The IHI will transform health education and research and drive meaningful social change with the help of key partnerships with Horizon Health, the Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Community College. Through the IHI, students, researchers and healthcare professionals will receive various interdisciplinary and leadership opportunities to empower them to change the future of healthcare.

The impacts of this initiative provide benefits to the region and beyond. Hachey said he has three main goals for this campaign. “First, build the infrastructure to attract both the research and the students; second, include the community and our partners in building a better New Brunswick; and third, give our students - the health professionals of tomorrow - a voice in the future of healthcare.”

Not only will the IHI bring close to 500 new students to the city of Saint John, it will also attract five new research clusters to the region - each designed to inform health policy and innovation. The clusters include aging in the community; the digital transformation of health care; public health and health policy; management in health; and child rights for child health.

These research clusters and programs will be housed within the Health and Social Innovation Centre, a 65,000-square-foot purpose-built facility designed to optimize health education through technology-driven teaching and innovation.

The IHI campaign cabinet will engage alumni and donors, increase support for students, faculty and programs and help intensify UNB’s global impact.

“The cabinet members are locally based people who are extremely passionate and enthusiastic about the project,” Hachey said. “Given that the IHI has been identified as a top priority for economic development in the Saint John region, our members will help us open doors and attract out-of-province investors.”

“This is a clear example of how our community works together for a common good,” he said. “When we bring people together with a goal and a passion for improving the quality of life for New Brunswickers, we can focus on the evolving societal needs of our community.”

To read more about UNB’s vision for the future and how you can make a difference, please visit Integrated Health Initiative.