The Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems, Learning and Innovation at KGH aims to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in health care/Vernon Matters

By Jamie Tawil

new era

Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems, Learning and Innovation opens at KGH

Jun 9, 2025 | 12:10 PM

A new era in health care innovation is underway in the Okanagan.

Leaders from the Jim Pattison Foundation, KGH Foundation, Interior Health and the wider medical and academic community gathered Monday, June 9, to celebrate the official opening of the Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems, Learning and Innovation at Kelowna General Hospital.

The facility, funded in part by a $5-million donation from the Jim Pattison Foundation, aims to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in health care — including staffing shortages, chronic disease, and system inefficiencies — through collaboration, research and real-time learning.

“This is more than a building — it’s a movement,” said Raghwa Gopal, board chair of the new centre. “Our health systems face rising demand and limited resources. This centre was born from necessity — a place where bold ideas become life-changing actions.”

Gopal said the centre is grounded in three pillars: collaboration, learning and system change. It will bring together clinicians, researchers, educators and policymakers to co-design real-world solutions and improve care delivery across the Interior region and beyond.

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The official opening event was held Monday morning at KGH/Vernon Matters

Interior Health CEO Susan Brown echoed the need for a unified approach.

“None of this work can be done in isolation,” Brown said. “This centre is a reflection of what’s possible when organizations come together. It builds a strong foundation to drive meaningful improvements in the lives of those we serve.”

She highlighted Interior Health’s recent innovations, including virtual care pilots and AI-assisted stroke diagnostics, as examples of how new technologies are already reshaping care.

Monday’s opening also served as a tribute to the legacy of the Jim Pattison Foundation. Pattison himself could not attend the event but was represented by board chair Clark Hollands.

“Jimmy always believed in being a catalyst — to make things happen,” Hollands told the crowd. “This is a core area for us. The Okanagan is home to many of our businesses, and we want to see the communities here thrive.”

The new centre features flexible workspaces, inclusive design and digital infrastructure built to support innovation, equity and long-term change. It also serves as a cornerstone of the KGH Foundation’s $40-million “Closer to Home Than You Think” campaign, which supports advancements in cardiac care, mental health, women’s health, and other critical areas.

Allison Young, CEO of the KGH Foundation, said the new space will help turn big ideas into better outcomes for patients.

“This is a place for problem solving, for brave thinking, and for making health care better — together,” said Young.

Community members, donors and guests were invited to tour the centre following the ceremony. For more information about the centre or the foundation’s ongoing campaign, visit www.kghfoundation.com.