A milestone moment for the City of Surrey, Surrey Hospitals Foundation announces a new partnership with Simon Fraser University to strengthen health research and innovation across Surrey and the South Fraser region, marking a significant milestone in the development of the Surrey Hospitals Health & Research Network (SH Network), launched earlier this year.
This partnership reflects a shared commitment to building a stronger, more connected health system in Surrey by bringing together health care, academia, research and philanthropy to improve patient care and outcomes across the region.
“…By bringing philanthropy alongside research and innovation, we are supporting an ecosystem where discovery is embedded directly in care. Aligning academic expertise with clinical priorities and community investment allows us to accelerate innovation and ultimately improve health outcomes for people across our region,” said Nicole Robson, President & CEO, Surrey Hospitals Foundation.
SUPPORTING THE FUTURE OF HEALTH CARE IN SURREY
Demand for health care continues to rise rapidly across the South Fraser region.
Surrey Memorial Hospital, the regional anchor for Fraser Health Authority’s South Fraser region, saw more than 180,000 emergency department visits last year, the highest in BC. At the same time, major expansions are underway, including the development of the new Surrey Hospital & BC Cancer Centre, helping build an expanded ecosystem of care designed to support a growing patient population.
As Surrey continues to grow, so does the need for research and innovation that can directly improve patient care.
“At SFU, we care deeply about the health of the communities we serve,” says Dugan O’Neil, Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “This partnership connects our researchers directly with the people delivering care in Surrey and at our new School of Medicine—so together, we can help turn new ideas into better outcomes for patients across the province.”
ADVANCING MEDICAL EDUCATION AND HOSPITAL-BASED RESEARCH
This partnership also builds on the momentum surrounding the launch of the SFU School of Medicine, which will welcome its inaugural class of future doctors in August 2026. This is the first new medical school in Western Canada in nearly 60 years.
Together, we are working with SFU to advance applied, hospital-embedded research that supports improved health outcomes in one of Canada’s fastest-growing and most dynamic regions.
“This new partnership with Surrey Hospitals Foundation creates exciting opportunities to raise funds to support hospital-based researchers and research infrastructure to the benefit of students, researchers, clinicians and, ultimately, patients, enhancing the health care system in Surrey and beyond,” says Erin Morantz, Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Engagement, Simon Fraser University.
As the first academic partner within the SH Network, SFU joins a coordinated, foundation-led initiative designed to support embedding research directly into hospital environments while strengthening collaboration across clinical, academic and philanthropic sectors.
This model helps ensure research is conducted where care is delivered, allowing innovation, learning, and talent development to become more integrated within the health care system.
WHY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS MATTER
For clinicians and researchers, partnerships like this are essential to improving care and advancing treatment options for patients and families.
“Research is fundamental to how we improve care as health care providers,” said Dr. Jason Chan, movement disorders neurologist at the Fraser Health Movement Disorders Program.
“In conditions like Parkinson’s disease, where there is still much we don’t fully understand, research advances treatments and outcomes. Partnerships like this are critical. They connect researchers with the funding and support needed to advance their work, ultimately improving care and quality of life for patients and their families.”
By connecting health care, academic, research and philanthropy, Surrey Hospitals Foundation and Simon Fraser University are helping to strengthen a connected ecosystem of care across Surrey and the South Fraser region.
Together, we will help grow research capacity, attract and retain talent, support innovation within hospital environments and improve care for patients and communities across the region for generations to come.
