KELOWNA, BC – June 9, 2025 – Esteemed researcher and champion of health system innovation, Dr. Deanne (Dee) Taylor, has been appointed Executive Director of the Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems Learning + Innovation (the Centre) at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).

The announcement was made today at KGH during the official opening of the Centre. Dr. Taylor is well-known across the province for her leadership in driving system innovation, specifically in serving non-urban, rural and remote communities. Dr. Taylor earned accolades as Interior Health’s Corporate Director of Research. She is also the current Scientific Director of the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc), advisor for the Canadian Health Leadership Network and adjunct professor at UBC Okanagan.  

The announcement was made enthusiastically by the Centre’s Board Chair, Raghwa Gopal, former CEO of Accelerate Okanagan and Innovate BC, a serial entrepreneur and one of the provinces leading catalysts for innovation.

“Dr. Taylor’s experience and unyielding passion for regional health systems innovation has been a driving force in the establishment of the Centre,” said Gopal. “I can think of no one more uniquely qualified to lead this work than she is.”

“Dee brings people together—whether it’s community members, health care teams, or system leaders—to explore new ways of thinking and doing,” said Allison Young, CEO of the KGH Foundation.  “She leads initiatives that test and scale practical innovations, helping the health system become more responsive, efficient, and people centred. Her work emphasizes the power of collaboration and learning, turning ideas into real improvements in care delivery.”

“This Centre, this role, truly is a dream come true,” said Dr. Taylor.  “On behalf of the over one million people who call communities across the interior home, I am grateful to the Jim Pattison Foundation for bringing this progressive opportunity to KGH. This is a Centre designed to cultivate ideas, but more importantly, real applicable solutions that build better health systems where it matters most – right here where we live.”

“The Centre represents a significant investment in the future of regional health care,” said Clark Hollands, Board Chair of the Jim Pattison Foundation.  “Not just for today’s challenges, but to explore opportunities to build better care for our future generations.”

Dr. Taylor holds degrees in Athletic Therapy, Disability & Community Studies, and a PhD in Community Health Science, along with specialized training in learning health systems, implementation science, and health leadership.

The Centre is the first of its kind in the region, a dedicated hub where health care providers, researchers, educators, and policymakers can come together to pilot new models of care, analyze data, share knowledge, and accelerate ideas that will improve patient outcomes across the Interior Health region and beyond. The Centre, located at Kelowna General Hospital, is poised to become a national leader in health systems transformation, innovation, and collaboration.

About the Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems Learning + Innovation

The Jim Pattison Centre for Health Systems Learning + Innovation was made possible by a transformational gift from the Jim Pattison Foundation in 2023. Its mission is to advance system-level change in health care through education, research, innovation, and regional collaboration, while improving care delivery and outcomes for communities across the Southern Interior of British Columbia.