Trillium launches $25 million fundraiser for AI

MISSISSAUGA, Ont. – Trillium Health Partners has announced a $25 million fundraising initiative in support of its AI for Better Health program, which aims to accelerate the development of powerful new artificial intelligence tools.

AI and health analytics are key to transforming healthcare by creating a better patient and team experience, preventing and predicting diseases, easing pressure on hospitals and reducing costs and administrative burden.

“As one of Canada’s busiest hospitals, we have no choice but to innovate,” said Dr. Laura Rosella (pictured), chief scientist and Stephen Family Research chair in community health at the Institute for Better Health, Trillium Health Partners’ research and innovation engine.

“Serving one of the country’s most diverse and fastest-growing populations, the advanced analytics and AI tools we develop, test and scale here will shape the future of healthcare in Canada and beyond. With the courage to challenge what no longer works, we are charting a course that will establish our community as a global beacon for better health.”

Trillium Health Partners’ AI for Better Health program will focus on strengthening our health system, supporting clinicians, researchers and patient care leaders to apply AI safely and effectively. It will drive responsive, ethical and rapidly evolving approaches to advanced analytics and AI that address real-world healthcare challenges.

Trillium Health Partners and its Institute for Better Health are already developing, testing and scaling AI solutions: from photo-based tools that assess nutrition in long-term care, to machine models that inform diabetes prevention and management, to predictive models that streamline hospital discharges.

A recent pilot using AI for discharge planning reduced discharge times by an average of 12 hours, easing pressure on the hospital and improving the experience for both patients and the care team.

“At Trillium Health Partners, we believe healthcare should be designed around people, not places,” said Dr. Sam Sabbah, chief of staff. “With AI and digital innovation, hospitals will serve as specialized hubs in a connected, human-centred system of care that follows the person.

“Everyone deserves access to care in the environment that best supports their dignity and healing. AI will play a critical role in bringing this vision to life – shifting healthcare from treating illness to predicting and preventing it, and ensuring care is timely, accessible, and closer to home.”

Kickstarting this vision is the inaugural philanthropic gift from Suresh Madan and his wife, Sarita, who have established the Sarita and Suresh Madan AI Acceleration Fund. This fund will support clinicians, researchers, and team members in developing and deploying cutting-edge AI solutions to create better health, marking the first step toward the $25 million fundraising goal for AI for Better Health.

“AI can be game-changing in healthcare. It has the potential to improve diagnosis, reduce medical errors, enhance the efficiency of our health systems, and more,” said Suresh Madan, entrepreneur and Trillium Health Partners Foundation Board Member. “We hope this fund inspires researchers and practitioners to harness that potential and deliver better healthcare for everyone.”

AI for Better Health is a fundamental leap toward a new kind of healthcare that’s deeply rooted in real-world impact to create a healthier future for everyone.

“We believe Trillium Health Partners is well-positioned to fully realize the potential of AI in healthcare. We are incredibly grateful to Suresh and Sarita for their vision and leadership in supporting AI for Better Health,” said Caroline Riseboro, president and CEO of Trillium Health Partners Foundation.