UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
The Hewitt Foundation donates $1 million to support UPEI's Faculty of Medicine

The University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) is proud to announce a major gift of $1 million from the Hewitt Foundation in support of the University's Faculty of Medicine.

Jim Hewitt and Kim Anderson of the Hewitt Foundation. (Photo courtesy of Steve Gerrard)

This gift will help advance key priorities within UPEI's Faculty of Medicine, including enhancing learner experiences, supporting innovative teaching and simulation-based education, and strengthening community-based medical training opportunities on Prince Edward Island.

"We are deeply grateful to the Hewitt Foundation for this transformative investment," said Dr. Wendy Rodgers, UPEI President and Vice-Chancellor. "It strengthens our ability to educate all the various health learners here at UPEI and helps to advance our shared goal of addressing the province's long-term health-care needs."

"This contribution of funds from the Hewitt Foundation is more than a financial commitment," said Dr. Preston Smith, Dean of the UPEI Faculty of Medicine. "It represents a belief in the future physicians who plan to serve Prince Edward Island and a commitment to helping them succeed in their training and beyond."

The Hewitt Foundation is a private Canadian foundation rooted in a long-standing family legacy of philanthropy. Established by Jim Hewitt, Chairman, and recently named to the Order of Canada for his extensive contributions in creating the Canadian landscape and his ongoing charitable contributions. The Foundation has supported initiatives in health and education across Eastern Canada since 2017 in order to give back to the communities that helped make the operating company successful for over 65 years.

"The Hewitt Foundation is proud to make a $1 million investment in UPEI's Faculty of Medicine," said Kim Anderson, CEO of the Hewitt Foundation. "This gift reflects our belief that strong, community-focused medical education is essential to improving health outcomes for Islanders and strengthening the health-care system across Canada. By supporting the education of future physicians, we are investing in a healthier, more resilient future."

UPEI's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Centre officially opened in the fall of 2025, welcoming its inaugural class of 20 learners, all from Prince Edward Island, as part of the regional campus of Memorial University's Faculty of Medicine. At the same time, UPEI and Memorial University are pursuing accreditation for a joint Doctor of Medicine degree, which will be the first partnership of its kind in Canada.