Historic Gift to UBC School

We are absolutely thrilled to share a significant milestone for our School, the Faculty of Applied Science and UBC!

On September 3, 2026, UBC announced a $40 million gift from UBC alumni, Matthew and Natalie MacIsaac to the UBC School of Nursing and our new space. As the largest gift to a School of Nursing in Canadian history, this investment helps build on more than a century of the UBC School of Nursing’s health leadership and impact in nursing education, innovation, research and practice.

In recognition of the MacIsaacs’ amazing philanthropy, UBC will name our School the MacIsaac School of Nursing and our new home, the MacIsaac Health Building.

Our new identity will be transformed here on our website, our buildings, and elsewhere over the course of the next few weeks. In the meantime, read more about this exciting news here:

Press Release

“The quality of life for many may depend on you. Go and make a difference. The whole world waits for you.”

~ Chief Robert Joseph, Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation,
Founder, Reconciliation Canada

The UBC School of Nursing at the Vancouver Point Grey campus was one of the first academic programs established at UBC after the university’s inception in 1915 and was the very first nursing program in the Commonwealth to offer a university degree. Read our full story on our About page or read our Director, Elizabeth Saewyc's introductory message.

About

Message from the Director

We are committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion + Indigeniety

Group of students walk across UBC Campus

Anti-Racism Committee

Our goal is to build a welcoming, diverse School of Nursing for all that functions as a model, leader and facilitator of structural change throughout the university and health care.

Close up of pole carving from Museum of Anthropology

Indigenous Cultural Safety Committee

In our work and in our curriculum, the School of Nursing at UBC is committed to enacting the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and to upholding the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

Research to reduce health disparities

We are nationally and internationally recognized for research that sheds light on the health care experiences and health outcomes of diverse socio-economic and demographic groups across Canada, and for creating health care and policy solutions to reduce health disparities and improve well-being.