Visionary leadership: the Centre for Mature Women's Health Campaign Cabinet

An ambitious, $50-million project with multiple phases, the centre will be interdisciplinary and game-changing, solidifying Sinai Health as a leader in providing world-class health care to women across their lifespan, addressing the spectrum of health challenges they face as they age.

Anchoring the creation of this centre is the Campaign Cabinet, a group of committed supporters and volunteers driving the vision of the centre’s director, internationally renowned menopause expert Dr. Wendy Wolfman. The Campaign Cabinet is chaired by Maxine Granovsky Gluskin and members include, Janet Bomza, Marianne Guizzetti, Liza Mauer, Barbara Mcdonald, Janice O’Born, C.M., O.Ont., Andy Pringle, C.M., and Robin Singer-Turack.

It is thanks to the Campaign Cabinet and CMWH donors that on World Menopause Day, October 18, 2023, Sinai Health announced that Phase One of the CMWH’s creation is complete. This means the initial $15 million fundraising goal has been met, funding is in place to increase clinical capacity, and the centre has appointed its director. Launching Phase Two of the centre less than one year after its creation is a milestone made possible because of the tireless effort of the Campaign Cabinet, and the catalyzing support of the CMWH donors, most notably The Hilary and Galen Weston Foundation, Janice & Earle O'Born, Lindy Green Family Foundation, Diane Blake & Stephen Smith, CIBC, Marjorie Schwartz and Family, The Sarick Family, Carole Herman Zucker & Dr. Bernard Zucker, Ilana & Anton Rabie and Family, RBC Foundation, Catherine Murray & Les Boris, The Honourable Jerry & Carole Grafstein, The Schulich Foundation and two anonymous donors.

Phase Two of the CMWH entails bringing together all existing clinics providing care to mature women and adding new areas of focus, ensuring specialized care will be provided for a broad spectrum of health issues that affect mature women. Featuring a fully integrated multi-disciplinary clinic approach, the areas of specialized care include Menopause, Premature Ovarian Insufficiency, Abnormal Uterine Bleeding, Urogynecology & Female Pelvic Medicine, Vulvar Disease and Sexual Medicine, with supporting programs planned for Breast Disorders & Cancer Survivorship, Psychiatry & Mental Health, Osteoarthritis, and Osteoporosis & Joint Function. Future programs will focus on Sleep Disorders, Nutritional Sciences/Metabolic Conditions and Cardiology & Heart Disease.

Once open, the centre will be a state-of-the-art space tailored to its target patient population of mature women, with features designed to ensure comfort and ease of patient experience and boasting an unparalleled array of clinical offerings. While patients at Sinai Health’s Centre for Mature Women’s Health will initially largely be GTA-based, the work done at the centre will have national and international impact, as it develops standards for care delivery and conducts research that has global implications. The centre also features an international fellowship program, one of the few menopause post-graduate fellowship programs in North America. And, thanks to donor Carol Mitchell, the CMWH also boasts North America’s only Chair in Menopause.

“Sinai Health’s community of donors has always been second to none, but the way in which the Campaign Cabinet for our Centre for Mature Women’s Health have stepped up has been incredible to see,” says Louis de Melo, President and CEO, Sinai Health Foundation. “The Sinai Health commitment to address this health equity issue head-on is matched only by the determination of this Campaign Cabinet to ensure our vision for the Centre for Mature Women’s Health can come to fruition. I’m grateful for their support, their vision and their leadership.”

"This health equity issue is a pressing one. Without better research, knowledge, and advocacy, mature women will continue to have healthcare needs that our system simply cannot address. For the benefit of everyone, this must change. I’m proud to be part of the Campaign Cabinet and support Sinai Health’s Centre for Mature Women’s Health, and excited to think that we are on the cutting edge of this global equity issue, helping to change the world for the better,” says Janice O’Born, CMWH Campaign Cabinet member, and CMWH donor.

To learn more about the Centre for Mature Women’s Health, please visit the website at  www.maturewomenshealth.ca.