BURST
SFU’s new medical school has received the largest donation in the university’s history as it gears up for its first classes in the fall.
The Simon Fraser University School of Medicine has been given a “transformative” $40 million gift from the Stephen family. Led by Ratana and Arran Stephens, the family are co-founders of Nature’s Path and principals in Que Pasa, and are described as “leaders in the global organic food movement.”
The school will be named the SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine in recognition of the donation, which will “support student training, research and innovation, community impact, and critical infrastructure,” SFU said.
“This visionary gift is transformative for SFU’s new school of medicine as we prepare to welcome our first students in August 2026,” says SFU president Joy Johnson in a statement. “We are deeply grateful to Ratana, Arran and their family for their extraordinary generosity, which will enhance the future of medical education and health innovation in B.C.”
“As we approach the later chapters of our lives, and as we reflected on where we could make the most meaningful difference, the SFU school of medicine emerged as the most important change-maker of our time,” said Ratana and Arran Stephens.
“No one fully understands the weight of sickness and suffering until they themselves have been ill or injured. The healing of the sick, and the education of those who will dedicate their lives to that work, are perhaps the noblest callings a human being can pursue. We believe deeply in supporting those on the front lines of treating the wellness and overall well-being of people throughout our communities.”
The Stephens Family School of Medicine will be the first entirely new med school in Western Canada in nearly six decades and aims to train the next generation of physicians to care for B.C. families across urban, rural, remote and Indigenous communities, said SFU.
“The new state-of-the-art medical school will make Surrey a hub of innovative, high-quality health care,” said Premier David Eby in the announcement, who thanked the family “for their remarkable generosity.”
The Stephens family has also contributed to bursaries, food security programs and a food systems lab at SFU.
The partnership “enables investments at a significant scale to support primary care research, student spaces and technology, which will benefit the wellness of our communities for generations to come,” said Erin Morantz, SFU’s vice-president for advancement and alumni engagement.
The first class of 48 students will begin studies at the medical school this August, with the cohort increasing gradually to 120 students by 2035.
“This school was built on a bold vision: to deliver medical education grounded in community, innovation and Indigenous approaches to care,” said Dr. David Price, dean of the school of medicine.