For nearly five decades, the Ottawa Heart Institute has set the standard for excellence in cardiac care by driving innovation, delivering transformative treatments, and leading the fight against cardiovascular disease. We are proud of our record of achievement. From our first heart transplant to our breakthrough approaches to women’s heart health and rare diseases, from transformative regional care for heart attacks to less invasive procedures and surgery, and from dramatic advances in imaging, to clinical trials and mobile clinics, we keep climbing higher. Through it all, we have never lost sight of our “why”. We are here to give our patients the very best care.
Our 2025–2030 strategic plan represents more than a roadmap – it is a declaration of our steadfast dedication to pushing boundaries, embracing collaboration, and harnessing the power of cutting-edge technology and AI to address the evolving needs of patients, while never losing the human touch. It is a reaffirmation of our values and a bold vision for what is to come.
Rob Beanlands, MD, FRCPC
President and CEO
Dalton McGuinty
Chair of the Board
OUR PURPOSE
To be your world-leading heart institute driving
the transformation of heart health and cardiac care
OUR PURPOSE
To be your world-leading heart institute driving the transformation of heart health and cardiac care
YOUR VOICE. OUR FUTURE TOGETHER.
Our strategic plan was built with the voices, insights, and experiences of the people who matter most—patients, families, staff, and community partners.
OUR STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
Your heart is in the right place
Save lives and improve quality of life through world-leading, people-centred interventions, specialty care, and training future heart health leaders.
Care in the heart of your community
Reach beyond our walls to enable screening, testing, care, guidance and education close to home.
The heart of innovation and discovery
Lead transformative cardiac research that advances medical breakthroughs and improves the health of Canadians and people worldwide.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our guiding principles are the foundation upon which trust is built, excellence is achieved, and meaningful progress is made.
People first
Deliver patient-centred care. Equip our teams with the tools, support, and environment they need to bring their best to you every day. Collaborate with patients to co-design heart health solutions, ensuring they have the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their care.
Heart health for all
Ensure our care, research, and education support the diverse communities we serve, including Indigenous, underserved, and high-risk populations. Drive solutions that reduce our climate impact while tackling its effects on heart health. Champion social accountability, foster inclusion, and build a space where everyone feels they belong.
Collaboration for excellence
Leverage transdisciplinary Heart Teams and partnerships to drive quality, safety, innovation and collaboration – setting the standards nationally and globally. Expand our role in education, shaping world-class health professionals.
Leverage data, AI and technology with a human touch
Strengthen our capacity through data intelligence, clinical trials, and AI-driven innovation to enhance care, streamline workflows, and drive better outcomes—all while preserving the human-touch, empathy, and compassion, within our people-first culture.
Your heart is in the right place
Your heart is in the right place
When people turn to the Ottawa Heart Institute, they know they are in the best hands. With unmatched expertise, cutting-edge treatments, and a relentless focus on people-centred care, the Institute consistently sets the standard for excellence. Now we’re climbing to new heights. We will recruit, educate, and train, cardiac leaders. We will push the boundaries of possibility with new technology and drive specialty-care forward. We will raise the bar, lower mortality rates, improve quality of life, and define the path that will lead others into the future of cardiac care.
OBJECTIVES
- Optimize care at the Heart Institute.
- Empower the patient experience.
- Support our teams to be their best.
- Become the premier destination for cardiac learning.
Care in the heart of your community
Care in the heart of your community
Healthcare systems nationwide face mounting pressure from aging populations, environmental challenges, workforce strain, and the burden of disease. As access gaps widen, we are determined to forge powerful alliances with primary care providers, Ontario Health and other organizations to expand life-saving cardiac care beyond our walls. Through co-developed education material, prevention initiatives, and innovative care models, we will empower communities to adopt healthier lifestyles and reduce cardiac risk. By strengthening screening, testing, treatment, and follow-up capabilities, we will detect disease early and intervene decisively. Together, we will construct a more unified, agile healthcare network – one that ensures equitable, high-impact cardiac care reaches those who need it most.
OBJECTIVES
- Expand education and cardiac care capacity.
- Maximize care in community and streamline Institute access.
- Lead in heart health information and collaboration.
The heart of innovation and discovery
The heart of innovation and discovery
Through our powerful researcher-clinician-community partnerships, we will rapidly turn heart health problems into world-class research into health solutions. Together we’ll implement, adapt and scale-up to live healthier and save resources.
Katey Rayner, PhD
Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President, Research
Keira Torkko
Chair of the OHIRC Board of Directors
RESEARCH STRATEGIES
Establish the Heart Institute as a global leader in cardiac research
Harness data to transform cardiac care
Turn research into action for better cardiac care
OUR RESEARCH PRIORITIES
Three research objectives to achieve meaningful impact on cardiac health
Reduce cardiac disease risk and progression across the lifespan
Identify risk at its earliest stages and intervene to stop heart disease before it starts.
Centre on our patients’ top priority to stay healthy by living well longer.
Improve care and outcomes for cardiac diseases and unique populations
Develop a deeper understanding of the full spectrum of cardiac diseases by using our rich clinical and research resources and identify points of intervention. Work to reduce the unequal burden of cardiac disease and poor outcomes in unique and under-served populations across our community.
Put the heart at the centre of whole-person health
Uncover how cardiac systems interact within our body, and our physical and social environments. Design interventions that address the way these intersecting health challenges affect each of us.
Establish the Heart Institute as a global leader in cardiac research
Establish the Heart Institute as a global leader in cardiac research
OBJECTIVES
- Foster a research-driven culture where care, education, and discovery seamlessly intersect.
- Attract and retain top talent and cultivate rich partnerships.
- Strengthen our world-class training programs in clinical, research and data science.
Harness data to transform cardiac care
Harness data to transform cardiac care
OBJECTIVES
- Grow our state-of-the-art Data Science Centre.
- Build patient partnerships for near-universal engagement in research.
- Design innovative clinical trials and methods to implement new care models faster.
Turn research into action for better cardiac care
Turn research into action for better cardiac care
OBJECTIVES
- Establish the Ottawa Heart Institute as the trusted source for heart health information.
- Build effective translational teams and partnerships.
- Shape global heart health practices and policy.
HALLMARK INITIATIVES
Launch One million Canadian hearts initiative
Build the OHI Heart Health Education Centre
Establish tele-cardiac critical care
Elevate our Canadian Women's Heart Health Centre to achieve global impact
Develop master plan to reshape our infrastructure to drive innovative care
Revolutionize our use of data and enable AI solutions that drive efficiency, effectiveness and outcomes
Develop a national centre of excellence around cardiovascular disease prevention, cardiac rehabilitation, and heart-related climate research
Enable cardiac care closer to home through enhanced collaboration with primary care, Ontario Health and others, while we expand our hub-spoke-and-node models
Enhance the cardiac clinical trials hub to elevate research and patient engagement
Meet Hannah, whose journey through care, community, and research reflects the very heart of our strategic plan.