$25 Million Gift to UC San Diego Establishes the McGrath Outpatient Pavilion

The McGrath Outpatient Pavilion will address the growing demand for specialized diagnostic, treatment and surgical services. It will offer significant new space for multispecialty cancer clinics and infusion centers, allowing UC San Diego Health, and Moores Cancer Center, to greatly expand access to the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.  

“We value the outstanding medical services that UC San Diego provides to the community,” said Laurie McGrath, president of the McGrath Family Foundation. “We are very excited to be a part of the revitalization of the UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest, which we know will benefit patients and their families throughout the region.”   

The McGrath Outpatient Pavilion is part of phase one of the $3+ billion UC San Diego Hillcrest Redevelopment Project. A new parking structure, planned to open in spring 2024, is also part of phase one. Sparked by the necessity to comply with the state’s updated seismic requirements for hospitals, the Hillcrest Redevelopment Project is expected to continue over the next 10 to 15 years and will include replacement of the current hospital with a new state-of-the-art facility.

“UC San Diego Health has entered a period of significant expansion to increase access to the region’s No. 1 health care provider,” said UC San Diego Health CEO Patty Maysent. “The McGrath Family Foundation’s investment into one of the region’s most cherished community assets will leave an indelible mark on our city, positively impacting the health and wellness of San Diegans for decades to come.” 

The redevelopment of the entire 62-acre Hillcrest Medical Campus is a major step forward for UC San Diego Health and health care in central San Diego and beyond. With modern, state-of-the-art facilities and upgraded infrastructure, the reimagined facilities will enhance the vitality and creativity of the region’s only academic medical center, leading to new ideas and new ways of practicing medicine. 

UC San Diego Health will continue to deliver all the critical care services that define its more than 50-year commitment to the community. This includes a Level 1 Trauma Center, Regional Burn Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center, as well as an Emergency Department with more than 50,000 patient visits per year. 

Laurie McGrath’s father, the late Bill McGrath, was one of the pioneers in the San Diego construction and real estate industry, eventually becoming one of the largest general engineering contractors in Southern California. Laurie and her mother, Carlee McGrath, established the McGrath Family Foundation in 1986 and together grew the foundation through the years supporting numerous organizations locally and across the globe benefiting children, women and animals. Carlee, who passed away earlier this year after suffering a debilitating stroke in 2016, was instrumental in the growth of the foundation with her passionate advocacy for animal causes. The McGrath Family Foundation has supported various YMCA centers, including the McGrath Family YMCA & Sports Complex in Rancho San Diego. The foundation has also provided significant support to the Humane Society of the United States and Junior Achievement. 

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