Today, Oregon Health & Science University and OHSU Foundation announce that Kate Azizi has been named president of the OHSU Foundation. An accomplished fundraising executive with a track record of success in the academic health space, Azizi brings deep experience and a passion for igniting the power of philanthropy to improve the lives of people.
Azizi joins OHSU Foundation from the Medical University South Carolina, where she has served for over four years as vice president for institutional advancement, overseeing all fundraising and alumni relations for MUSC’s six colleges and its health system, which includes 16 hospitals throughout South Carolina. During her tenure at MUSC, she has led her team to significantly increase dollars raised each year, nearly doubling fundraising over a four-year period.
“As the co-chair of the OHSU Foundation Presidential Search Committee, I can attest to Ms. Azizi’s impressive qualifications and understanding of the missions of an academic medical center. Her expertise, relevant experience, collaborative mindset and enthusiasm will be welcome additions to the OHSU executive leaders and to me. We look forward to having her join us in September,” said OHSU President Danny Jacobs, M.D., M.P.H., FACS.
“Kate Azizi’s academic medical center fundraising experience is a huge benefit as we advance OHSU’s missions through strategic philanthropy,” said OHSU Foundation Board Chair and Search Committee member Kelly Schrader. “OHSU and the OHSU Foundation are at a critical and exciting time of change with the potential OHSU-Legacy Health combination and the hospital expansion, and Kate is both thrilled and motivated to lead the Foundation team at this critical stage. We are excited to welcome her to the team.”
“Raising funds for academic medicine — whether to fuel new discovery, educate the next generation of health care providers, or provide the best in patient care — is my passion and life’s work. I have long admired OHSU, and it will be a privilege to partner with the Foundation’s talented staff, its dedicated Board, and the great minds at OHSU to drive impact through philanthropy,” Azizi said.
Previously, Azizi held senior development roles at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and North Carolina State University College of Management.
Azizi will join the Foundation in early September 2024.
At the OHSU Foundation, we advance OHSU’s mission by igniting the power of philanthropy. The OHSU Foundation is a separate 501(c)(3) organization that exists to secure private philanthropic support to advance OHSU's vital missions, and to invest and manage gifts responsibly to honor donors' wishes.