I am pleased to announce the appointment of Kate Hooton as Senior Advisor to the Vice-President (Health Affairs) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, effective September 7, 2026. Kate succeeds Leah Moss, who served with distinction in this role since 2019 until her departure from McGill at the end of June. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Leah for her many contributions, wise counsel, and steadfast support of the Deanery and our broader community. I am deeply grateful for her dedication and leadership and wish her every success in her future endeavours.
Kate brings nearly two decades of progressively responsible leadership experience at McGill University, along with a strong track record of strategic planning, policy development, governance support, stakeholder engagement, and operational leadership. Most recently, she has served as Associate Director, Undergraduate Medical Admissions in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she has led recruitment and admissions for McGill’s highly competitive MDCM program and provided strategic analysis and support to Faculty leadership on a range of priority dossiers, including accreditation, policy development, government reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Throughout her career at McGill, Kate has demonstrated an exceptional ability to navigate complex institutional environments, build productive relationships across academic and administrative units, and advance initiatives that align operational needs with strategic priorities. Her work has included leading the development of innovative admissions pathways, supporting the establishment of Campus Outaouais, advancing equity-focused initiatives, and working closely with internal and external partners on issues of significant importance to the Faculty and the broader higher education community.
In her new role, Kate will serve as a principal advisor to the undersigned, providing strategic counsel, planning, policy, governance, and project support for key Faculty priorities and initiatives. She will help advance the Faculty’s strategic objectives by coordinating cross-cutting initiatives, supporting Faculty governance processes, providing executive-level analysis and advice, fostering collaboration across the Faculty’s schools, institutes, offices, and programs, and representing the Dean on designated matters and committees. She will also play a central role in supporting strategic planning, overseeing governance and policy processes, coordinating responses to emerging issues, and strengthening engagement with partners across the University and beyond.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and has pursued additional studies in public administration and information technology, complemented by extensive leadership development training. She is recognized for her sound judgment, collaborative approach, and commitment to fostering inclusive and effective decision-making.
Please join me in congratulating Kate on this appointment. I look forward to working with her in this important role and to the many contributions she will make in support of the Faculty’s mission and strategic priorities in the years ahead.
Lesley Fellows, MDCM, DPhil
Vice-President (Health Affairs)
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences