Northstar Healthcare Announces Syndication of Newly Formed MicroSurgery
Institute of Houston

TORONTO AND HOUSTON, TX, Dec. 22 /CNW/ - Northstar Healthcare Inc. (TSX:NHC) today announced the successful syndication of its newly formed operating partnership MicroSurgery Institute of Houston ("MSI") with an initial seven physician partners. Northstar will participate in the MSI partnership by leasing the surgery center assets and staff of The Palladium for Surgery - Houston, Ltd. partnership ("Palladium") to MSI for an ownership interest of 25%. This joint venture is intended to have a contractual one year life during which time management will evaluate Palladium's longer term options. Northstar will manage MSI for its standard 5.5% of center collections. Management is continuing to identify additional physician partners to participate in the MSI partnership.

Additionally, upon the completion of a fair market value assessment of the Palladium partnership by a third party valuation firm, Northstar intends on acquiring the partnership interests from several of its limited partners, including the 18% interest of the Company's founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Donald Kramer.

MSI is in the process of obtaining a credit facility to provide working capital during the startup phase of the partnership.

About Northstar Healthcare Inc.
Northstar owns and/or manages ambulatory surgery centers in the United States, focusing initially on Houston and other metropolitan areas in Texas. The Company holds interests in two ambulatory surgery centers in Houston and manages a third surgery center in Dallas.

Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) relating to business of Northstar Healthcare Inc. (the "Company") and the environment in which it operates. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "plan", "will", "may" and other similar expressions. These statements are based on the Company's expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's regulatory filings available on the Company's web site at www.Northstar-Healthcare.com or at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers, therefore, should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, a forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any such statement or to reflect new information or the occurrence of future events or circumstances.

For further information:

David Richardson
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]