Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI) are pleased to present this progress report on the third year of our Strategic Plan 2026, showcasing our achievements and dedication to advancing care, health research, and innovation in the region.
Strategic Plan 2026 focuses on five strategic pillars: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Patient Experience; Staff Experience; Research, Innovation and Learning, and Sustainable Future.
Each year, a strategic priority is highlighted through video showcasing impactful initiatives that align with our vision. This year, we focus on Patient Experience—demonstrating our ongoing commitment to compassionate, patient-centred quality care that meets the unique needs of patients and families throughout Northwestern Ontario.
“The third year of our Strategic Plan 2026 can be summarized by our philosophy — patients at the centre of everything we do,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO at TBRHSC and CEO at TBRHRI. “Ultimately, health care is about people — the people we care for, the people who work on the front lines and behind the scenes, helping people day in and day out.”
As we build our organizations to further advance patient experience, we are enhancing patient feedback approaches; implementing technology to support patient autonomy; building research infrastructure to expand cancer trials and exploring how embedding research within health care teams can support system-wide improvement. These are just a few examples of initiatives that will make certain we are providing a positive experience for patients and their families.
“Together, efforts support a positive experience for patients and families, cultivating an environment where there is empathy, compassion and respect in every encounter and supporting our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time,” said Patricia Lang, Board Chair for TBRHSC.
As we move on to the fourth year of the plan, both TBRHSC and TBRHRI will continue to accomplish the 26 initiatives aligned to the five Strategic Directions, and build on the successes to date. Through steady progress, our goals will be reached across all strategic pillars to ensure quality care is provided to patients and families. Care that is supported and advanced through research, innovation, and education.
“At Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, our work is shaped by the specific needs of patients and families in Northwestern Ontario,” comments Dr. Andrew Dean, Board Chair for TBRHRI. “By focusing on local challenges and integrating patient perspectives into our research, we remain committed to advancing health research that is locally grounded, clinically relevant and responsive to the communities we serve.”
View our Year Three progress for Strategic Plan 2026 by exploring the latest annual reports for 2024-2025:
To view the Patient Experience video, click here.