Clinical placements play a vital role in a health care learner’s journey, bridging academic learning with real-world practice and helping students build confidence, competence, and professional identity. Through hands-on experience, learners develop essential clinical skills, teamwork, and an understanding of patient-centred care.

As an academic health sciences centre, our Hospital is proud to support learners by providing a safe, supportive, and enriching placement environment where future professionals can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to patient care.

We want you to meet some of the learners at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) who are currently on that journey — such as Nav Bajwa.

Hometown: Athens, Greece

Program: Medical Radiation Technology, Confederation College

What does an average day during your placement look like?

An average day during my placement starts early, preparing for an 8-hour clinical shift. Throughout the week, I rotate through different areas such as general X-ray, fluoroscopy, the operating room and the fracture clinic. Each day, I work with a different preceptor. We are trained in a hands-on environment where we are encouraged to take initiative while being supervised, helping us build competence as future X-ray technologists. This experience also allows us to build rapport with the team, develop our professional reputation & better understand the hospital environment as we prepare for our future careers.

Is there a mentor or faculty member who has significantly impacted you?

Two faculty members who have enhanced my learning experience are Anne-Marie Hutton and Alexa Chesky. They have created a supportive learning environment where I feel comfortable asking questions and learning from my mistakes. Their positive and encouraging approach, along with constructive feedback, has helped me grow professionally. They’ve been thoughtful in providing exposure to unique and “rarer” cases, which prepares me for the real-world work.

What is one interesting fact others might not know about you?

I’m passionate about fitness and have been strength training since 2023. I currently work at the Confederation College gym and I aim to become a personal trainer in the near future. I am a strong advocate of mental and physical health.