Shared on behalf of Dr. Bradley Jacobson, Chief of Staff, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of our colleague, Dr. Jacqueline Edwards, Family Physician.
Dr. Edwards was an extraordinary and inspiring individual who lived life with passion and courage. Known for her fearless spirit, she often embraced adventure and challenge, both in her personal life and in her professional career.
As a graduate of NOSM (NOSM University) and a dedicated family physician in Thunder Bay, Dr. Edwards was deeply committed to her patients and to the profession. She will be remembered as a compassionate clinician who listened with care, advocated fiercely, and left a meaningful impact on all those she served.
Although her time with us was far too short, Dr. Edwards leaves behind a legacy of compassion, courage, and wholehearted living. She will be deeply missed by her patients, colleagues, friends, and loved ones.
On behalf of Medical Affairs and the entire leadership team, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Edward’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her. May we honour her memory by carrying forward the same passion, courage, and dedication that she so fully embodied.
Shared on behalf of Crystal Edwards, Director, Women & Children’s and Mental Health Programs
I am pleased to announce that Jason Cooper has accepted the position of Coordinator, Mental Health Program effective October 20, 2025.
Jason has 20 years of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse working the majority of his career in acute mental health nursing. Jason has worked in a variety of settings including Thunder Bay Corrections and the Adult Mental Health Unit here at TBRHSC. Over the course of his nursing career, Jason has demonstrated passion and commitment to working with patients experiencing psychiatric illness and has certification as a Psychiatric and Mental Health nurse from the Canadian Nurses Association.
Working as the Patient Care Coordinator on Adult Mental Health, Jason has supported the Adult Mental Health team with patient flow and daily departmental operations. In this role, he has demonstrated literacy in humanistic leadership, building strong relationships with demonstrated effective and respectful communication. Jason has extensive knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation and has been a respected and valued resource for the Mental Health team.
In his new role, Jason will be responsible for organizing, planning and coordinating staffing across Adult Mental Health, Forensic Mental Health and Child & Adolescent Mental Health departments and will be responsible for the management of the Mental Health Resource Team. In addition to these responsibilities, Jason will participate in program and quality initiatives.
Please join me in congratulating and welcoming Jason to his new role. Jason’s office will be located in Room 1026, in the Forensic Mental Health hallway and at phone extension 6383. I would also like to thank Michelle Davidson for managing the Mental Health Resource Team, which will transition over to Jason once he assumes his new role.
Shared on behalf of Leona Kakepetum, Director, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion
We are pleased to announce that Cory Hoogsteen has accepted the position of Spiritual Care Coordinator, effective September 9, 2025.
Cory has served as our Spiritual Care Associate for nearly two years and has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting the spiritual and emotional well-being of those in our care. He brings with him a background and continuing professional interests in philosophy, psychology, theology, and music, which inform his thoughtful and compassionate approach to his work.
His regular hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 09:00–17:00 and located in the Spiritual Care offices, Level 2, Room 2011.You can contact him by Email at Cory.Hoogsteen@tbh.net, calling ext. 6236, or by Meditech for Patient referrals.
For urgent requests when he is not in the office (Mondays and Thursdays), please call ext. 4072 and leave a detailed message.
Cory will report to the Director, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity and Inclusion. In this capacity, he will work collaboratively with all departments to support individuals from diverse faith backgrounds as well as those without traditional belief systems, addressing the whole person—body, mind, and spirit.
Please join us in congratulating Cory on this exciting advancement. We look forward to their continued contributions in fostering respectful, culturally safe, and holistic care for all patients, families, and communities.
(Originally published in Health System News, via the Ontario Hospital Association)
Caroline Fanti, Director of Regional Surgical Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, ‘Opts In’ to receive text notifications for reminders of upcoming appointments.
In today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape, effective communication between providers and patients is more critical than ever. In Northwestern Ontario, where patient communication has traditionally relied on physical mail, missed appointments, or “no-shows”, remain a persistent challenge. This leads to system inefficiencies and a waste of finite resources. To address this, hospitals across the region are preparing to launch an innovative SMS and email notification program in 2026. This direct-to-patient system will deliver real-time appointment alerts and preparation instructions, streamlining communication and improving patient engagement.
Dubbed “Opt-In,” the initiative leverages the use of technology and encourages patients to take a more active role in managing their care. Through a simple consent process shared at all hospitals across Northwestern Ontario, the Opt-In campaign aims to attract broad participation, especially from those who prioritize timely updates about their health. The program is expected to reduce missed appointments and improve coordination by sending reminders and confirmations directly to patients’ devices. At the heart of this initiative is the Central Waitlist Management (CWM) Project, designed to better allocate MRI, CT and surgical resources across regional hospitals. The integration of SMS and email functionalities enhances both patient satisfaction and system efficiency by ensuring timely and equitable access to care.
“We’re thrilled to empower patients in Northwestern Ontario like never before. This innovative system will not only enhance communication but also actively engage patients in their health care journey,” said Caroline Fanti, Director Regional Surgical Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC). “By reducing missed appointments and ensuring timely access to care, we’re taking a significant step forward in creating a more connected and patient-centred experience.”
This work aligns closely with TBRHSC’s Strategic Plan 2026, which focuses on improving the patient experience across all levels of care. A cornerstone of this effort is the introduction of a centralized intake model for diagnostic imaging referrals, Ontario’s first fully regionalized single-entry system. By standardizing referrals, this model reduces wait times, promotes equity in access, balances demand across sites, and optimizes the use of regional resources. A fully digital, real-time workflow supports this system, providing a paperless approach that accommodates both patient and provider preferences.
The CWM Project at TBRHSC provides the critical digital infrastructure to enable our regionally integrated hub and spoke model of care across five surgical sites. The Opt In campaign will enable patients to register once for surgical and diagnostic imaging services provided at any of the 12 hospital sites across Northwestern Ontario. This work represents the first in kind for a fully regionalized approach to digital patient notifications.
The initiative also proactively addresses potential barriers to participation, including privacy concerns, technological accessibility, and fear of spam. To build trust, the messages feature hospital branding, include sample content in advance, and follow a clear, secure opt-in process. All communications will omit personal health details to safeguard patient confidentiality. With a goal of reaching an 80% opt-in rate within two years, this SMS notification campaign represents a major step forward in patient-centered care for Northwestern Ontario. By reducing no-shows, improving system efficiency, and fostering more engaged patients, it reflects a broader commitment to innovation and access. The Opt-In communication system will be leveraged through the robust Central Intake technology used by all surgical hospitals across Northwestern Ontario.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is currently seeking volunteers to serve on our Research Ethics Board (REB). We are seeking members for the following two positions:
Indigenous Community Member Must be unaffiliated with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and able to provide input regarding their knowledge about the Indigenous community of Thunder Bay and region.
Physician Member Must be a physician and able to contribute to the evaluation of a study on its ethical, scientific and statistical merits and standards of practice.
REB members are expected to devote up to four hours per month towards their duties which include attending monthly meetings (virtually or in-person) from September to June. Experience in research ethics is valuable but not a requirement as all necessary training will be provided.
If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, or would like to learn more about the positions, please contact:
Carol Pelletier, Research Ethics Officer, at TBRHSC.REO@tbh.net
Please submit your expression of interest and CV by September 30, 2025.
All staff, professional staff, learners, and volunteers are invited to tune in, stay informed, and get involved as the Town Hall returns this September. This is your chance to hear the latest updates from across our Hospital and Health Research Institute — from strategic priorities to day-to-day operations — and to have your voice heard.
Upcoming Town Hall Dates (via Webex):
September 17 @ 2:00 p.m. October 15 @ 2:00 p.m. November 19 @ 2:00 p.m. December 17 @ 2:00 p.m. January 21 @ 2:00 p.m. February 18 @ 2:00 p.m. March 18 @ 2:00 p.m. April 15 @ 2:00 p.m. May 20 @ 2:00 p.m. June 17 @ 2:00 p.m.
Got questions or feedback?
This is your forum. Ask questions live during the Q&A segment or submit them in advance to ensure the right people are available to respond.
Lakehead University’s Office of Indigenous Initiatives invites you to join the webinar “Truth and Reconciliation in an Era of Distraction – We are in a time of global shifts, fake news, media overload and growing incivility; does Truth and Reconciliation still have meaning?” with Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. EDT (via Zoom).
Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux was appointed as the first Indigenous Chair for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada for Lakehead University and continues to develop pathways forward to reconciliation across Canada.
Cynthia was the inaugural Nexen Chair for Indigenous Leadership at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in 2008. She was inducted as a “Honourary Witness” by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada in 2014 and is Chair of the Governing Circle for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation at the University of Manitoba.She is a member and resident of the Chippewa of Georgina Island First Nation in Ontario and has dedicated her life to building bridges of understanding. She sees endless merit in bringing people from diverse cultures, ages, and backgrounds together to engage in practical dialogue and applied research initiatives. She is deeply committed to public education and active youth engagement from all cultures and backgrounds.
Do you want to be featured in the 2026 Health & Well-Being Calendar?
Help us celebrate what brings joy to your work. We’re looking for stories from staff who help create a positive, supportive workplace — whether through small acts of kindness, lifting team morale, or finding creative ways to ease daily frustrations. If you’re making a difference, we want to hear from you!
We’re also featuring staff-submitted recipes in this year’s calendar. If you have a go-to healthy recipe, we’d love for you to share it. To participate, scan the QR code below or click here.
Shared on behalf of Joelle Macey, Manager, Adult Mental Health and Brief Intervention Treatment Team
We are pleased to announce that Debbie Croswell has accepted the position of Patient Care Coordinator for the Adult Mental Health Program, effective September 22, 2025.
With over 25 years of clinical experience, Debbie brings a wealth of expertise and passion for early intervention, mental health, and supporting patient autonomy. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and is certified by the Canadian Nurses Association in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing Canada. Additionally, she has been an active member of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Substance Use and Addictions Working Group since 2022.
In her most recent role as Charge Nurse with the Regional Mental Health Assessment Team, she was instrumental in advancing process improvements and fostering collaboration across our services and throughout the region. Debbie is a well-respected colleague and leader, known for her fairness, deep understanding of leadership and community systems, and her commitment to improving patient care.
We would also like to acknowledge and thank Jason Cooper, who has accepted a new position as Mental Health Coordinator for the Mental Health Programs. He has done an outstanding job as Patient Care Coordinator over the last several years, and we are grateful for his dedication and leadership. Staff will continue to work closely with him in his new role, ensuring ongoing collaboration and continuity of care.
Please join us in welcoming Debbie to her new position and in thanking Jason for his exceptional contributions and continued support.
