Join us in celebrating Medical Laboratory Week (April 12-18).

Medical laboratory professionals at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) work tirelessly to support our Hospital’s programs and services by providing quality results for timely diagnosis and treatment. Caring for patients and families of Northwestern Ontario is their number one priority. This team is comprised of Pathologists, Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs – regulated), Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs – includes Phlebotomists), Diagnostic Cytotechnologists (DCTs), Pathologist’s Assistants (PAs), leadership staff and clerical staff. All play a vital role in patient care.

Did you Know?

• Diagnosis and treatment decisions are based on laboratory results.
• TBRHSC’s Lab performs 7,300 tests per day.
• TBRHSC has approximately 170 laboratory staff.
• TBRHSC’s Lab has over 3,000 individual document-controlled policies and procedures.
• TBRHSC’s Lab has 10 major department specializations:

1. Biochemistry (Clinical Chemistry): Large array of tests involving the measurement of chemical constituents in blood and body fluids to evaluate organ function, toxicology, therapeutic drug monitoring, and to detect chemicals, endocrinology and other special tests.

2. Haematology: Study of cells e.g. red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets as well as bleeding disorders/coagulation.

3. Flow Cytometry: The study of bone marrows, lymph node/tissue specimens for lymphoma and leukemia.

4. Transfusion Services: The testing for blood types, antibody detection, and compatibility testing (perinatal/neonatal and blood components). Also called Immunohaematology or Blood Banking.

5. Microbiology: The study of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites.

6. Histology: The preparation and study of tissue specimens.

7. Cytology: The study of ‘free’ cells, their origin, structure, function, and pathology.

8. Point of Care Testing (POCT): Oversight of bedside testing i.e., glucometer, etc.

9. Specimen Procurement & Dispatch: Blood collection and reference testing.

10. Quality & Safety: Licensing, accreditation, Biosecurity Containment Level II (Biosafety) classification, etc.

Accreditation Canada surveyors will be visiting Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre from May 11-14, 2026 to assess how well we are providing safe and effective care that aligns with national standards.

What does it mean to me?

Accreditation involves everyone at TBRHSC. We all play a role in delivering the highest standards of care to our patients, and families — each and every day.

For more information and resources, visit the Accreditation 2026 page on the corporate intranet page.

Accreditation Canada surveyors will be visiting Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre from May 11-14, 2026 to assess how well we are providing safe and effective care that aligns with national standards.

What Does it Mean to Me?

Accreditation involves everyone at TBRHSC. We all play a role in delivering the highest standards of care to our patients, and families — each and every day.

For more information and resources, visit the Accreditation 2026 page on the corporate intranet page.

Test Your Knowledge

There will be weekly trivia questions related to the Accreditation survey. Test your knowledge here: Accreditation Trivia:  April 13 – April 19

Shared on behalf of Lakehead University (Centre for Health Care Ethics)

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Encounters in Bioethics 2025-2026 offers a free webinar “When Patients Thank the AI: Compassion, Care, and the Limits of Automation in Health” on Thursday, April 23, 2026, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Presenter: Jean-Christophe Bélisle-Pipon, PhD, Assistant Professor in Health Ethics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

Connect via Zoom:https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/99447656598
Certificate of Attendance available upon request to chce@lakeheadu.ca

Time is running out to register for the inaugural SCOPE (Surgical Care Optimization & Primary Care Education), hosted by the Regional Surgical Services team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Who should attend?

MDs, NPs, PAs, medical students, nurses, physiotherapists, and chiropractors.

What can participants expect?

Participants will get up to date practice guidance on various medical/surgical conditions, master orthopedic physical assessments, and learn new clinical skill sets in cortisone injection practice. Participants will have the opportunity to network with our Central Intake team to better incorporate electronic referral platforms and pathways into their primary care practice and various community programs and services to optimize patient care.

Participating Specialties

Hematology, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Otolaryngology, and Surgical Oncology.

When and where is this happening?

Date: May 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay, ON

To register, visit https://event.fourwaves.com/scope.

Registration closes on April 20, 2026.

For more information, please contact Katie Cardy, NP-PHC at (807) 684-7103 or Katie.Cardy@tbh.net.

*This program has been certified for up to 7.5 Mainpro+® credits and up to 7.5 MoC Section 1 learning hours.

For Be A Donor Month, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is raising awareness about the urgent need for organ and tissue donors in our community and across the province.

As the population ages, the demand for organ and tissue donations continues to grow. A single donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation. These generous decisions, which are often made during incredibly difficult moments, represent an extraordinary gift from donors and their families.

At TBRHSC, our team approaches every conversation about donation with care and compassion, ensuring patients and families have the information they need to make informed, life-saving choices. Taking the time to discuss organ and tissue donation with your loved ones can have a profound and lasting impact on other families.

“The collaboration between TBRHSC and Trillium Gift of Life Network (Ontario Health) is essential in saving lives. On average, about 1,400 people in Ontario are waiting for an organ transplant,” says Dylan Blake, Trillium Gift of Life Network’s Specialist – Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinator at TBRHSC. “By registering your consent, you are making a selfless decision to help others. Your choice can make a life-changing difference.”

Be A Donor Month is an important reminder to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor. Start the conversation with your loved ones, and take a step that could save lives.

Learn more and register at www.beadonor.ca. It only takes two minutes to potentially save or enhance many lives.

Medical Affairs is pleased to share the Professional Staff Recruitment & Retention 2025-26 Annual Report that provides an integrated assessment of professional staff recruitment, retention, and workforce sustainability at TBRHSC from January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. It highlights measurable recruitment progress, identifies persistent workforce risks, and outlines clear priorities to strengthen physician stability and service continuity moving forward. The full report can be reviewed here.

Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs

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Medical Affairs is pleased to announce that Dr. Rana Chakrabarti has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a Pathologist with the Department of Pathology.

Dr. Rana Chakrabarti completed his Doctor of Medicine (MD) at St. George’s University, following a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) from Western University. He completed his residency training in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology at the University of Manitoba, where he developed a strong foundation across both anatomic and clinical pathology.

Dr. Chakrabarti brings a comprehensive scope of expertise in diagnostic pathology, with particular experience in molecular pathology, genomics, and the integration of emerging technologies into clinical practice. His work has included research and quality-focused initiatives aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy, turnaround times, and resource utilization, including projects exploring AI-based morphologic prediction and genomic classifiers in cancer diagnostics.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Chakrabarti has a strong background in research and academic collaboration. He has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications spanning molecular genetics, pathology, and public health, with work published in leading journals. Dr. Chakrabarti is also actively engaged in education and leadership. He has experience teaching and mentoring learners, contributing to academic initiatives, and supporting professional development. His leadership experience includes roles with the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba (PARIM), where he contributed to governance, policy development, and organizational strategy through committee and executive positions.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Dr. Chakrabarti to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Thunder Bay community. His clinical expertise, research background, and commitment to education and innovation will be a valuable addition to our organization and the patients and communities we serve.

Today, we are celebrating Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture – Canada’s first Indigenous nurse.

Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture (often known simply as Edith Monture), Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk) First World War veteran, registered nurse, was born on April 10, 1890 on Six Nations reserve near Brantford, ON, and passed away on April 3, 1996 in Ohsweken, ON.

Edith Monture was the first Indigenous woman to become a registered nurse in Canada and to gain the right to vote in a Canadian federal election. She was also the first Indigenous woman from Canada to serve in the United States military.

In her early twenties, Monture had no luck applying to Ontario nursing schools. Most Canadian nursing programs excluded Indigenous women; the federal Indian Act was a barrier to higher education for Indigenous people. Consequently, Monture looked to the United States, where she was accepted into New York’s New Rochelle Nursing School. She graduated first in her class and became the first Indigenous registered nurse in Canada in 1914.

Until the United States entered the First World War in 1917, Edith Monture worked as a nurse at a private school in New Rochelle, New York. Afterward, she volunteered, at age 27, with the United States Army Nurse Corps, along with 14 other Canadian nurses. She is one of a few Indigenous women who served overseas with this Corps.

Edith Monture became the first female Status Indian and registered band member to gain the right to vote in a Canadian federal election. The Military Service Act (1917) had given wartime nurses the right to vote. However, Indigenous women as a whole could not legally vote federally until 1960.

Edith broke barriers for Indigenous women in the armed forces and with regards to federal voting rights. A street (Edith Monture Avenue) and park (Edith Monture Park) are named after her in Brantford, Ontario.

To learn more on Edith Monture click here.