Shared on behalf of Cassidy Takacs, Physician Retention & Relations Specialist
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Colton Kennedy has joined Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a full-time Orthopaedic Surgeon with the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Kennedy earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine at Lakehead University here in Thunder Bay, where he also completed his Orthopaedic Surgery Residency. He further honed his expertise through two prestigious fellowships at the University of Toronto: a Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Fellowship at Humber River Hospital, and a Complex Clinical Spine and Trauma Surgery Fellowship at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.
Throughout his training, Dr. Kennedy demonstrated exceptional leadership, serving as Chief Resident at NOSM and Chief Fellow in Spine Surgery at Sunnybrook. He has been actively engaged in medical education, acting as the Mock Oral Lead for the University of Toronto Spine Program and instructing in Canadian Orthopaedic Surgery Medical Education courses.
We are confident that Dr. Kennedy’s broad clinical expertise in arthroplasty, spine, and trauma surgery, combined with his leadership, teaching, research, and community dedication, will make him an invaluable asset to our hospital and the Thunder Bay community.
Let’s all extend a warm welcome to Dr. Colton Kennedy!
Take part in the Global Workforce Survey, developed by Health Standards Organization (HSO) and Accreditation Canada, to provide your valuable input on patient safety, quality care, work environment, and well-being.
The closing date for this survey is July 18, 2025.
July is Disability Pride Month, a time to reflect on the barriers that continue to impact people with disabilities, many of whom continue to face systemic ableism and discrimination in everyday life. In health care, access to safe, inclusive, and barrier-free services remains a significant challenge. Recognizing these gaps is essential to driving change and ensuring equity for all.
This month offers a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of disabilities as a natural part of human diversity. It also highlights the contributions that individuals with disabilities make to society. In Canada, approximately 8 million people live with disabilities—both visible and invisible—including physical, sensory, and psychiatric disabilities, and neurodivergence.
Disability Pride Month is observed annually in July to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990—a landmark civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on disability. That same year, the first Disability Pride Parade took place in Boston. Since then, Disability Pride Month has grown into a global celebration, recognized by countries around the world.
To learn more about Disability Pride Month, please click here.
Disability Pride Flag
Flags are symbols of solidarity and pride, and can help to raise awareness and visibility. The Disability Pride Flag was originally designed by disabled writer, artist, and activist Ann Magill in 2019. The original flag featured the coloured stripes of the current flag in a zigzag formation, representing creativity when navigating obstacles.
In 2021, Magill redesigned the flag to its present configuration, after learning from members of the disability community that the zigzag created a strobe effect on computer and phone screens, potentially triggering symptoms for those who live with epileptic seizures and migraines.
The meanings and colours of the flag are as follows:
All six flag colours: The six colours are the standard colours of international flags, to represent that disability affects individuals worldwide
Charcoal Black background: Honoring the memory of individuals with disabilities who have passed away due to violence, abuse, neglect, and other injustices, while also expressing protest and anger against the mistreatment they endure
Diagonal Band: The band represents a contrast between vertical walls and horizontal ceilings that isolate people with disabilities, and cutting across societal barriers. The placement of the colours in the band is also significant, helping to reduce symptom triggers and improve contrast
Red Stripe: Physical disabilities
Gold Stripe: Neurodivergence
White Stripe: Invisible and undiagnosed disabilities
Blue Stripe: Psychiatric disabilities
Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities
Disability Pride Month – Reading List
For Disability Pride Month in 2022, CBC compiled a list of 12 books that illustrate the importance of accurate representation for those living with disabilities. The list contains works of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, books for Young Adults, and children’s books.
For detailed descriptions of each book, please click here.
Shared on behalf of Dr. Adam Exley, VP of Medical Affairs
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Olexiy Aseyev to the position of TBRHSC Expanse (BridgeNW) Professional Staff Lead.
Reporting to Regional Chief Medical Information Officer and responsible to the Vice President Medical and Academic Affairs for operational leadership and the Chief of Staff for quality accountability, Dr. Aseyev will support and lead the engagement of TBRHSC Professional Staff throughout the implementation of the Meditech Expanse Program at TBRHSC. He will guide Professional Staff participation in system design and change management activities, ensuring alignment with clinical needs and priorities.
As the Lead, Dr. Aseyev will also oversee the work of the identified TBRHSC Professional Staff Leads and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) within the Program. His leadership will focus on integrating people, processes, and technology to deliver safe, efficient, and patient-centered care at TBRHSC.
Please join me in welcoming Dr. Aseyevto his new role.
To honour Pride Month this past June, several features were presented in the Daily Informed Newsletter throughout the month. If you missed any of the features, you can check them out by accessing the links provided.
Article 1 – Significance of Pride
Provides an overview of the significance of Pride Month, the history of pride in Canada, definitions of each of the identities in the 2SLGBTQQIA+ acronym, as well as the meaning behind each of the colours on the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag. You have view the article here.
Article 2 – Pride Flag Raising
Each year, the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is proud to fly the Pride flag, and this year was no exception. The progress Pride flag was raised on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, and you can read about it here.
Article 3 – Pride Month Book List
A list of books written by 2SLGBTQQIA+ authors and activists, that reflect the diverse experiences of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. You can access the book list here.
Article 5 – Caring for the 2SLGBTQQIA+ Community
Contains a list of resources on how to provide safe, equitable care for members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. Resources include a pronoun usage guide, tips on how to practice allyship with the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, foundational courses, videos, and podcasts. You can access these resources here.
Pride Trivia
Throughout the month of June, Pride Month Trivia questions were posted weekly. You can find the questions and answers for each week of Pride Month Trivia here.
Thank you to all of those who participated in Pride Month Trivia. We are pleased to announce the winners:
Week 1: Justin Rob
Week 2: Cheryl Anderson
Week 3: Michael Uhryniuk
Week 4: Angela Murphy
If you have any questions, please contact the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee via email at: tbrhsc.edisteeringcommittee@tbh.net
Unlock big savings on home and auto insurance. Co-Operators is offering TBRHSC employees exclusive summer savings. Go to coopgroup.ca for more information or call 1-800-387-1963 for a quote today.
Thank you to those who have completed the HSO Global Workforce Survey and congratulations to this week’s prize winners!
Samantha, Emergency – $25 Gift Card to Pizza Hut
Jordan, Nursing Practice – $25 President’s Choice Gift Card
Debbie, Bariatric Care Centre – $25 Gift Card to Pizza Hut
Don’t miss your chance to win one of our weekly prizes, including 6 months free parking!
To complete the survey click here. Once you have completed the survey, use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSO to enter into the prize draws. Once entered, your name will stay in for the remaining draws!
A reminder that the survey closes July 18, 2025 or until a minimum response rate of 50% is achieved.
Photo (L-R): Crystal Edwards, Director, Women & Children’s and Adult & Forensic Mental Health Programs, Dr. Teresa Bruni, Paediatrician, and Kayla Santerre, Nurse Practitioner.
A new program dedicated to supporting children and youth with complex medical needs has launched at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC).
Complex Care for Kids Ontario (CCKO) at TBRHSC is an outpatient program that aims to improve the care experience for children with medical complexity and their families by enhancing care coordination, continuity of care and effective communication between families and health care providers.
Led by a nurse practitioner working in collaboration with a paediatrician, the program helps establish clear goals of care for patients and families and develops comprehensive medical care plans to facilitate the sharing of critical patient information. Additionally, the nurse practitioner works closely with tertiary children’s hospitals to maintain continuity of care.
One of Thunder Bay CCKO’s strengths is its flexibility to meet children and families “where they are at,” offering care and coordination either within the Hospital or at community sites such as Thunder Bay Paediatrics or George Jeffrey Children’s Centre.
Currently, CCKO accepts referrals from local paediatricians for children and youth who meet specific criteria, including medical complexity, fragility, technology dependence, chronic conditions, and rurality.
We are pleased to welcome Kayla Santerre as the nurse practitioner leading the launch of the CCKO program at TBRHSC. Kayla joins our Hospital after three years of providing primary care in Geraldton, Ontario. She brings more than 15 years of nursing experience across a variety of rural settings, including primary, acute, and emergency care. Kayla will be working in close collaboration with Dr. Teresa Bruni, a valued member of the Department of Paediatrics since 1994.
The launch of the Complex Care program in Northwestern Ontario is a meaningful step toward bringing care closer to home for children and youth with complex medical needs. Having spent most of my career working in rural communities, I’ve seen the challenges families face when specialized care is far away. I’m proud to be part of this program and excited to help make a real difference for these kids and their families.
The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.
Self-referral can be made to be seen by a Nurse Practitioner, Family Medicine Physician, Social Worker, Kinesiologist, Dietician, and Lactation Consultant.
To be seen by an Obstetrician, a referral is needed from your primary health care provider or midwife.
During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.
TBRHSC’s Maternity Centre welcomes the 124 babies born at our Hospital during the month of June. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!
