The 2026 theme for Black History Month in Canada, “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries,” honours the Black Canadians who have shaped our past and present, and the inspiration they provide to future generations.

As we celebrate Black History Month, we will be highlighting the outstanding work of Black Canadians who have contributed to health care.

Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott

Did you know that Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott made history by becoming Canada’s first formally credentialed Black doctor? He attended the Toronto School of Medicine and received his license to practice from the Medical Board of Upper Canada, paving the way for future generations of Black medical professionals.

Dr. Abbott then moved to the United States to practice medicine but later returned to Canada, where he spent his last years writing about Black history and medicine.

Dr. Abbott also advocated for racially integrated schools and believed that Black access to higher education was essential. His legacy continues to inspire and uplift communities to this day.

For more information, click here.

Lillie Johnson

Lillie Johnson emigrated from Jamaica to Canada in 1960 after training as a nurse and midwife in Jamaica and the U.K.  She received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Toronto and became the first Black director of public health in Eastern Ontario.

In 1981, Johnson founded the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario and lobbied the government to add the disease to its list of newborn screening. It is now standard practice to screen for sickle cell disease for newborns in Ontario.

She received recognition for her advocacy and work, which includes the Toronto Public Health Champion Award, the Black Health Alliance Legacy Award and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Viola Desmond Award, and was the recipient of the Order of Ontario.

For more information, click here.

As Black History Month approaches, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee would like to highlight the significant contributions of the Black community to health care.

We are currently seeking staff members or learners who identify as Black (for example, African, Caribbean, African Canadian, Afro-Caribbean, and Black Canadian) who are interested in sharing about their learning and/or work experiences in healthcare, and what Black History Month means to them.

Submissions will be featured on the Daily Informed Newsletter and TBRHSC social media pages.

If you would like to participate, or have any questions, we invite you to email the EDI Steering Committee by February 25, 2026 at 12 p.m. at: TBRHSC.EDISteeringCommittee@tbh.net.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Originally posted on NOSM University website

NOSM University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cole Anderson, Clinical Lecturer, as Family Medicine Self-Directed Program Director, effective January 1, 2026. 

An alumnus of NOSM University’s MD and Family Medicine residency programs, Dr. Anderson later completed enhanced skills training in Emergency Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He currently practises as a staff emergency physician at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and provides locum emergency medicine services across Northwestern Ontario.  

Dr. Anderson is actively engaged in medical education at NOSM University, with both the MD and residency program, with a strong focus on competency-based education, learner-centred curriculum design, and the advancement of distributed medical education. In his new role, he is committed to strengthening medical education at NOSM University and to supporting flexible, individualized training pathways.

On behalf of the medical staff and leadership at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), I want to sincerely thank you for the work you do as residents training with us.

As Chief of Staff—and as an Emergency Medicine physician—I am genuinely grateful to be part of your journey. I value the opportunity to work with you, learn alongside you, and support your development. Residency is a formative time, and the relationships, experiences, and lessons you gain here shape not only your careers, but the care we provide to our region.

You are part of an exceptional community of physicians and interprofessional colleagues. The teams at TBRHSC are unrelenting in their commitment to patient care and truly unsurpassed in their dedication, resilience, and compassion. The work can be challenging, but it is deeply meaningful—and you are never doing it alone.

I have had the privilege of practicing healthcare in Thunder Bay for over 25 years and have witnessed remarkable change across our hospital and region. Residents play an important role in that progress, and I am confident many of you will help lead the next wave of innovation, advancing care and strengthening health outcomes for the communities we serve.

We are grateful you have chosen to train here and for the contributions you make every day. Thank you for your commitment, professionalism, and care.

Happy Resident Doctor Appreciation Week.

Bradley Jacobson

Chief of Staff

For Heart Month, we caught up with Stephanie Needham, Cardiovascular Data Specialist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, to get an inside look at the work the data team does and what makes their roles truly special.

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Name: Stephanie Needham on behalf of the Cardiovascular Services Data team

Role: Specialist – Cardiovascular Services Data, Data Analyst and Vascular Data Nurse

Why did you decide to become a part of the Cardiovascular Data team?  

The team of three consists of two registered nurses and one data analyst with a background in data analytics. We each came into the health care data world a bit differently. 

For myself, I started from a cardiovascular surgery referral and procedure management aspect. I quickly saw the challenges posed when data was inconsistently collected or poorly understood, resulting in data quality issues affecting reporting outcomes.  Understanding the data (including its limitations), what it is needed for, or how it will be used, is so important. 

Tell us about your role.

We work to ensure the collection and analysis of quality data. The data is used internally for operational purposes (volumes, wait times, referral patterns, etc.) and externally to meet provincial reporting requirements (i.e. provincially mandated data collection by Ontario Health-CorHealth).  We work closely with our partners in Health Records and Decision Support to strengthen the data available as a whole. Through the work of our team, we have been able to combine clinical and operational knowledge with the vastly different skill sets of extracting, combining and manipulating large data sets to provide reporting and insight into what is happening within our programs and support service provision. 

We also participate in a quality database for the Vascular program, the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI), which is an international registry program designed to improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of vascular care through benchmarking, long-term follow-up and regional quality improvement, with an overall aim of improving patient outcomes. 

What is the most challenging part of your job?  

One of the most challenging aspects of this work is taking the information out of the existing systems that staff utilize everyday (ITS/CWS, NOVARI, etc.) and making it useful for administrative and operational purposes. We work hard to streamline processes and to minimize duplication in data collection for staff. We also work to ensure that data is replicable.  The importance of understanding differences across available datasets both within the Hospital and outside is key when planning for the future.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your profession?

There are many rewards but in particular, when the data and associated information we provide is utilized to support discussion, decision making and quality improvement, to improve Hospital services and ultimately, the care provided to patients and families.

Any advice for those considering a career in health care?  

Health care is diverse and has a great deal to offer, especially if you look beyond some of the more traditional roles. There is a great deal happening all the time behind the scenes to support the system and those on the front lines in the provision of Exceptional care for every patient, every time.

Dear Residents,

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to each of you during Resident Appreciation Week.

Your dedication, professionalism, and commitment to our patients make a meaningful difference every day. You provide high-quality, compassionate care to the people of Northwestern Ontario, often in complex and demanding circumstances, and your service is deeply appreciated.

I recognize that residency is an exceptionally challenging period. Balancing intense clinical responsibilities with rigorous educational requirements requires resilience, adaptability, and perseverance. Your willingness to learn, grow, and continue to place patients at the centre of your work reflects the very best of our profession.

At TBRHSC, our mission is grounded in delivering excellent, patient- and family-centred care through collaboration, innovation, and accountability. Your contributions embody these values. You are integral members of our healthcare teams, and your commitment to respect, compassion, excellence, and teamwork strengthens our organization and the care we provide.  

As you continue your training, I hope you will consider TBRHSC not only as a place where you learn, but as a place where you can envision your future practice. We are committed to supporting physicians who share our values and our dedication to serving this region, and we would welcome the opportunity to see many of you continue your careers here as members of our medical staff.

Please know that your efforts do not go unnoticed. All members of our hospital community value and appreciate your contributions and the role you play in advancing patient care, education, and our shared vision of improving health outcomes for the people we serve.

Thank you for everything you do, and best wishes as you continue your training and professional journey.

With appreciation,

Adam Exley 

Vice President, Medical Affairs

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre 

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 118 babies born at our Hospital during the month of January. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more about our services by visiting https://bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre-info

This week, we are thrilled to celebrate Resident Doctors Appreciation Week and recognize the incredible contributions of our resident physicians. Residents are an important part of our teaching hospital, playing a vital role in patient care while continually learning, growing, and stepping up — especially during the busy winter months when cold, flu, and respiratory illnesses place added demands on our system.

As frontline clinicians, resident doctors are often one of the first points of contact for patients. After completing their Doctor of Medicine (MD) training, they enter an intensive period of residency ranging between two to five years depending on their specialty where they provide hands-on, compassionate care, manage complex medical conditions, and respond to the ever-changing needs of our patients. Their energy, dedication, and commitment are felt across every unit and service.

Throughout the winter surge and beyond, our residents continue to show remarkable resilience, teamwork, and professionalism. They work long hours, adapt quickly, and consistently rise to the challenge, always with patient care at the center of what they do. Their efforts truly make a difference, not only for patients and families, but for colleagues across the hospital.

Resident education and well-being are a shared responsibility in a teaching hospital. We are fortunate to have a strong interprofessional team consisting of nurses, health professionals, administrative staff, and physician mentors who help create a supportive and collaborative learning environment where residents can thrive.

This week, we invite everyone to take a moment to celebrate our resident doctors, thank them for their hard work, and acknowledge the dedication and teamwork that support their training. We are proud of the role our residents play today and excited for the independent physicians they are becoming. 

Shared on behalf of Dr. Bradley Jacobson, Chief of Staff

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I am pleased to announce that Dr. Rosie North will assume the role of Interim Chief of Emergency and Trauma Medicine for the period of February 1, 2026 to July 1, 2026. 

Dr. North has worked in our Emergency Department for the past seven years, demonstrating consistent clinical excellence, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to patient-centered care. She was recently appointed as the Medical Lead for the Emergency Department, where she has already made meaningful contributions to departmental operations and strategic planning. 

Over the past several years, Dr. North has played an important role in the development and implementation of initiatives that have improved patient care, safety, and patient flow within the Emergency Department. Her collaborative leadership style and data-informed approach have supported measurable improvements in access and quality. 

In her interim role, Dr. North will continue to work closely with Emergency Department leadership, the interdisciplinary team, and the Chief of Staff Office to ensure stability, accountability, and continued progress during this transition period. 

We are grateful to Dr. North for accepting this leadership responsibility and stepping forward to serve in this capacity. Please join me in congratulating her and offering your full support as she assumes this important role.