It’s cuteness overload in the NICU this Halloween! Our tiniest patients are all dressed up and showing off their festive spirit. A heartfelt thank you to the proud parents and our amazing staff for allowing us to share these precious moments.
We asked our staff, professional staff, learners and volunteers to show off their Halloween costumes and festive spirit, and wow, did they ever deliver! Their creativity and enthusiasm are a perfect example of the incredible teamwork that makes our Hospital such a special place. By bringing fun and positivity into the workplace, they help create a brighter, more welcoming environment for their colleagues, patients, and families alike.
A big thank you to everyone who joined in the celebration and shared their photos — you made this Halloween one to remember. Fantastic job, everyone!
Shared on behalf of Patricia Lang, TBRHSC Board Chair
We wish to inform you that our Chief of Staff, Dr. Bradley Jacobson, has announced their decision to step down from their role effective May 1, 2026.
We are grateful for Dr. Jacobson’s leadership and dedication over the past four years in the role of Chief of Staff. During his tenure, Dr. Jacobson advanced a number of initiatives aimed at improving quality of care and strengthening clinical governance across the organization. His professionalism and dedication have contributed meaningfully to enhancing patient care and organizational performance.
We thank Dr. Jacobson for his service and positive contributions throughout his time in this important medical leadership role.
A transition plan is underway to ensure continuity and support for our teams. Further updates on the recruitment process will be shared in the coming week. In the interim, Dr. Jacobson will continue to serve as Chief of Staff until a successor is appointed, ensuring a smooth and effective transition of leadership.
Please join us in expressing our appreciation to Dr. Jacobson for his dedication and in wishing him continued success with future endeavors.
Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs
NOSM U is pleased to announce that Dr. Masoud Sadreddini has been appointed the Academic Registrant Lead within the Clinical Sciences Division at NOSM University. As the Academic Registrant Lead, Dr. Sadreddini will provide leadership and oversight for the Academic Registration (AR) process, an essential mechanism through which the Clinical Sciences Divisional Leadership supports recruiting clinical faculty members. The AR route, as outlined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), allows NOSM U to work collaboratively with hospitals to recruit physicians for academic positions who do not meet the usual certification requirements of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Dr. Sadreddini will serve as a resource to divisions and departments engaging in academic registration, providing guidance on eligibility, oversight of documentation and compliance, and ongoing support for those appointed under this pathway.
Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs
Medical Affairs is excited to announce that Dr. Siavosh Nasseri-Moghaddam has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a full time Gastroenterologist with the Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. Nasseri-Moghaddam earned his medical degree and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences before pursuing multiple international fellowships, including Liver Transplantation at the University of California, San Diego, Cancer Epidemiology at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection at the National Cancer Hospital in Tokyo. He also holds a Master of Public Health from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and completed a Clinical Nutrition and Gastroenterology Fellowship at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.
Throughout his career, Dr. Nasseri-Moghaddam has held numerous leadership roles, including Director of the Department of Gastroenterology at Shariati Hospital and Vice President of the Iranian Association of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (IAGH).
He has served on editorial boards for several international medical journals, chaired professional committees, and has been instrumental in advancing research and education in digestive diseases.
A prolific researcher with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and multiple book chapters, Dr. Nasseri-Moghaddam’s work has contributed significantly to understanding gastrointestinal disorders, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and autoimmune liver disease.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Dr. Nasseri-Moghaddam to our community. We are delighted to have him join our medical staff and look forward to the wealth of expertise, leadership, and compassion he brings to our patients and colleagues.
Teamwork, dedication, and excellence were on full display during Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre (TBRHSC)’s recent Minimum Staffing Drill. This annual exercise, mandated by the Ontario Fire Code, is coordinated by TBRHSC’s Emergency Preparedness and Interprofessional Education teams, and in partnership with Thunder Bay Fire Rescue (TBFR).
The Hospital-wide drill tests the ability to safely evacuate an in-patient unit during hours with minimum staffing levels. Every year the drill focuses on a different area of the Hospital to enhance these capabilities.
During the drill, more than 40 volunteers acting as mock patients and family members were evacuated from 3B (Surgical Inpatient) to 3C. This enhanced the exercise by providing the opportunity for staff to practice communication techniques and apply patient and family centred principles.
Volunteer Barb Rickards was happy to join in the learning opportunity for staff. “I had so much fun being a mock patient family member,” she exclaimed. “It was interesting to see what happens behind the scenes during a Hospital drill and how everyone stays calm and focused. The drill gave me a real appreciation for how much coordination and teamwork goes into providing safe patient care. It was great to see how the team worked together under pressure.”
The “room of origin” (where the mock fire started) was evacuated within 36 seconds and the entire unit was evacuated in 16 minutes and 44 seconds. Teams demonstrated strong communication and problem-solving skills while maintaining patient care standards. The exercise also provided valuable insight into workflow efficiency, communication processes, and cross-departmental support. Additionally, TBFR was impressed with how clean Anne Purves, Manager 3B, and her staff kept the unit, with tidy sprinkler heads and properly stored equipment.
“This was the first year we’ve had evacuation door tag markers in place, which will help accelerate the process for searching rooms and identifying them as evacuated,” said Mēsha Richard, Emergency Preparedness Lead. “Staff did an amazing job utilizing the new tool, but more familiarity will be beneficial. Everyone needs to trust that if a door is marked it means that space was already searched and cleared.”
“Overall, this drill gave us a realistic picture of how we can continue to deliver excellent care even under challenging circumstances,” added Richard.
The drill concluded successfully, with lessons learned documented and action plans developed to enhance exercise realism and improve future response strategies. Key takeaways included the importance of clear communication and delegation, as well as wayfinding to ensure responders follow the safest routes in and out of the impacted unit.
Shared on behalf of Empower the North
Do you feel that the health care and emergency services work force has “recovered” since facing the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic? What would meaningful recovery or resilience look like for you over the next few years?
Save the date! We are inviting individuals working in Health Care and Emergency Services to join us for an online community dialogue with Empower the North from Noon-1pm, Friday, November 14, 2025.
While the acute phase of the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, many of its long-term effects continue to impact individuals and service providers here in Thunder Bay. To help foster a resilient future, ETN has been collecting local data to better understand how our community is managing ongoing pressures, evolving services, and adapting to overall workforce and system-wide modifications. Join us to share stories of resilience and challenges faced due to the lingering impacts the pandemic has on your daily front-line work.
Information collected will be included in our community report to be shared later in 2025.
Interested? Please follow the link to RSVP by November 7, 2025: https://form.jotform.com/252977892740271
Once registered, participants will receive a Microsoft Teams meeting link and calendar invite.
Can’t make it? You’re welcome to forward this invitation along to colleagues who may be interested.
More info: https://empowerthenorth.ca/event/health-care-and-emergency-services-check-in/
Questions? Contact ETN Coordinator, Caroline Kajorinne: empowerthenorth@lspc.ca
Shared on behalf of Human Resources
We are excited to share with you this month’s edition of the Healthy Benefits Newsletter, written by Selectpath’s Education Specialist, Emily Simpson. Each edition is packed with valuable insights and information designed to enrich your understanding and engagement with topics that matter to you.
Shared on behalf of Quality and Risk Management
On Sunday, November 2nd at 2:00 a.m., clocks and watches fall back one hour to 1:00 a.m. to local Standard Time.
The accuracy of time is very important to ensuring safety at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. It is of importance not only for scheduling procedures and staffing, but also for charting accuracy and medication dispensing.
At 2:00 a.m. all electronic clocks that are controlled by the system (NICU, ICU, etc.) will be moved back to Standard Time automatically. Any final adjustments will be completed by 5:00 a.m. If any of these system clocks are not updated by 8:00 a.m., please contact the Maintenance Department (ext. 6344).
All departments will be responsible for changing the time on any battery operated clocks in their area. Computers will automatically change to Standard Time.
Please ensure that your personal watches/devices are updated and that any clocks in your area are adjusted in a timely manner.
Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs
Medical Affairs is excited to announce that Dr. Mohamed Elkoushy has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a full time Urologist with the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Elkoushy brings over 25 years of international experience in Urology, specializing in Endourology and Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery. He completed his medical degree, Master’s, and PhD in Urology at Suez Canal University in Egypt.
He completed an Endourology Clinical Research Fellowship and Virtual Reality Simulation in Urology and Management of Infravesical Obstruction Using Different Laser Techniques Fellowship at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Quebec.
An accomplished researcher and educator, Dr. Elkoushy has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in landmark urology texts including Campbell-Walsh Urology and Smith’s Textbook of Endourology. His academic excellence has been recognized through numerous international awards for research and clinical innovation.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Elkoushy to our Hospital. We look forward to the expertise, academic leadership, and compassionate care he brings to our patients and families.
