In celebration of Diversity Month this April, we’re creating something special—a digital map of all the places Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre (TBRHSC) staff, professional staff, and volunteers have worked around the world.

From hometown roles to international experiences, every location is an important piece of your story. By the end of April, we’ll bring your responses together on a digital map to showcase the incredible global footprint of the TBRHSC team.

How to Participate: You can submit your locations here by Thursday, April 29 at 12:00 p.m.

Thank you for being part of what makes our workplace so diverse.

For more information on Diversity Month, see below:

April is Diversity Month — a time to recognize, celebrate, and honor the wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that make up our workforce and the communities we serve.

Diversity includes differences across many dimensions, such as race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability status, religion, sexual orientation, and life experiences — all of which shape who we are.

In health care, embracing diversity is essential to providing respectful, patient centred care. When employees feel respected and included, they are more engaged, collaborative, and better able to provide high-quality care.

How We Can Celebrate Diversity Month

• Take time to learn more about cultures, traditions, and perspectives different from your own.
• Foster respectful dialogue with colleagues and patients, and be mindful of how language, behaviors, and unconscious biases affect others.
• Encourage an environment where everyone feels heard and valued.

Moving Forward Together

Diversity Month reminds us that our differences are not barriers—they are strengths. By embracing diversity and practicing inclusion every day, we create a healthier workplace and provide better care for the communities we serve.

Let this month serve as a starting point for continued learning, compassion, and connection. Together, we can build a culture where everyone — staff and patients alike — feels respected, supported, and valued.

You can learn more about Celebrating Diversity Month here: https://www.stompoutbullying.org/blog/diversity-month

As we prepare to celebrate National Physicians’ Day (May 1), we would like to recognize the invaluable contributions of the professional staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and the meaningful impact they have on patient care, our organization, and the communities we serve. This day offers an opportunity to reflect on the dedication, compassion, and expertise that define our Professional Staff members and to express our sincere appreciation for all that they do.

In honour of this special day, we invite you to help us highlight and celebrate the individuals who make a difference every day. Whether through exceptional patient care, leadership, innovation, mentorship, or acts of kindness, their contributions shape the experience of care at our Hospital and beyond.

If you would like to recognize a member of TBRSHC’s professional staff, we would love to hear from you. Submissions may include brief stories, words of appreciation, memorable experiences, or quotes that capture gratitude and recognition for Professional Staff and they will be featured and displayed during Professional Staff Appreciation Week (April 27 – May 1).

If you are interested in participating, please submit your content to TBRHSC.MedicalAffairs@tbh.net by Friday, April 24, and include your name, role, and department.

Administrative Professionals Day (April 22) is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the vital contributions of administrative assistants, executive assistants, clerks, and other office professionals.

To all of the administrative professionals at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute — thank you for your dedication, expertise, and the essential role you play in keeping our organization running smoothly. Today, we celebrate YOU!

(…and thank you to the staff who submitted photos for today’s Daily Informed Newsletter).

Shared on behalf of Jeannine Verdenik, VP People & Culture and Miranda Lesperance, VP Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion

---

I am pleased to announce that Marlee Pradal has accepted the newly combined position of Executive Assistant to the Vice Presidents of People & Culture and Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion and will begin in this role on May 19, 2026.

Marlee joins us from Noojmawing Sookatagaing Ontario Health Team (OHT), where she provided executive support to the Implementation Lead and the Collaboration Council Co-Facilitators.  Previous to this, Marlee was the Administrative Assistant, Informatics for the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, where she acquired experience and knowledge in hospital operations that will serve her well in her new role.

Besides experience and knowledge, Marlee brings a unique perspective of the opportunities and challenges within Indigenous health both on a system level and a health organization level from support provided to the Indigenous Leadership Council of the OHT.  Marlee will be a valuable asset to our team.

Effective May 19, 2026, Marlee can be reached at Marlee.Pradal1@tbh.net and ext. 6225.

For Megan Valente, those small, everyday moments are what define the impact volunteers have at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

It’s the exhausted patient arriving at the front entrance and being helped into a wheelchair to their appointment. The cancer centre patient feeling unwell and being offered a ginger ale. The patient who is visited daily by a Hospital Elder Life volunteer, helping them forget, if only briefly, that they are in the hospital. “These small interactions can make a big difference in a patient’s experience,” says Valente, Coordinator of Volunteer Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Valente has been with Volunteer Services at the Health Sciences Centre since 2018. Her interest in the work was originally sparked in a previous role with the Health Sciences Foundation, where volunteers were part of her portfolio. “I saw how selfless volunteers were and the difference they made for patients and families,” she says. “I knew those were the type of people I wanted to work with.” Today, she supports, guides, and oversees the hospital’s volunteer program that touches nearly every part of the hospital, from recruitment, onboarding, and training to placement, recognition, and ongoing support, while working closely with departments to ensure volunteers enhance the patient and family experience.

“No two days are ever exactly the same,” she says. “At the heart of it, my role is really about building relationships and connection.” Through her work, Valente has gained a deeper appreciation for the role community plays in healthcare. While volunteers are not part of clinical care, she says they offer something just as important—compassion, support, and human connection.

“It’s not just about clinical care, it’s also about compassion, dignity, and connection,” she says. “Volunteers bring a human element that can make a meaningful difference.” Over time, the volunteer program has continued to evolve, expanding opportunities across the hospital and placing greater emphasis on meaningful roles, training, and support to ensure volunteers feel confident and valued. That impact is made possible by the dedication volunteers bring to their roles each day. “They show up in snowstorms, on holidays, and even when things are going on in their personal lives, and they do so with a smile,” Valente says. “Volunteers at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are truly exceptional people.”

“The biggest thing I want to share with volunteers is the most sincere thank you I can. Thank you for showing up week after week for patients and families. Thank you for being an inspiring part of our community,” she says. “People like you are what make our city and community great, and I just hope you know how appreciated you are.”

Shared on behalf of Dr. Adam Exley, Vice President, Medical Affairs

---

Following a successful interim period since October 2025, Dr. Caitlin McCallum has been appointed to the role of Medical Director, Inpatient Medicine Services for a three year term, with the position now established as an ongoing leadership role. This appointment reflects the hospital’s commitment to strong, sustained medical leadership in support of our inpatient medical care mandate.

In this role, Dr. McCallum provides strategic and clinical leadership for Inpatient Medicine Services. Working within a shared leadership and program management model, she partners closely with various Administrative Directors, Medical Leaders, and the Vice President, Medical Affairs to advance the organization, cohesion, and delivery of inpatient medical care across multiple services.

Dr. McCallum is responsible for overseeing Inpatient Medicine performance indicators, and she leads and supports strategic planning related to inpatient service design, operating requirements, and quality improvement initiatives aligned with the Hospital’s strategic priorities. In addition, she plays a key role in identifying and addressing barriers to patient flow across inpatient medical services, fostering collaboration between specialty services to enhance patient care and system integration.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. McCallum on her appointment of Medical Director, Inpatient Medicine Services, and in continuing to offer your support as she works with a variety of medical leaders to advance this work.

Over 40 clinics across Northwestern Ontario are taking part in the Cervical Screen-a- thon this April!

If you’re due for cervical screening, now’s a great time to book. Call 807-684-7777 to make your appointment, and visit tbrhsc.net/screenathon to learn more and see all participating locations.

---

National Volunteer Week 2026: Ignite Volunteerism

During National Volunteer Week 2026 (April 19-25), Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation are celebrating the dedicated volunteers who help enhance the patient and family experience every day. This year’s theme from Volunteer Canada, Ignite Volunteerism, recognizes the power of volunteerism to inspire connection, compassion and community impact.

Knowing that their contributions are valued and meaningful gives volunteers a strong sense of purpose and dedication. Whether offering a listening ear to an inpatient, serving a cup of tea to someone receiving chemotherapy, or providing a warm welcome and wayfinding assistance at the main entrance, each act of kindness contributes to the overall wellness of our community — today and for future generations.

Volunteers play an important role in supporting patient and family centred care at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. They serve in many capacities, including as Hospital and Foundation volunteers and as Patient Family Advisors (PFAs).

At the Hospital, volunteers support patients and families in a variety of ways. Some serve in patient-facing roles on inpatient units, while others assist outpatients through hospitality and transport services. Volunteers also provide administrative support, help in reception and greeting roles, assist with fundraising through the Seasons Gift Shop, and share their talents through music and gardening programs.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Hospital, visit www.tbrhsc.net and explore the Join our Team section to apply online and learn more. You can also email TBRHSC.Volunteering@tbh.net or call 807-684-6267.

Patient Family Advisors (PFAs) are volunteers who draw on their personal healthcare experiences to share valuable perspectives on how hospital services affect patients and families.

PFAs help ensure that the patient voice is heard. As partners in care, they provide input into the policies, programs and practices that shape the services our Hospital delivers. By working alongside staff and healthcare providers, PFAs help us better meet the needs and priorities of our patients, families and community.

To learn more about becoming a Patient Family Advisor, visit www.tbrhsc.net and go to Join our Team, call 807-684-7322, or email TBRHSC.PFCC@tbh.net.

Volunteers are also essential to the success of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation. They support the Foundation by providing administrative assistance, helping with special events, and selling raffle tickets at locations throughout the region.

To become a Foundation volunteer, call 807-345-4673 or email volunteers@healthsciencesfoundation.ca.

Volunteers are the backbone of our organizations and an essential link to the community. Their generosity, compassion and commitment help make the patient and family experience better in countless ways.

As we celebrate National Volunteer Week 2026, we thank all of the volunteers who make a difference every day. This week, and throughout the year, we recognize the collective impact of volunteerism and the many ways volunteers help strengthen and connect our community.

Thank you, volunteers!

As we celebrate Indigenous Nurses Day (May 11), we want to recognize the significant contributions of Indigenous nurses to the healthcare industry. As the opening day of National Nursing Week, it sets the tone for a week of appreciation, reflection, and recognition of nursing excellence.

In honour of this special day, we would like to highlight the achievements of Indigenous nurses and their home communities. Their expertise and dedication have significantly impacted the lives of many patients and their families, inspiring others and raising awareness of the critical role that Indigenous nurses play in promoting wellness and healing for Indigenous communities.

If you are an Indigenous nurse/nursing student, or there is an Indigenous nurse on your team who you would like to highlight, we would love to hear from you! Please share your experiences, challenges, successes, or quotes as a health care provider by Friday, May 1. The submissions will be featured at a booth on Indigenous Nurses Day, and will include a photo of the nurse or student along with the information they provide. If you are interested in participating, please send your email and phone number to Annette Klement.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to health care. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Please send your experiences to Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Lead at Annette.Klement@tbh.net.

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.