Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs

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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

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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 Quality and Risk Management

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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

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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.

Shared on behalf of NOSM University

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Health equity is central to the mission of NOSM University and its partners. Through community-engaged, evidence-informed research, faculty and collaborators are addressing real-world challenges that affect the accessibility, quality, and fairness of health care—particularly in rural, remote, and Northern communities.

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has awarded a research group affiliated with NOSM University a Project Grant totaling $803,251, reflecting the strength of collaboration and the impact of research rooted in local realities. Dr. Erin Cameron, Professor and Director of the Dr. Gilles Arcand Centre of Health Equity at NOSM University, in partnership with Ottawa’s Bruyère Health Research Institute, received the grant for the project A Place-based Framework for Equitable Health Service Delivery.

The project explores how geographic, health, and social data can improve the equity and effectiveness of the delivery of health services. By drawing on an existing place-based approach and incorporating community voices, the team aims to create a new framework that can guide more equitable service delivery in diverse settings.

This new framework will be refined through a pilot implementation in Thunder Bay, where it will be shaped by local data and lived experience. The goal is to build a model that can be adapted and scaled to improve equity in health-care systems across Canada. The project also highlights the strength of NOSM University’s research partnerships with community organizations, which bring together clinical care and education in ways that directly benefit Northern Ontarians.

Drs. Cameron and Claire Kendall are co-principal investigators on the project, with co-investigators including partners from the City of Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit, and numerous health providers and educational institutions across Northern Ontario. This project represents the ongoing commitment of NOSM University’s research community to foster collaboration with regional partners to address the unique health-care needs and experiences of Canadians.

“This CIHR-funded project exemplifies how collaboration, innovation, and social accountability can lead to transformative change in health care,” says Dr. David Marsh, Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies. “By working together across institutions, disciplines, and communities, NOSM University and its partners are advancing research excellence and helping to build a more equitable health system for all Northerners.”

October 29 is World Stroke Day. Every year, 12 million people in the world experience a stroke, which equates to one every two seconds. Stroke cuts off the supply of blood and oxygen to the brain. Every minute that strokes goes untreated, millions of cells die. Death by a stroke will result in every 1 in 2 people. For the stroke survivors, two thirds are left facing complications and long-term disabilities.

This years theme for World Stroke Day is every minute counts, with the goal of educating the public about the importance of time and when to Act FAST. The F.A.S.T. method (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency) is an effective tool for identifying stroke signs. Knowing how to spot the signs of stroke is an essential first step that can help make sure people get the treatment they need, fast. Acting fast doesn’t just save lives, it reduces the risk of life-long complications that can arise from having a stroke.

Today, the Northernwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network will be at St. Joseph’s Care Group for an in-person education session. The team will present on stroke screening tools, acute stroke treatments, and virtual stroke resources. By educating the public about the importance of time, the goal is to raise awareness to create a chain response for reaction time.

Every Minute Counts

• Every minute during a stroke 1.9 million brain cells die
• Every minute, 30 people will experience their first stroke
• Every minute saved by someone recognizing the signs of stroke and calling for emergency is critical

In honour of World Stroke Day 2025, we encourage everyone to:

• Educate themselves in the signs of stroke and pass the information on
• Partake in a healthy lifestyle
• Become a stroke spotter
• Listen and support stroke survivors and their unique stories

To learn more about stroke and World Stroke Day, visit the World Stroke Organization.

Quality and Safety: A Team Effort Across Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, quality and safety are not limited to a single department. From the frontlines to leadership, clinical to non-clinical spaces, and inpatient to outpatient settings, each staff member plays a vital role in delivering safe, high quality care.

Quality Huddles are departmental, leader and staff-led touch-points that provide a consistent platform for sharing innovative ideas related to safety and quality trends. What started with just seven clinical departments in 2023, has expanded to over 60 departments (including non-clinical and outpatient areas), with further plans for expansion underway. To date, over 1,575 huddles have been held, with more than 14,480 staff engagements. These gatherings have generated over 2,001 change ideas, with an impressive 1,283 already implemented.

This milestone is a testament to the hard work, collaboration, and dedication of TBRHSC staff. In alignment with our strategic goal to “focus relentlessly on quality”, the momentum behind the Quality Huddles initiative reflects how deeply a culture of quality and safety is embedded throughout our Hospital.

Congratulations to all of the award winners (below) who shared their innovative change ideas at this year’s Quality Huddle Excellence Awards.  Each presentation highlighted original ideas generated from Quality Huddles that occurred in 2024.

Presenter	Department	Quality Improvement Idea
Tracy Peltier	Labour and Delivery	Operating Room Standardization
Jennifer Pearson	Radiology	MIS Recording Update
Rachel Lyon	IA Medicine/Oncology	Potassium Shifting PPDO
Taylor MacKenizie	2A Medicine	Acute Withdrawal Desk Revamp
Meghan Hill	3C Surgery/Neuro	Magnetic Butterflies
Joelle Macey	Adult Mental Health	New WPV Risk Assessments
Tara Posselwhite	Transitional Care Unit	Laminated Seating Tags
Jennifer Svane	Materials Management	Vendor Shipment Amalgamation
Nancy Baker	Medical Device Reprocessing	New Sharps Cards
Victoria Marks and Megan Valente	Patient and Family Centred Care	Afternoon Snack Cart
Ashley Dell	Portering	Teletracker Mandatory Isolation
Nicole Moffet and Christian Nielsen	Security	Emergency Department Improved Accessibility

A heartfelt thank you to the Quality Resource Management (QRM) team for their unwavering support in facilitating these huddles and guiding teams through the quality improvement journey. Together, we’re working towards our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time.

Shared on behalf of the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Department

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This year’s COVID-19 vaccine program aims to ensure Ontarians are protected against COVID-19 disease including severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended individuals receive the updated COVID-19 vaccine annually. The mechanism of increased protection from an updated COVID-19 vaccine is likely a combination of both providing a recent vaccination that boosts the immune response and providing a vaccine that is more closely related to the circulating strain.

The 2025/2026 COVID-19 vaccine program, in alignment with the Universal Influenza Immunization Program, has transitioned to an annual program, with guidance issued each year for the September to August respiratory season and immunization provided at the specified schedules and timing

The COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time with other vaccines, or at any time before or after other non-COVID-19 vaccines (live or non-live vaccines), including influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines and/or the RSV monoclonal antibody.

The Occupational Health and Safety Department is pleased to be offering the Moderna Spikevax to all staff, professional staff and volunteers of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre by appointment only.

The COVID-19 vaccine clinic will be held every Friday starting October 31 until Dec 13, 2025.

Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Appointments can be booked by calling the OHS department at 684-6212.

To be eligible for the vaccine, you must be a health care worker 18 years of age. Six months (168 days) must have passed since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Staff must bring a piece of government issued Identification in order to obtain the vaccine. Your Health Card or Driver’s License is acceptable.