Clinical placements play a vital role in a health care learner’s journey, bridging academic learning with real-world practice and helping students build confidence, competence, and professional identity. Through hands-on experience, learners develop essential clinical skills, teamwork, and an understanding of patient-centred care.

As an academic health sciences centre, our Hospital is proud to support learners by providing a safe, supportive, and enriching placement environment where future professionals can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to patient care.

We want you to meet some of the learners at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) who are currently on that journey — such as Alesha Bishop.

Name: Alesha Bishop

Hometown: Thunder Bay, born and raised.

Current Year: Fourth year NOSM University medical student

What does an average day during your placement look like?

I am currently on my emergency core block so each day is very different. Some days I am working with a preceptor navigating complex acute cases in a rapid fashion, and other days I’m on the fast track side working on clinical and procedural skills including casting, suturing, dressing changes, and overall helping patients with rapid-style care to get them back to doing what they love.

Is there a mentor or faculty member who has significantly impacted you? 

A mentor that has significantly impacted me is Dr. Beaverly Preater. Her love of rural medicine has impacted my desire to practice rural medicine, where patients still experience acute pathology, but you have to navigate situations in resource limited facilities. You rely on the team, your training, and gestalt to treat critical situations, where sometimes guidelines don’t apply and tools become multi-purposeful.

What is one interesting fact others might not know about you? 

I was born in my amniotic sac!

Shared on behalf of Environmental Services

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Housekeeping will be completing floor care in the Cafeteria and Lobby beginning the week of May 19.  Work will take place overnight between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am to minimize disruption to patients, visitors, and staff.

The project will begin in the Cafeteria and progress to the Lobby, with completion anticipated by Friday, May 29.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Dell, Manager Environmental Services at Ashley.Dell@tbh.net,

Shared on behalf of Dr. Mohammed Bassuony, Medical Lead, Hospitalist Service and Dr. Adam Exley, Vice President, Medical Affairs

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A Message from Dr. Mohammed Bassuony, Medical Lead, Hospitalist Service

As I near the end of my tenure with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, I am pleased to announce that two highly capable members of the Hospitalist Service will be stepping into cover leadership of the service on an interim basis. Dr. Jacinta Oyella and Dr. Samantha Biggs will assume the role of Interim Medical Co-Leads for the period of May 18, 2026 to August 31, 2026. This provides an overlap with my departure from the leadership position on May 31, 2026 to ensure a seamless transition. 

During the overlap period, I will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the service while providing orientation to the co-leads, and they will begin supporting physician recruitment activities with Medical Affairs and engaging in future planning meetings related to In Patient Medicine design.

It has been a true privilege to serve this team, TBRHSC and the patients and families we care for. I have every confidence that the Hospitalist Service will continue to grow and thrive, and I am grateful to Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs for stepping up to cover the role during this important period.

A Message from Dr. Adam Exley, Vice President, Medical Affairs

I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Bassuony for his tremendous contributions and dedicated leadership of the Hospitalist Service. He will be greatly missed in this role, and he has built the foundation upon which quality care will continue to be delivered.

Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs will report to myself as the VP of Medical Affairs and will work collaboratively with Dr. Caitlin McCallum as the Medical Director of Inpatient Medicine Services on program operations. From a quality of care perspective, the Hospitalist Service will be aligned with the Department of Internal Medicine during this interim phase.

A schedule identifying a primary lead point of contact between Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs will be communicated shortly to ensure clarity and ease of communication for the team and others across TBRHSC.  Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs will also both play an important role in representing the Hospitalist Service as leadership across Medicine Services begins to assess the recommendations for implementation from the recent review of Inpatient Medicine Services.

When the new Inpatient Medicine leadership structure is approved and ready for implementation, there will be an open and transparent competition for the ongoing medical leadership role overseeing the service. 

We are grateful to Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs for stepping up quickly, and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is fully committed to supporting the Hospitalist Team as it continues to grow and succeed.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, observed annually on May 17, serves as a meaningful occasion to celebrate gender and sexual diversity, recognize the progress achieved toward greater equity for members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, and raise awareness about the ongoing challenges they continue to face.

What are homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia?

The terms homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia describe attitudes and beliefs that create barriers for individuals based on their perceived membership in the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

In the healthcare system, recognizing these perspectives highlights opportunities to promote equity and understanding, inspiring efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Pride Month is just around the corner. Throughout June, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Steering Committee’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ Subcommittee and Pride Working Group will be hosting several events to celebrate and support the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. Keep an eye on the Daily Informed Newsletter for more details.

To learn more about the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, please go to: https://may17.org/

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fetal-health-surveillance-4-hour-refresher-virtual-june-3rd-tickets-1985156300935?aff=oddtdtcreator

Shared on behalf of Ryan Sears – Director, Capital & Facility Services

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Please be advised the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (at the 980 Oliver Road location only) will execute a planned impairment of its entire Overhead Paging System and Fire System on Thursday, May 21, 2026 for approximately four (4) hours – starting at 11:00 PM to facilitate fire system program updates. 

Our Facilities and Security teams will be enacting and overseeing our Fire System Impairment and Fire Watch procedures, as included in the Fire Plan for our site. 

During this impairment, no Hot Work will be authorized. Further, any high risk work that could result in an elevated risk of fire, heat, or smoke should not be planned – please review this within your department and plan to discontinue high-risk activities (i.e. construction, repairs, hot showers, etc).  Should you observe activities that may be of concern during the impairment, contact your Supervisor or Manager to discuss. 

While the Hospital’s Overhead Paging System is out of service, alternate measures will be applied to notify the organization of Emergency Codes and Alerts. Staff will continue to activate all Codes using extension 55. Please see the attached policy for guidance.  

Key things to remember during an outage:

1. Regularly monitor email for emergency code and alert notices issued by Switchboard.
2. Respond to emergency codes and alerts through alternate communication measures, e.g., paging, radios, emails, runners, etc., as appropriate – and activate response as required.
3. Be vigilant in reviewing department activities during the period of fire system impairment.
4. Clinical leads are encouraged to collaborate with their teams to consider alternatives to paging patients back to units, such as collecting Patients’ mobile phone numbers.

 Further, in event of fire during this impairment, please execute all steps as outlined in Code Red Policy (EMER-30) and your area sub plan. Should you discover a fire – “REACT”:
R – Remove persons in immediate danger
E – Ensure doors are closed to confine fire or smoke
A – Activate the fire alarm by pulling the nearest pull station
C– Call Switchboard at Ext 55 to report the location of the fire
T– Try to extinguish the fire if trained to do so or continue to evacuate 

The contractor for the fire system work is Troy Life & Fire Safety. The Building System Operator is onsite and reachable at cell number 807-629-7005. Further support will be provided by Security (684-6509) and the on call Facility Manager (cell number 807-629-3119) as required. 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the above, please contact Ryan Sears. 

The Moose Hide Campaign began in 2011 along the Highway of Tears in northern British Columbia, when co-founders Paul Lacerte and his daughter Raven Lacerte took a hunting trip that inspired a national movement. Deeply impacted by the ongoing crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls, they created the campaign as a way for men and boys to take a stand and be part of the solution.

The Moose Hide Campaign is a Canada-wide movement that invites all Canadians to commit to ending gender-based violence. Wearing a small square of moose hide symbolizes a personal pledge to honour, respect, and protect the women and children in our lives. It also encourages meaningful conversations, reflection, and action toward reconciliation and safer communities for Indigenous Peoples.

Participating in the Moose Hide Campaign is a simple but powerful way to show solidarity and support a future free from violence.

On May 6, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre hosted an information booth and gave away Moosehide pins for staff to show their support for this important cause.

To learn more: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/

Click to register for the livestream event held on Thursday, May 14: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/campaignday/

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Fawcett, Director, Academic and Medical Affairs; and Melissa Enmore, Director, Strategy and Performance Management

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We are pleased to announce that Cortney Ibey has accepted the full-time role of Administrative Assistant, Medical Affairs & Strategy and Performance Management effective May 11, 2026.

Cortney is new to our organization and joins us with a background in corporate and social services administrative roles with excellent experience in records management and meeting support. 

Cortney will report to Jennifer Fawcett and provide administrative support to the Medical Affairs Team with a matrix support to Strategy and Performance Management led by Melissa Enmore. 

Please join us in welcoming Cortney to her new role.

Congratulations David Safronyck, RN (3B), winner of this year’s Preceptor Award.  

David was selected for this award for his exceptional contributions as a preceptor and the positive impact he has on learners and newly hired nurses. 

David consistently supports his mentees by thoroughly reviewing policies and procedures and ensuring they know where to find essential resources. He creates a supportive learning environment where questions are encouraged, and he uses every moment as an opportunity to teach. His patient and caring demeanor helps learners feel comfortable and confident as they develop their skills. He is highly professional in all interactions and demonstrates a strong commitment to each individual’s success.

David thoughtfully adapts his teaching methods to match each learner’s needs and style, enhancing their understanding and promoting confidence in their practice. His ability to individualize instruction makes a meaningful difference in the learning experience. 

David is also a trusted resource on the unit, nurses consistently rely on his expertise and seek his advice when complex situations arise. His willingness to support others extends beyond his assigned mentees, contributing to a culture of teamwork and continuous learning. 

Key strengths in David’s preceptering approach include his patience, compassion, and strong commitment to teaching. He excels at reinforcing skills, reviewing knowledge, and ensuring that learner’s feel supported every step of the way. His dedication and professionalism make him an outstanding preceptor and a valued member of the team. 

Thank you, David, for your commitment to mentoring the next generation of nurses.

It is National Nursing Week and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is highlighting a few of our nurses and their achievements. Meet Chunyan Qu, a Nurse Practitioner at our Hospital.

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Before Chunyan became a nurse practitioner (NP), she worked as a bedside registered nurse on Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Surgical unit for approximately four years. During that time, she became more comfortable and felt great satisfaction with her career.

“I was the care partner for my patients and their family; I was their cheer leader, coach/educator, and much more,” says Chunyan. “I was there when they needed support during a difficult part of their lives.”

Chunyan started thinking about what would come next in her career. She wanted to advance her skill set while staying in nursing and became interested in becoming a nurse practitioner. After figuring out the logistics of balancing work, family and school, she determined becoming an NP was achievable.

As an NP, Chunyan has the autonomy to assess patients at an advanced nursing level – ordering necessary diagnostic testing/lab work, interpret results and creating treatment plans for patients who are medically stable independently. She can also refer them to the appropriate physician or specialist when needed.

“Being a nurse is rewarding; being an NP is extra rewarding,” says Chunyan. “I feel my care and effort in trying to make a positive change in other’s lives is recognized by my patients and their families. I’m considered as someone who is reliable and can be depended on.”