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 Molly Kunnas.

Hometown – Thunder Bay, ON

Program – Speech-Language Pathology at Western University.

What does an average day during your placement look like?

Our day typically begins with reviewing patient charts and any new swallowing assessment referrals that have come in. My preceptor and I then discuss our caseload and prioritize patients we’d like to see that day. One aspect of my placement that I have particularly enjoyed is the opportunity to work within the cancer centre, where we see head and neck cancer patients for swallowing assessments and follow-up appointments during and after radiation therapy. Much of our day involves conducting swallowing assessments, determining whether patients are swallowing safely, and developing recommendations to support safe and efficient oral intake. We work closely with registered dietitians and other members of the interdisciplinary team to ensure patients are not only eating and drinking safely but are also able to meet their nutritional needs. We also assess and treat patients with speech, language, and cognitive-communication difficulties.

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

I’ve been really fortunate to have such amazing support from my preceptor Emily Hill. As a student entering an acute care placement, there is a learning curve, and Emily has been consistently supportive and encouraging throughout my placement.  It’s been great to watch and learn from her as well as the other amazing speech-language pathologists at TBRHSC. I feel very grateful to have had this as my final placement working alongside such wonderful clinicians!

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

I’m a former student athlete and played for the women’s hockey team at University of Manitoba.

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In partnership with the University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre (PMCC), Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is preparing for the 2028 launch of its new Cardiovascular Surgery Program. This initiative will bring life-saving cardiac care closer to home for patients across Northwestern Ontario. As part of this effort, a phased staffing and training strategy has begun.

“We are building a highly skilled and sustainable cardiovascular surgery team that will be ready to safely support patients when the program launches,” said Ron Garon, Manager, Perioperative Services at TBRHSC.

As part of the preparation process, staff from various departments will attend PMCC for hands-on training. This includes (but not limited to) operating room-trained nurses, a Registered Nurse First Assistant and an Anaesthesia Assistant.

Additionally, through a proactive “grow your own” staff model, cardiovascular perfusion team members will complete the two year Cardiovascular Perfusion Program at the Michener Institute of Education followed by a transition into clinical practice at PMCC, where they gain hands-on clinical experience, at a high-volume cardiac centre, before returning home to Thunder Bay to support the program’s launch. Currently, two of TBRHSC’s cardiovascular perfusionists are working at PMCC, with a third starting this summer. The fourth team member is starting her first year of studies at the Michener Institute of Education in the Cardiovascular Perfusion program.

Once trained, these staff members will take a lead role in educating and onboarding of future cardiac surgery personnel in collaboration with TBRHSC’s Clinical Nurse Specialists, helping to ensure the program’s long-term sustainability.

To support both the new cardiac surgery service and broader needs, the Clinical Nurse Specialist offers a perioperative training course for staff working in the operating room. Recruitment efforts align with anticipated staffing demands while also considering existing vacancies, retirements, maternity leaves, and sick leave coverage.

“The investment in both people and infrastructure will significantly improve access to care for patients who currently must travel long distances for complex cardiac procedures,” stated Garon.

For Garon, the importance of local access to cardiac surgery is deeply personal.

“My father has a complex medical history and required an aortic valve replacement that could only be performed at PMCC,” he shared. “The care he received was exceptional. However, because we do not have family in Toronto and because of the restrictions in place at the time, he had to spend five days recovering alone in hospital.”

Garon recalled waiting in a nearby hotel throughout his recovery in case an urgent issue arose.

“When he was discharged, we had to travel home on a commercial flight. He was in pain, exhausted, cold, and generally unwell. If he could have had this procedure at home, there would have been family support throughout his recovery and only a short 10-minute drive home afterward instead of the long journey from Toronto back to Thunder Bay.”

The upcoming Cardiovascular Surgery Program is expected to transform care for patients and families throughout Northwestern Ontario by reducing travel burdens and allowing more residents to recover closer to home and loved ones.

“Our community members are extremely fortunate to soon be able to receive this care closer to home,” Garon stated.

Pride Month Trivia starts today. Throughout the month of June, Pride trivia questions will be posted weekly on the Intranet. This is a great opportunity to learn more about Pride, while also having the chance to win prizes. Click here to participate, or scan the QR code below:

Get Started with SharePoint

With the transition to SharePoint, we want to make sure you’re ready!

Join one of our drop-in sessions or check out our training resources to get started on your SharePoint journey.

Learn About SharePoint

Visit M365Hub.tbh.net or nwohealth.sharepoint.com/sites/M365Training to check out our education resources.

Join SharePoint Drop-In Sessions

On Wednesdays from June 10 to December 9, ask questions and get support for SharePoint. Visit the M365Hub training page at M365Hub.tbh.net for links.

SharePoint Training [All Staff]

• Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

SharePoint Training [Leaders and Owners]

• Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Contact Us

Give us a call at 807-684-6411, email us at Help.Desk@tbh.net, or submit a ticket on our Help Desk Self Service app for support.

If you have any questions, please contact the Help Desk at Help.Desk@tbh.net.

Happy Pride Month! Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is proud to fly the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag and celebrate the diversity and resilience of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community throughout the month of June. We recognize the ongoing inequities faced by gender and sexually diverse individuals, particularly within the health care system. TBRHSC’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ Subcommittee and Pride Working Group, on behalf of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee invite you to celebrate Pride, and work towards a more inclusive future for 2SLGBTQQIA+ patients, families, staff, and community members. TBRHSC is committed to integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion into our patient care, as emphasized in our Strategic Plan 2026.

What do the colours of the Pride flag represent?

The Pride flag is one of the most recognized symbols of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. First created by Gilbert Baker in 1978, the original Pride flag featured eight colours: hot pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, blue, and purple.

Since its inception, the Pride flag has undergone many changes. This includes the removal of the pink and turquoise stripes, followed by the addition of black and brown stripes to represent communities of colour, with black also representing the lives lost during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Light blue, pink, and white were subsequently added to represent the Trans community; and a purple circle on a yellow background represents the Intersex community.

The current Pride flag is the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag, which was developed in 2021 by Valentino Vecchietti. The six rainbow colours represent:

1. Red: Life
2. Orange: Healing
3. Yellow: Sunlight
4. Green: Nature
5. Blue: Serenity
6. Purple: Spirit

To learn more about the history of the Pride flag, please go to the Human Rights Campaign at: https://www.hrc.org/resources/lgbtq-pride-flags

Driving is one of the most sedentary ways to get around, and can add hours of sitting to your day.

Office workers often sit 70–80% of the day, making it especially important to reintroduce movement where possible.

Adding small bouts of movement can increase energy and lower long-term health risks. 

Sign up for the Active Commute Challenge and try one active commute this week.

Shared on behalf of Dr. Adam Exley, VP Medical Affairs

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To all professional staff:

Please find the attached Call for Internal Applicants for Medical Director, Emergency Medicine (Temporary 6 Month Contract).

The Opportunity

Working in a program management model and reporting to the Vice President, Medical Affairs, the Medical Director, Emergency Medicine, works in partnership with the Director of Pre-hospital, Emergency and Critical Care Services to lead the program of Emergency Medicine at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

The Medical Director is responsible for advancing the program’s clinical vision, strategic priorities, and quality performance metrics. The Medical Director works collaboratively with physician leaders, administrative leadership, and partners to support program performance, evidence-informed practice, quality improvement metrics, patient flow, and ensuring services align with Hospital goals and evolving community/regional needs.

While the Medical Director, Emergency Medicine does not report to the Chief of Emergency/Trauma, they maintain collaborative and ongoing communication with the Chief. The Medical Director will keep the Chief informed of program directions, operational decisions, and initiatives that may have a material impact on the Department and will work in partnership to support the effective delivery of Emergency Medicine.

A full role description is available upon request.

Interested applicants are invited to forward their curriculum vitae and cover letter, in confidence, by June 11th, 2026 at 1600 hours to:

Medical and Academic Affairs
Email: TBRHSC.MedicalAffairs@tbh.net
Attention: Jennifer Fawcett, Director Academic and Medical Affairs

Shared on behalf of Patricia Lang , Chair, TBRHSC Board of Directors

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As summer comes into view and the fiscal year wraps up, I want to share some thoughts about where we are and what comes next.

In spite of the systemic challenges of the past year, we have momentum. We broke ground on the Cardiovascular Surgery Program, which will bring complex cardiac care to Northwestern Ontario by 2028. The Bridge Northwest Program continued its work to connect twelve hospitals across the region on a shared electronic patient record. And, Indigenous health engagement deepened through Miskwaa Biidaaban and through new partnerships with Matawa Education and Care Centre, Anishnawbe Mushkiki, Grand Council Treaty #3 and Matawa Health Co-operative.

In November, the Foundation approved $22.8 million in funding for this Hospital. This is the largest single commitment in its history and those funds are being used to replace existing aged equipment, purchase vital new equipment and update patient rooms.

We are in the fourth and final year of Strategic Plan 2026 – Exceptional care for every patient, every time. The development of the next strategic plan starts this fall and the community engagement is essential. TBRHSC is not the Board’s hospital. It is not the staff’s hospital. It is yours. The people of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario built this institution. They fund it, depend on it and must have a say in what it does next. If you live in this city or region, your input matters. Please participate as community engagement begins. We need to hear from you.

Serving on this Board, and on its committees, is one of the most direct ways residents of this city and region can shape the future of their hospital. Board members and community members on committees bring perspectives that the operational leadership side cannot. The Hospital welcomes applications from people across Northwestern Ontario who want to contribute their expertise and experience to the work of governance of the Hospital. If you have ever wondered whether it might be for you, I encourage you to visit the Hospital website for more information on the Board and committee opportunities.

To my fellow Board members, thank you for your expertise, your time commitment, and the hard decisions you’ve had to make. To Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, our President and CEO, to Dr. Laura Power, our new Chief of Staff and Dr. Brad Jacobson our outgoing Chief of Staff, our Senior Leadership, our professional staff and every employee across the Hospital and the Research Institute, thank you for showing up when it was hardest and doing the work that mattered most. Thank you to our donors who support us through the Foundation, your generosity makes the difference.

The annual meeting which will be held this June marks the end of my term as Chair. Serving has been a privilege. The work continues, and I leave the Board in very capable hands.