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 Megan Dysievick.

Hometown: Kakabeka Falls, ON

Program: Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Waterloo

What does an average day during your placement look like?

I am currently completing a placement in the Specialty Pharmacy within the Cancer Centre at TBRHSC. Each day brings something different, as the pharmacists here have a wide range of responsibilities. One of my primary tasks is performing dose checks on oral chemotherapy medications. The oncologists send the pharmacy team different regimens that they either want to start a patient on, or are considering as part of treatment. I review the regimen and provide a dosage that is appropriate for the patient based on their condition, lab values, etc. I review their other medications to check for any potential interactions, and if there are any present, determine how we manage them.

I also answer questions patients have about natural health products and whether they are safe to take with their chemotherapy, home medications, and medical conditions. I observe the pharmacists when they teach patients about their new oral chemotherapy meds, and help provide counselling on supportive medications they may be on during treatment. I also help provide follow up once patients are started on new oral chemotherapy regimens.

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

One of my most influential mentors at the hospital has been Erika, a pharmacist in the main Pharmacy Department. She served as my preceptor during my co-op placement at TBRHSC in 2024. When I started that placement, I did not think that I was going to enjoy practicing pharmacy in a hospital setting, and I thought that I was going to practice in a community setting when I graduated. Erika was so encouraging and inspiring every day that I was here, and I ended up falling in love with hospital pharmacy practice. She goes above and beyond in her duties as a pharmacist, and I truly look up to her.

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

I have been teaching myself to crochet! I wanted to be able to create personalized gifts for my loved ones. I recently finished a baby blanket to gift a baby that’s joining the family mid-May.

Shared on behalf of Jennifer Gadioma, Interim Manager Practice and Learning

---

I am pleased to announce that Kyla Gauthier has accepted the position as an Interprofessional Practice and Learning Lead. In this position, she will support practice development, staff learning, and interprofessional collaboration across the organization, specializing in Forensics and Mental Health services. 

Kyla brings strong clinical and educational experience to the role. She worked as a Registered Nurse on the Adult Mental Health Unit for four years and recently completed her Master of Nursing through Lakehead University. She has also supported student learning as a laboratory instructor for Personal Support Worker students and as a Clinical Instructor for Nursing students. 

Kyla is passionate about mentorship, education, and supporting healthcare teams through meaningful learning opportunities. 

Outside of work, Kyla enjoys staying active through running, hockey, and softball. 

Please join me in welcoming Kyla into this exciting new opportunity and congratulating her on this well-deserved role.

­Shared on behalf of Ron Garon, Manager, Perioperative Services and Paul Shewfelt, Operations Coordinator-Nursing, Perioperative Services

---

Effective immediately, we kindly ask that all calls related to the Endoscopy Department be directed exclusively to extension number 6193.  For the Endoscopy Booking Office, please use extension number 6184.

To help us maintain efficient communication and ensure that inquiries are handled promptly by the appropriate team members, please remove or update any outdated contact numbers you may still have saved for our department. Using the correct extension will help prevent delays, missed messages, or misdirected calls.

We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we work to streamline our communication process and continue providing efficient service.

Congratulations to Destiny Knorr, Unit Care Aid! She is the winner of Week 5’s Accreditation Trivia. She won a $25 gift card for Goods and Co.

Week 1 Question: What are the four pillars of the Strategic Plan?

Answer: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Patient Experience; Staff Experience; Research, Innovation and Learning

Week 2 Question: How do you report a patient safety incident or near miss?

Answer: Patient Safety Reporting console (Incident Learning System [ILS])

Week 3 Question:How do you report workplace violence?

If an employee is harmed, Employee Incident Reporting System (OH&S Incident System) (part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])
If a patient is harmed, Patient Safety Reporting console (also part of the Incident Learning System [ILS])
And always report to your supervisor.
Answer: All of the above. 

Week 4 Question: Can you identify the correct sequence for the 4 moments of hand hygiene?

Answer: Before initial patient/ patient environment contact; Before aseptic procedure; After body fluid exposure risk; After patient/patient environment contact.

Week 5 Question: What would you do if an ethical issue comes up in your work?

Answer: All of the above

For more information & resources visit the Accreditation 2026 iNtranet page: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/corporate-info/accreditation-2026

Congratulations to the winners (and nominees) of this year’s National Nursing Week Awards at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Each of these deserving winners were nominated by their colleagues for demonstrating an amazing dedication to the nursing profession, enhancing the experience of a fellow staff or peer in a remarkable way, or going above and beyond to provide exceptional care to patients and their families. Join us in giving these amazing nurses a well-deserved round of applause!

Preceptorship Award: David Safronyck, RN, 3B Unit

Chief Nursing Executive Award: Chris McNaughton, RN, Administrative Manager of 2A, 2B, 2C and TCU

Patient Experience Award: Xiaoxi (Desmond) Sun, RN, 3B Unit

Unit Leader Award: Shijo Jose Prakash, RPN, TCU

Season’s Gift Shop Association Nursing Bursary: Whitney Kendall, RN, Critical Care Response Team

Staff Experience Award: Mackenzie Sovereign, RN, 3B Unit

A sincere thank you to everyone across who took part in the Accreditation Canada On-Site Survey from May 11–14, 2026.

Over the four days, our staff, physicians, volunteers, learners, patient family advisors, and community partners came together to showcase the amazing work happening across our organization every day. The dedication, teamwork, kindness, and pride shown throughout the survey truly reflected who we are as an organization.

Accreditation is a team effort, and this milestone would not have been possible without your time, energy, and commitment to providing exceptional care to our patients and families.Thank you for all that you do — not just during accreditation, but every single day.

• 

• 

Media Release via St. Joseph’s Care Group

St. Joseph’s Care Group is creating more capacity for care at Hogarth Riverview Manor to better meet the needs of people as well as the broader health system by fall of 2026.

The change will see the return of 64 beds into service as long-term care. It will also see the addition of 14 new Community Transitional Care beds for people who require supports, but not at the intensity of service provided in hospital, while waiting for space to become available in the community.

“St. Joseph’s Care Group’s mission is to meet people where they are on their wellness journey and support them to achieve their highest quality of life,” said Janine Black, President and CEO. “This expansion allows people to receive care in environments that match their needs, supporting independence, social connection, and daily routines outside of the hospital. It’s good news for people, and for the system as a whole.”

St. Joseph’s Care Group and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre had been operating the 64 beds in the interim as temporary transitional care for people waiting for long-term care, or as a supportive environment while waiting for space in the community.

“Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre was pleased to support community capacity needs over the years by operating the Transitional Care Unit (TCU) within Hogarth Riverview Manor. The transition of beds back to St. Joseph’s Care Group will support their intended structural and intended use for long-term care and match the care needs to the right setting,” said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.

The additional long-term care capacity and new community transitional care beds are good news for people in Thunder Bay. “By increasing capacity outside hospitals, more people can access the right care in the right setting at the right time, improving care experiences for people and enhancing the flow of services across the health system,” said Black.