Sodexo: Stroke Awareness Month Feature Menu Item (June 8-12)
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.
Visit M365Hub.tbh.net or nwohealth.sharepoint.com/sites/M365Training to check out our education resources.
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]
SharePoint Training [Leaders and Owners]
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:
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
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

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.
We enjoyed celebrating Employee Recognition Week with you. Please take a few moments to complete our short survey and share your thoughts on this year’s activities.
Thank you for everything you do. Your hard work and commitment truly make a difference.

Shared on behalf of Caroline Fanti, Director, Regional Surgical Services Manager
I am pleased to announce that Marnie Fitzsimons-Watkis is joining Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as Program Manager for the Local Delivery Group, where she will lead and support the continued implementation and maturation of eReferral and Central Intake across Northwestern Ontario.
In this role, she will focus on advancing patient access to care by leveraging digital health solutions to improve care coordination, streamline referral processes, and enhance both patient and provider experience.
Marnie brings a strong foundation in digital health transformation, change management, and regional collaboration. Most recently, she served as Patient Attachment Coordinator with All Nations Health Partners Ontario Health Team, where she supported Ministry of Health priorities to connect unattached patients to primary care. Through this work, she partnered closely with Ontario Health, local providers, and community organizations to improve equitable access and strengthen patient attachment processes across the region.
Through her previous work with Ontario Health, Marnie led engagement and adoption of digital solutions – including eReferral – across Northwestern and Northeastern Ontario. She has also contributed to the development and implementation of Central Intake models, helping to establish standardized workflows and more coordinated pathways to specialty care.
Marnie is a strong advocate for Patient and Family Centred Care and is passionate about working collaboratively with partners across the system to identify gaps, drive quality improvement, and advance integrated care delivery. She is committed to using digital innovation and system-level thinking to improve outcomes for patients, families, and care teams across the Northwest.
Marnie reports to Caroline Fanti, Director, Regional Surgical Services, who is leading the advancement of the LDG related to Central Intake and eReferral across clinical and digital domains. In alignment with this leadership approach, Marnie will further advance this work across both areas.
Please join me in welcoming Marnie to our team.
Shared on behalf of Justin Garofalo, Vice President, Facilities, Capital Planning and Support Services & CFO
I am pleased to announce that Blake Rathje has accepted the position of Director, Support Services, effective June 15, 2026.
Blake brings experience in procurement, supply chain operations, strategic sourcing, and distribution management through his work at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, where he has served as Manager of Strategic Sourcing and Distribution. In this role, he has overseen procurement activities, contract negotiations, and collaborative initiatives with external partners and healthcare organizations
Over the past several years, Blake has demonstrated a strong ability to lead operational improvements while balancing organizational priorities, regulatory compliance, and financial stewardship. His work has supported efficient procurement practices, strengthened vendor and stakeholder relationships, and contributed to initiatives that enhance both operational performance and patient care services
Blake is recognized for his thoughtful leadership approach, problem-solving abilities, and commitment to teamwork. He has built strong relationships across departments and consistently supports a collaborative and service-focused environment
We are excited to see Blake step into this new leadership role and are confident he will continue to make valuable contributions to the organization and the Support Services portfolio. Blake will work with Phil Thompson during this transition period to ensure a seamless transition and continued support for the team during this change. Phil’s last day, as previously mentioned, will be July 9, 2026.
Please join me in congratulating Blake on his new role. He can be reached at Blake.Rathje1@tbh.net and effective June 15, he can be reached at ext. 6773.