October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a good time to learn more about breast cancer screening. To debunk some mammogram myths, we talked to Michelle Opaski, a Medical Radiation Technologist (MRT) with the Screen for Life Coach at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.  

Myth: If you don’t have symptoms, you don’t need a screening mammogram.  

Fact: A screening mammogram is intended to detect breast cancer before any signs or symptoms appear. Mammograms can find changes in the breast that are too small to see or feel, when cancer may be easier to treat. If you feel great, it’s the perfect time to get a mammogram. 

Myth: Mammograms are painful.  

Fact: Everyone experiences a mammogram differently. Some people find the compression uncomfortable or experience brief sensitivity, but the compression only lasts a few seconds for each image. 

Compression is important because it spreads out the breast tissue, helping create a clearer image while using as little radiation as possible. Let your Medical Radiation Technologist know if you are uncomfortable or have questions during your appointment. 

Myth: A doctor referral is needed to book a screening mammogram. 

Fact: If you meet the eligibility criteria for average risk screening through the OBSP, you do not need a referral from a doctor or nurse practitioner. This means you can book a screening mammogram even if you do not currently have a primary care provider. 

People who meet the criteria for the High Risk OBSP follow different screening recommendations and require a referral from a primary care provider. 

Myth: I’m in my 40s, so I’m too young for a mammogram. 

Fact: Breast screening in Ontario now starts at age 40 for most eligible people. If you are between the ages of 40 and 74 and at average risk, you can book your own screening mammogram through the OBSP. 

For people ages 40 to 49, Ontario Health encourages a conversation with a health care provider or Health811 about your personal risk factors and the potential benefits and limitations of screening to help you decide what is right for you. 

Myth: All breast cancers can be detected on a screening mammogram. 

Fact: No screening test is perfect, and mammograms are no exception. Many factors, such as breast density, can influence the image. However, screening mammograms are the best screening tool health care providers have to find breast cancer early.  

Myth: I don’t have a family history of breast cancer, so I don’t need to get screened. 

Fact: You do not need to have a family history of breast cancer to be at risk. While having a family history can increase your risk, breast cancer can also occur in people with no family history of the disease. In fact, only about 5–10% of breast cancers are hereditary, meaning they are caused by an inherited gene mutation. 

To learn more about breast screening in Northwestern Ontario, including eligibility guidelines and locations, visit tbrhsc.net/breast-cancer-screening.  

Do you have a health-related project that’s making a difference in Northwestern Ontario? The Centre for Applied Health Research (CAHR) at St. Joseph’s Care Group (SJCG) invites you to share your work at the 2027 Showcase of Health Research, taking place on Friday, February 12, 2027, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Italian Cultural Centre in Thunder Bay.

Abstract Submission Details: Learn more about the Call for Abstracts and submission requirements by visiting: cahr.sjcg.net/abstract-call.

This annual, peer-reviewed, in-person event highlights the diverse efforts driving better health outcomes in our region, from scholarly research and program evaluations to quality improvement initiatives. The Showcase of Health Research features both podium and poster presentations by health professionals, researchers, scientists, and students.

We welcome abstracts across a broad range of project types, including:

• Research studies
• Program evaluations
• Quality improvement initiatives

Whether your work is scholarly or practice-based, if you’re contributing to health in Northwestern Ontario, we want to hear from you.

Abstract Submission Deadline: Friday, November 27, 2026

Event Location: Italian Cultural Centre, 132 Algoma St S, Thunder Bay

Event Date: Friday, February 12, 2027 | 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM

Shared on behalf of Christine Bates, TBRHSC Board Chair

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It is my privilege to introduce myself as Board Chair and to reflect on the journey that has brought me to this point. Having served on other community boards, before joining the Hospital Board five years ago, I recognized the complexity and responsibility of hospital governance. I look forward to working alongside our dedicated Board members, leadership team, staff, physicians, volunteers, and community partners to continue to meet the evolving needs of the patients and families we serve across Northwestern Ontario.

At June’s Annual Meeting of the Board there were some significant changes. On behalf of the Hospital staff and Board, the community and the region, I want to thank Patricia Lang, Matt Simeoni, Gord Wickham, and Joy Wakefield who, during their nine years on the Board, governed with expertise, passion and dedication to the Hospital, our community and the wider region. 

Continuing their terms of office on the Board are Charles Campbell, Dr. Andrew Dean, James Peotto, Kimberly Ferris, Michael Pelletier, Matthew Aiken and Marla Morrison. Joining as new Board members are Maura Dunk, Angela Maltese, and Andrew Campbell.

Christina Foresto was appointed to a three-year term as the new Community Member on the Governance and Nominating Committee and Amanda Zappitelli was appointed to a three-year term as the new Community Member on the Patient Safety and Quality of Care Committee.

The Board also includes the ex-officio Directors Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO; Adam Vinet, Chief Nursing Executive; Dr. Laura Power, Chief of Staff; Dr. Michael Green, Dean, President and CEO, NOSM University; and Dr. Sonja Lubbers, President, Professional Staff Association. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the 2026-2027 Hospital Board and Community Committee members for their commitment to the governance and strategic oversight of our institution.

We are in the final year of the Hospital’s Strategic Plan 2026 and the recently released 2025-26 Annual Report outlines the Plan’s progress. This year, a video highlighting the strategic priority of Sustainable Future demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring a healthy future for patients and families across the region.

In keeping with this commitment, on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, our Hospital’s Miskwaa Biidaaban team published our third Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action Report outlining this past year’s progress on the Calls to Action and next steps. We are committed to providing transparency with regards to the Calls to Action and what we are doing in response, and to continually working towards creating an environment of inclusion, equity and compassion at our Hospital. I invite you to review the report to learn more about these important activities.

This month marked 17 years of Sharing and Caring Together, a week-long event demonstrating our successes in patient and family-centred care, culminating in an exhibition displaying some of the initiatives developed to continue to deliver the highest quality of care to patients and families. It is truly incredible seeing the hard work and commitment of our staff to improving the patient and family experience.

Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed? Free mental health support is available.

The Ontario Structured Psychotherapy (OSP) Program supports adults seeking care for their mental health through free, short-term therapy. Our team works alongside you to build practical skills and strategies to manage low mood, worry, stress, and everyday life challenges.

Support is matched to what works best for you, including self-led materials, individual sessions, or group sessions available in person, over the phone, or online.

OSP is available to anyone aged 18 or older living in Ontario. You can be referred by a healthcare professional, or you can contact the program directly. Referrals can be submitted through The Access Point Northwest. 

To learn more or get started, visit osp.sjcg.net, scan the QR code, or call 807-624-3543.

Encounters in Bioethics 2026-2027 offers a free webinar on October 22, 2026, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (ET)

A Fireside Chat with a Bioethicist: When something goes wrong in health care…

Presenter: Michelle Allain, BHSc, MSc, Bioethicist, Interim Manager, Quality and Risk Management, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, Thunder Bay, Ontario.  

Connect via Zoom: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/99670379689

Certificate of Attendance available upon request to chce@lakeheadu.ca

It’s Fire Prevention Week! What do you know about fire extinguishers? Not all fire extinguishers are the same. Do you know which one to use?

Now that you know the different types, do you know how to use it?

Use the P.A.S.S technique!

1. Pull: Pull the pin. There is a small pin that prevents the fire extinguisher from accidentally being used, all you have to do is pull it out.
2. Aim: Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
3. Squeeze: Squeeze the lever you just pulled the pin out of. Remember to squeeze it slowly and evenly.

Every person has a story, and listening to those stories can help change the way we understand substance use and addiction.

In a new series of educational videos, individuals share their personal experiences and perspectives on stigma, substance use, addiction, and health care. Their stories offer an important opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand how our words, actions, and assumptions can affect those seeking care.

These videos also honour those who have been lost to substance use and addiction-related harms and acknowledge the grief experienced by their families, friends, and loved ones. By sharing these experiences and perspectives, we can deepen our understanding of the impact of stigma and recognize the importance of approaching every person with compassion, dignity, and respect.

At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, we recognize that stigma can create real barriers for patients and families. Outdated language, stereotypes, and misconceptions can influence how people are treated and whether they feel safe and supported when accessing care. By listening to and learning from people with lived and living experience, we can challenge these assumptions and help create a more compassionate, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

Developed as part of the Patient Experience pillar of Strategic Plan 2026 and our ongoing work to reduce stigma associated with substance use and addiction, these videos reflect our collective resolve to do better and to move forward with greater compassion, understanding, and respect for those seeking care.

We invite you to watch, listen to the stories and perspectives being shared, and reflect on how each of us can help reduce stigma and make a positive difference.

This week, we hear from Sara Cicchitano:

For more stories visit bit.ly/confronting-stigma-TBRHSC

Closing the Distance: Thunder Bay’s Pediatric Emergency Transport Team One Year In

Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
TIme: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Location: Auditorium A/B or virtually

The H2H Program supports patients transitioning from hospital to the community who require enhanced, short-term clinical support, proactive care coordination, and navigation following discharge. H2H provides close follow-up after discharge to identify changes early, coordinate care, and quickly escalate clinical or community care needs.

A referral to the H2H program can be made by completing the H2H Referral Form. Patients can be referred when they are medically stable and ready or near-ready for discharge. Patients referred to H2H will be considered under one of three pathways: Standard H2H Pathway, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Pathway and the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Pathway.

When a referral is received, the H2H team will assess the patient and collaborate with the discharging team to facilitate a safe transition home. The Patient Flow Coordinator will provide short-term follow-up, care coordination, and navigation, while the Nurse Practitioner can provide clinical assessment and follow-up when required. The H2H team will work with existing hospital and community services to address identified needs and escalate concerns when necessary.

The goal of H2H is not to duplicate existing community services, but to bridge gaps between hospital and home, strengthen transitions in care, and identify and address concerns early before they result in avoidable hospital utilization.

For questions, concerns, or to arrange an in-service about the H2H program, please contact Brody Blackwood, H2H Coordinator at brody.blackwood@tbh.net or extension 7871.