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
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.
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.
Shared on behalf of Dr. Laura Power, Chief of Staff
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Frank Potestio has been appointed to the role of Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecologyeffective May 1, 2026.
Dr. Potestio has been a member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 1998 where he currently serves as Surgical Quality Lead. Additionally he is an Associate Professor at NOSM University. Highlights of his leadership experience include Sector Support Clinical Lead, Gynecology Surgery at Ontario Health, Section Chair of OB/GYN at NOSM University, and Medical Lead, Lakehead OB/GYN Local Education Group at NOSM University. Notably, Dr. Potestio introduced minimally invasive gynecologic procedures for the betterment of women’s health in the local and regional community.
In this role Dr. Potestio will work closely with leaders in the Women and Children’s Department, obstetrics and gynecology colleagues, the interprofessional team, and the Chief of Staff to promote excellence in the quality and safety of patient care within the department.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Potestio on his appointment as Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Shared on behalf of Dr. Laura Power, Chief of Staff
We are pleased to announce the re-appointment of Alex Sieswerda to the role of Chief of Midwiferyeffective May 1, 2026.
Alex has served in this role since 2023 and has been a practicing registered midwife since 2001. She brings 18 years of leadership experience, a strong commitment to clinical excellence and safety and a focus on nurturing a safe, respectful environment for both patients and healthcare providers.
During her first term as Chief of Midwifery, Alex prioritized relationship building, enhanced communication and process improvement, to drive quality improvement and ensure safe midwifery care. Moving forward she will continue to collaborate with department leaders, midwifery colleagues, the interprofessional team, and the Chief of Staff to enhance clinical safety and excellence in the department.
Please join us in congratulating Alex on her re-appointment.
Reflections From the Front Lines provides our health care professionals with an opportunity to share stories and experiences about their role in providing exceptional care for every patient, every time.
We feature these each month during our Town Hall — a virtual venue designed to keep staff, professional staff, volunteers and leaners informed about what’s happening at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.
Check out our previous episodes below (or on the Hospital’s YouTube channel), and be sure to tune in to future Town Halls for more stories.
In this episode, we hear from Sarah Benincasa, a Registered Practical Nurse who works on 3A. In this video, Sarah shares a touching story that illustrates the impact nurses have in shaping the patient experience by advocating for their patients.
In this episode, we hear from Lesley Robertson, one of the Medical Laboratory Assistants and a Phlebotomists on our Laboratory team. Lesley shares two patient stories that illustrate how all members of the Laboratory team work tirelessly to support our Hospital’s programs and services by providing quality results for timely diagnosis and treatment.
In this episode, we hear from Matthew, a Pharmacist, and Kristi, a Pharmacy Technician, from the Renal Department’s Pharmacy team. Matthew and Kristi share a patient story that illustrates how care coordination can help deliver care closer to home and why it is so important for patients and their families.
In this episode, we hear from Casey Ruberto, a kinesiologist with our Cardiac Rehab program. Casey shares how connecting with patients and providing empathy, compassion and respect in everything we do, leads to positive outcomes.
In this episode, we had the opportunity to connect with Judy Martinsen, a Patient Flow Operation Coordinator at our Hospital. Judy shares a pair of compelling patient stories from behind the scenes of Admitting and patient flow.
In this episode, we hear from James Stevenson, a member of the Security team here at our Hospital. James shares a touching story about how he helped contribute to a positive outcome for a patient in Adult Mental Health.
In this episode, we hear from Savanna Boucher, Indigenous Care Coordinator and Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Coordinator who will share a story about the positive outcome they saw when they incorporated Traditional Medicine into a patient’s care plan.
Desiree Towedeo, Indigenous Care Coordinator, shares a story about how she provided culturally safe care to a patient that led to improved health outcomes during their stay, and how meaningful her role as an Indigenous Care Coordinator is to her.
In this episode, we hear from Megan Valente, Coordinator of Volunteer Services. Megan shares a patient story that highlights a new initiative and showcases how volunteers play a crucial role in the patient experience.
In this episode, we will hear from Michelle Opaski, a Mammographer who works on the Screen for Life Coach. Michelle shares a patient story that highlights how bringing cancer screening services closer to home allows individuals to prioritize their health and detect cancer early.
In this episode, we hear from Nikki Cooper, and Kelti Matson – both Registered Nurses from the Peritoneal Dialysis Renal team. Nikki and Kelti have a patient story that highlights how providing education, compassion, and respect, along with cross-department collaboration, allowed for exceptional patient care.
In this episode, Lyllian Stavropoulos, Co-ordinator of Specimen Collection and Dispatch in Laboratory Services at our Hospital, shares a patient story with us.
In this episode, Ashley Hill, a Registered Practical Nurse in the Emergency Department, speaks about her experience with the cultural safety training called, Repairing the Sacred Circle. Repairing the Sacred Circle was designed, developed and launched by N’doo’owe Binesi at St. Joseph’s Care Group in 2022 with the support and guidance of the Ogichidaa Onaakonigewin – Elders Council.
In this episode, we hear from Dr. Laura Power, an ObGyn at our Hospital. Dr. Power provides us with a look into the interprofessional and comprehensive care available at the Maternity Centre for patients in Thunder Bay and across the region.
In this episode, Mike Heerema, the Critical Care Staffing and Wellness Coordinator in our Intensive Care Unit, tells us about the Tokens of Love initiative for patients and families.
In this episode, we hear from Jessica and Jolene from the Regional Cancer Program at our Hospital.
In this episode, Danielle McLean, a Registered Nurse from the Intensive Care Unit at our Hospital, shares a patient story with us.
This month’s Town Hall took place on Wednesday, May 20 via Microsoft Teams. See below for a video recording of the session and a copy of the presentation slides.
If you have questions you would like answered, please send them to TBRHSC.GroupNews@tbh.net and we will do our best to address them at a future Town Hall.
If you’d like to access a recording or presentation from a previous Town Hall, visit the archive.
Thank you for your commitment to staying informed and engaged.
Spring is here, and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) campus is looking much cleaner, greener, and beautiful thanks to the efforts of this fantastic group!
On May 20, 2026 our Hospital’s Green Team partnered with staff from various departments at TBRHSC to participate in EcoSuperior’s annual Spring Up to Clean Up challenge. This team was successful in collecting 367lbs(or 166kg) of litter from the Hospital grounds.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make a positive impact on our campus and community.
Each May 21 marks the observance of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day to honor the rich tapestry of cultures and traditions that contribute to building a more inclusive and just society.
Initiated by the United Nations, this day emphasizes the importance of bridging cultural differences, promoting dialogue, and supporting peace, stability, and sustainable development worldwide.
This day is an important opportunity to reaffirm our Hospital’s commitment to respecting differences, and fostering a safe and inclusive environment for patients, families, and staff. Embracing cultural diversity enhances the care we provide, and strengthens the bonds within our community.
Let’s celebrate our differences and work together toward a more inclusive future.
In celebration of the diversity across our Hospital, we created a digital map of all the places staff, professional staff, and volunteers have worked around the world. From hometown roles to international experiences, every location is an important piece of your story. Click here to take a look!
Yesterday at approximately 4:45 pm, we experienced an incident between two visitors that resulted in conflict and an escalation of the incident. Staff quickly reacted and due to a fall and injury of one of the individuals an Alert 99 was called and Security. After continued conflict, a Code White was called to further manage the situation. The situation continued to escalate to a Code Silver as the one visitor brandished a hammer from their bag and attempted to use as a weapon. The situation was quickly de-escalated and Thunder Bay Police Services was on site to assist.
We are currently assessing the facts of this situation and any potential actions that need to be taken to ensure we can provide a safe environment within our facility. We know these situations seem to be more prevalent in today’s society. The safety and wellbeing of our staff and patients is a priority and we continue to adapt our security and surveillance to detect and prevent these types of incidents.
At this time, we want to thank all staff who showed diligence and professionalism in dealing with the matter. We recognize that these types of situations can be harming emotionally and there were many staff involved beyond the Unit. If you require support or assistance to help manage through your feelings, we kindly ask that you connect with your manager or utilize the Employee and Family Assistance Program. As well, please know that Occupational Health and Safety will be holding a debrief on the event, which may assist in supporting any stresses.
Managers are encouraged to share this information with their teams and with staff who have limited computer access.
Thank again to all those involved and the teams that also supported staff throughout the evening.
