Shared on behalf of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation

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The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is celebrating a historic day for healthcare, approving a record $22,815,488 in funding to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. This represents the largest single commitment the Foundation has ever made — made possible through the remarkable generosity of donors, event participants, and Thunder Bay 50/50 supporters.

As part of this historic total, more than $10.3 million has been approved through the Foundation’s Capital Grants program.

“It is truly a privilege to celebrate this level of investment in our Hospital,” says Jody Nesti, Chair of the Capital Grants Committee and member of the Family CARE Grants Committee. “Each year, our Committee takes great care in reviewing every request to ensure donor dollars make the greatest impact. To see more than $10.3 million approved this year is truly remarkable.”

The total represents 43 grants, with funding ranging from $5,000 to $3 million, impacting almost every area of the Hospital. Some of these commitments include:

• $1 million for the Cancer Centre to support the construction and retrofit of a new Linear Accelerator
• $3 million over the next five years to replace 195 inpatient beds with new SMART beds across the Hospital

Up to $150,000 is also being committed through the Foundation’s Family CARE Grants program, which supports staff-led projects that improve care for patients and their families. 

In addition to this year’s Capital Grants, the Foundation has made major new commitments to two priority projects at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

The Cardiovascular Surgery program (CVS), a long-awaited service that will allow patients to receive life-saving cardiac care close to home received a significant boost, with the Foundation pledging additional funds bringing the Foundation’s total support for the project to $23.3 million, marking one of the largest single commitments in its history.

“Cardiovascular Surgery has been a priority for our region for many years,” says Dr. Steve Adams, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “To contribute more than $23 million toward this project is something our Foundation is extremely proud of, and it reflects just how strongly this community believes in strengthening care close to home.”

Over the past two years, the Foundation has committed significant funding toward the Emergency Department renovation project. An additional $500,000 is now being contributed to Phase 1: Triage, bringing the Foundation’s total commitment for that phase to $4.039 million. The Foundation is also making a further $1.5 million commitment to Phase 3: Mental Health, helping further realize the vision for a renewed Emergency Department.

“When you put today’s announcement into perspective, it’s hard not to feel both proud and humbled,” says Hospital Foundation CEO Glenn Craig. “With this investment, the Foundation’s lifetime contributions to our Hospital now exceed $81 million and in the coming years, we expect to be approaching $100 million. It’s an extraordinary milestone, and a powerful reminder of what generosity, commitment, and belief in better healthcare can accomplish.”

“Donor support like this is truly a lifeline for our frontline teams and the people they serve every day,” says Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO of TBRHSC and CEO of Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute. “Your generosity allows us to improve our care environments and strengthen the tools and technology in the hands of those who care for our patients. We are deeply grateful for your support.”

“On behalf of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre Board, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to our donors, community supporters, and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation,” says Patricia Lang, TBRHSC Board Chair. “Your generosity is making an extraordinary impact — bringing advanced treatments, new technologies, and expanded services right here to our community. Because of you, patients can receive the care they need close to home, for faster diagnoses, better outcomes, and a more compassionate experience for everyone who walks through our doors. Together, we are moving closer to our vision of exceptional care, for every patient, every time.”

For a complete list of approved grants, please see the attached PDF.

Shared on behalf of Lakehead University

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Three Lakehead University researchers have been recognized by the Government of Canada with new and renewed Canada Research Chair (CRC) appointments for their outstanding scientific contributions to our local and global communities.

Dr. Christopher Mushquash was appointed as a new Tier 1 CIHR CRC in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction. Dr. Alla Reznik, Tier 1 CRC in Radiation Medical Imaging Physics, and Dr. Lindsay Galway, Tier 2 CRC in Social-Ecological Health, received renewals.

“The work of Dr. Mushquash, Dr. Reznik, and Dr. Galway perfectly aligns with Lakehead’s research priorities, especially in areas like health and well-being; First Nations, Métis, and Inuit research; and sustainability, resources, and the environment,” explains Dr. Langis Roy, Vice-President of Research and Innovation. “These appointments affirm our standing as a research-intensive university committed to generating innovative solutions for our regions and advancing knowledge that matters for both people and planet.

Dr. Mushquash, Psychology Professor and member of Pawgwasheeng (Pays Plat First Nation), is Lakehead’s first Tier 1 CRC holder from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Blending traditional scholarly activities with Indigenous ways of knowing, he has influenced national policy and improved systems of care for Indigenous people during his previous two terms as a Tier 2 CRC.

Over the next seven years, Dr. Mushquash and his research team will expand their community-based research program to develop culturally- and contextually-appropriate targets of intervention, develop methods for testing outcomes, and share knowledge with Indigenous and academic communities, clinicians, policy-makers, and decision-makers.

“This appointment provides the platform to broaden our impact, not only through community-driven research, but by training the next generation of researchers to engage in respectful engagement with Indigenous communities,” he says.

Canada Research Chair Renewals

Dr. Alla Reznik, Tier 1 CRC in Radiation Medical Imaging Physics (NSERC)

Physics Professor Dr. Alla Reznik is revolutionizing the early detection and diagnosis of cancer. Dr. Reznik and her team have developed a low-dose Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner for breast imaging that has shown promising results in clinical settings.

They are currently refining their device to target other organs and provide clearer and more detailed diagnostic images compared to current technologies while minimizing patients’ exposure to radiation. “The PET scanner is designed to be versatile, capable of imaging various body parts such as the breast, brain, heart, and prostate with improved accuracy and detail,” she explains.

Dr. Reznik’s innovations in medical imaging technology are improving patient health outcomes and advancing the field of personalized medicine by tailoring scans to individual patient needs.

Dr. Reznik was renewed for a seven-year term.

Dr. Lindsay Galway, Tier 2 CRC in Social-Ecological Health (SSHRC)

Dr. Galway, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, investigates how urgent global challenges, including climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem degradation, directly impact the well-being and equity of people.

“My research falls under the umbrella of planetary health – the idea that human health and the health of ecosystems and the planet are deeply interconnected,” says Dr. Galway.

Building on the successes of her first term, Dr. Galway and her interdisciplinary team are co-constructing place-based solutions that prioritize the perspectives and experiences of marginalized groups. By promoting both environmental sustainability and social justice, Dr. Galway aims to build a more resilient and equitable future for all.

Dr. Galway was renewed for a five-year term.

Shared on behalf of Ontario Health atHome

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Ontario Health atHome is introducing updated organization-wide clinical infusion services policies, procedures and forms aimed at promoting reliable, consistent, safe and equitable patient care across the province. Developed in partnership with primary care, nursing service providers, infusion service vendors and our staff, implementation of the new documents will occur using a phased approach, beginning in November 2025 with completion targeted for March 2026. 

A new Parenteral Therapy referral form and First Dose Parenteral Medication Screener for Adults are available to use for patients receiving home care services.

The Parenteral Therapy referral form and First Dose Parenteral Medication Screener ensure excellence in home parenteral therapy and are based on best clinical practices from the Canadian Vascular Access Association, Infusion Nurses Society and Registered Nurses Association of Ontario. 

Improvements to the referral (order) form include:

• First dose: Field to indicate if patient is receiving the medication for the first time. Prescribers must complete the First Dose Parenteral Medication Screener: Adults

• Exceptional Access Program (EAP): Details required for funding of certain medications.

• Dose delay management: Field to specify actions in case of dose delays, including total duration of therapy, next dose timing, and delay instructions.

• PICC measurements: Field to document Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) measurements for management by community nursing, including removal of PICC if ordered.

• Medication sensitivity: Field to identify if patient is on beta blockers or ACE inhibitors to manage potential side effects.

• Height and weight: Required for medications needing weight-based dosing to assist pharmacy and nursing teams.

• Medication discontinuation: Field to indicate when transitioning between medications (e.g., antibiotic changes) to ensure proper hydration and therapy management.

• IV access protocols: Prescribers may select flush/lock protocols and authorize service providers to follow best practices for dressing changes. Reference protocol available HERE.

• Heparin Use: Heparin is no longer the best practice and will only be provided if explicitly ordered by the prescriber.

NEXT STEPS

• Share this memo with all internal prescribers within your organization.
• Prescribers, please ensure all fields of the form are completed. Incomplete orders can unnecessarily delay care for patients.
• Please use this new form when appropriate. The new Parenteral Therapy referral form can be found on the Ontario Health atHome website.
• Ontario Health atHome will continue to accept and process ALL accurate and complete clinical infusion referral forms. 

CONTACT

For support or questions, please email: NW_Clinical_Infusion_Questions@ontariohealthathome.ca.

Thank you for your help with this important clinical work that will benefit patients, providers and staff.

Join in the free webinar “Transfusion Medicine Boot Camp for Nurses“ on November 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m..

Attached below is the full program and objectives. This is a free virtual event however registration is mandatory.

To register for this event please click HERE. Once you have registered a link with the login details will be sent directly through ZOOM.

Any questions, please reach out to Janet Sharun, Manager, Laboratory – Transfusion Medicine at Janet.Sharun@tbh.net or ext. 6901.

Shared on behalf of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC)

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Health care across the regional and remote communities can sometimes involve long trips for patients and tight timelines for health practitioners. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) makes that path easier by pairing local isotope production with same-day PET/CT and integrated cancer services, ensuring access to care for many patients across northern Ontario.

The CNIC is proud to welcome TBRHSC as its newest health partner. With an integrated isotope production and radiopharmacy program, next-generation PET/CT imaging, and strong research–training ecosystem, TBRHSC is setting a scalable model for how health systems can translate nuclear innovation into patient impact.

At the core of TBRHSC’s program is a hospital-based TR-24 cyclotron and adjacent radiopharmacy that produces Fluorine-18 (F-18) for PET radiopharmaceuticals and is designed for multi-isotope output. Local isotope production has made Thunder Bay a near self-reliant hub for time-critical PET tracers, reducing cancellations and ensuring consistent access despite weather and distance. The program supports patients across Northwestern Ontario, from east of White River to the Manitoba border, and is also preparing to provide backup supply to other centres to strengthen provincial and national isotope resilience.

The production will help to enhance capacity with the hospital’s expanding cardiovascular surgery (CVS) program, alongside FDG PET for diagnosis, staging, and treatment monitoring.

Through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, TBRHSC’s independent research arm, the Centre advances tracer development and radiochemistry while training the next generation of radiochemists, technologists, and imaging professionals. This integrated clinic–lab–academia model positions Thunder Bay to help lead Canada’s move into theranostics, bringing targeted, isotope-enabled therapies closer to routine care.

“By pairing local isotope production with advanced imaging and oncology, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is ensuring patients in Northwestern Ontario communities get timely, high-quality care.” said Melody Greaves, Executive Director of the CNIC. “This is exactly the type of regional model that strengthens the whole system and builds Canada’s health network resilience.”

“Our cyclotron and radiopharmacy teams are expanding access to advanced diagnostics and pioneering new isotopes. Joining CNIC strengthens our ability to collaborate nationally and help shape the future of isotope development,” said Roxanne Pycko, Director of Cyclotron Operations at TBRHSC.

To learn more about Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, visit www.tbrhsc.net

About Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), a 425-bed academic specialized acute care facility, is a national leader in Patient and Family Centred Care. As the only tertiary care provider in Northwestern Ontario, we provide comprehensive services to a population of over 250,000 residents in a region the size of France. Effectively addressing the health care needs of patients and families has earned us both Innovation Awards and Leading Practice Designations. As an academic health sciences centre, we teach the next generation of health care providers and advance medical research. Patients benefit from interprofessional teams of dedicated health care providers and access to leading-edge medical technology and clinical trials. To fulfill its teaching and research strategic goals, TBRHSC is supported by Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI) as a not-for-profit and independent research corporation. TBRHRI is the research arm of TBRHSC and seeks to lead research to improve the health outcome of the people of Northwestern Ontario and beyond.

About the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council

The Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council (CNIC) is an independent, not-for-profit advocacy and member services organization. The CNIC supports over 115 members from across science, academia, healthcare, and nuclear-sector organizations dedicated to maintaining Canada’s position as a global leader in the production of life-saving isotopes. The CNIC raises awareness and advocates for long-term policies that support health-care innovation and will save countless lives for decades to come. 

To learn more about the CNIC, visit www.CanadianIsotopes.ca and follow us on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, or please contact:

Enjoy the convenience of the TBRHSC Christmas Employee Plan where your purchases automatically come off your pay-cheque over a two year period.

Shop between November 17-27, 2025 at acoservices.ca or view the catalogue on the following link: https://www.flipsnack.com/acoservices/employee-purchase-plan-extended-catalogue-2025