Photo (L-R): Jonelle Czerwinski, RCT; Dawn Jacobson, RCT; Laura MacMillan, RCT; Dallon Lamarche, RCT; McKenzie Morningstar, RCT; Sydney Lemieux, ECG Technician; and Alyssa Harju-Ogima, ECG Technician.
On February 14, as part of Heart Month, we at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) recognize the dedication and expertise of our Registered Cardiology Technologists (RCTs) and Electrocardiogram (ECG) Technicians who play a vital role in the Cardiac Diagnostics Department.
RCTs are highly trained health care professionals who contribute to every aspect of cardiology, working in specialized areas such as:
Electrocardiography – capturing heart rhythms to assist in diagnosis
Pacemaker Clinic – monitoring and ensuring pacemakers are functioning properly
Stress Laboratory – conducting exercise and pharmacological stress tests to evaluate how the heart functions under exertion
Cardiac Catheterization Lab – assisting with pacemaker programming during device insertions
Holter Clinic – assessing heart rhythms for a period of time to help guide treatment
ECG Technicians at TBRHSC support clinical teams throughout the facility and keep the workflow running smoothly, which strengthens the entire department. These dedicated staff apply skill and precision to patient care every day.
Cardiology Technologists and ECG Technicians are integral to patient care, working alongside cardiologists and other health care physicians to ensure timely and accurate diagnose for heart patients across our region.
To become an RCT, you must first complete a Canadian Society of Cardiology Technologists (CSCT)-approved Cardiology Technology program and successfully pass the CSCT National Exam. There are many schools across the county with multiple delivery methods to suit most everyone’s situation.
RCTs are in high demand and there is the option of on the job training for those enrolled in an online program. To learn more about joining our team, please visit https://jobs.tbrhsc.net/.
Join us in celebrating our incredible Cardiac Diagnostics team and their dedication to heart health!
Sent on behalf of Chris McNaughton, Administrative Manager- 2A, 2B, 2C, and TCU
We are pleased to announce that Alyson Vescio has accepted the position of Temporary Full-Time Patient Care Manager for the 2B Medical Inpatient Unit.
Alyson brings nearly 15 years of clinical experience to this role and will officially join the leadership team within the Cardiovascular, Medicine & Renal Program effective April 7, 2026, while Rachel Lyon is on maternity leave.
Alyson has spent the majority of her career in emergency medicine. She began her nursing career on the Clinical Resource Team at Credit Valley Hospital before returning to Thunder Bay, where she has worked in the Emergency Department at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre since 2011. During this time, she developed strong expertise in acute care and later transitioned into the role of Patient Flow Coordinator on the 2B Medical Unit. In this capacity, she focused on improving patient flow, supporting timely discharges, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration.
More recently, Alyson has served as Operations Coordinator for Outpatient Medical Programs. She led the launch of the OPAT program and gained valuable experience in project development and implementation. Her work has included coordination of the Hospital to Home Program, Medical Transitions Clinic (MTC), Internal Medicine Clinics, and other outpatient services such as CCDC, Telemedicine, the Regional Bariatric Care Centre, and the Pediatric Healthy Living Program. These experiences have provided her with a comprehensive understanding of complex medical care across the continuum.
In addition to her operational expertise, Alyson is a dedicated mentor to novice staff and students and consistently promotes a supportive and safe environment for learning and professional development.
Please join us in warmly welcoming Alyson to her new leadership role within the 2B Medical Inpatient Unit. We look forward to the continued strength and collaboration she will bring to the team.
It is important for Hospital staff to be able to acquire your contact information using the 411. The 411 is a “Self Serve” application which means users are responsible for managing their own contact records.
If you haven’t already done so, or if your information needs to be updated, please follow the instruction below.
Entering your name and contact information only takes a moment. Please log in to the application at https://411umgt.tbrhsc.net/ using your username and password.
If you have any questions regarding the self-serve 411, please contact Robert Srigley (Systems Specialist) at Robert.Srigley@tbh.net.
Welcome to the Affinity List Surnet Insurance – Degagne Insurance Solutions.
SurNet Insurance Group – DeGagne Insurance Solutions is a locally rooted insurance brokerage committed to providing trusted advice, personalized service, and insurance solutions designed to support individuals, families, and professionals throughout Northwestern Ontario.
Through this affinity partnership, eligible members can access preferred insurance options and professional guidance tailored to their unique needs, with the same integrity, transparency, and accountability that define our approach to quality customer service.
See our updated Affinity List for details on how to access this discount.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Regional Cardiovascular Program consists of highly skilled interdisciplinary teams who work together to provide care and support the needs of patients and families from across Northwestern Ontario for patients with conditions affecting the cardiac and vascular systems.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC)’s Regional Cardiovascular Program fosters the development and delivery of collaborative care across Northwestern Ontario, supporting the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of people with conditions affecting the cardiac and vascular system.
TBRHSC provides cardiovascular services including Cardiac Diagnostics (ECHO, Stress Testing, ECG, Holter Monitor Clinic), Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Pacemaker Clinic, Rapid Access Vascular Examination (RAVE) Clinic, Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, alongside the dedicated cardiac and vascular units where patients received specialized care. Across these services, highly skilled interdisciplinary teams work together to provide care and support the needs of patients and families from across Northwestern Ontario throughout their care journey. The team consists of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, general and interventional cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, cardiac sonographers, diagnostic medical sonographers, medical radiation technologists, data specialists, clinical nurse specialists, registered cardiology technologists, ECG technicians, registered respiratory therapists, respiratory aides, occupational therapists, kinesiologists, physiotherapists, registered dietitians, pharmacists, clerical and administrative staff along with clinical leaders across the program. TBRHSC’s Regional Cardiovascular Program strives to promote collaboration, partnership, and equitable access to care in the North.
The team responsible for developing the new Cardiovascular Surgery Program is working with internal and external partners to bring cardiac surgery to Northwestern Ontario, strengthening our ability to provide specialized care close to home. This work builds on a partnership that began in 2014 with University Health Network’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, using a “One Program Two Sites” model that supports shared standards, learning, and clinical expertise across teams. Phase 1 successfully introduced vascular surgery services at TBRHSC, and phase 2, now underway, focuses on launching cardiac surgery, creating new opportunities for staff growth, collaboration, and advanced practice.
“Our Regional Cardiovascular Program reflects our commitment to ensuring people across Northwestern Ontario can access high-quality, specialized cardiac and vascular care closer to home,” said Wayne Taylor, Director, Cardiovascular, Medicine and Renal Program at TBRHSC. “Through strong partnerships, interdisciplinary teamwork, and a clear focus on equity and collaboration, we are strengthening cardiovascular care across the region. The expansion of services, including the introduction of cardiac surgery, represents an important milestone for our organization and for the patients and families we serve, today and into the future.”
The expansion will include a new hybrid operating room, two operating rooms for open-heart surgery, a 14-bed Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, a six-bed Coronary Care Unit, a Cardiovascular Care Clinic and expansion of our Medical Device Reprocessing Department (MDRD) at TBRHSC. To support this expansion and the many people and families who access our services across Northwestern Ontario, the Program works closely with regional partners to promote collaborative design and equitable implementation across the region. Data guides quality improvement and service planning, supported by TBRHSC data specialists, while promoting evidence based best practice across the program. Together, the team is continuing to strengthen clinical services and regional presence to support exceptional care for every patient, every time.
The 2026 theme for Black History Month in Canada, “30 Years of Black History Month: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries,” honours the Black Canadians who have shaped our past and present, and the inspiration they provide to future generations.
As we celebrate Black History Month, we will be highlighting the outstanding work of Black Canadians who have contributed to health care.
Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott
Did you know that Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott made history by becoming Canada’s first formally credentialed Black doctor? He attended the Toronto School of Medicine and received his license to practice from the Medical Board of Upper Canada, paving the way for future generations of Black medical professionals.
Dr. Abbott then moved to the United States to practice medicine but later returned to Canada, where he spent his last years writing about Black history and medicine.
Dr. Abbott also advocated for racially integrated schools and believed that Black access to higher education was essential. His legacy continues to inspire and uplift communities to this day.
Lillie Johnson emigrated from Jamaica to Canada in 1960 after training as a nurse and midwife in Jamaica and the U.K. She received a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Toronto and became the first Black director of public health in Eastern Ontario.
In 1981, Johnson founded the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario and lobbied the government to add the disease to its list of newborn screening. It is now standard practice to screen for sickle cell disease for newborns in Ontario.
She received recognition for her advocacy and work, which includes the Toronto Public Health Champion Award, the Black Health Alliance Legacy Award and Toronto Metropolitan University’s Viola Desmond Award, and was the recipient of the Order of Ontario.
As Black History Month approaches, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Steering Committee would like to highlight the significant contributions of the Black community to health care.
We are currently seeking staff members or learners who identify as Black (for example, African, Caribbean, African Canadian, Afro-Caribbean, and Black Canadian) who are interested in sharing about their learning and/or work experiences in healthcare, and what Black History Month means to them.
Submissions will be featured on the Daily Informed Newsletter and TBRHSC social media pages.
If you would like to participate, or have any questions, we invite you to email the EDI Steering Committee by February 25, 2026 at 12 p.m. at: TBRHSC.EDISteeringCommittee@tbh.net.
NOSM University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cole Anderson, Clinical Lecturer, as Family Medicine Self-Directed Program Director, effective January 1, 2026.
An alumnus of NOSM University’s MD and Family Medicine residency programs, Dr. Anderson later completed enhanced skills training in Emergency Medicine at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He currently practises as a staff emergency physician at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and provides locum emergency medicine services across Northwestern Ontario.
Dr. Anderson is actively engaged in medical education at NOSM University, with both the MD and residency program, with a strong focus on competency-based education, learner-centred curriculum design, and the advancement of distributed medical education. In his new role, he is committed to strengthening medical education at NOSM University and to supporting flexible, individualized training pathways.
On behalf of the medical staff and leadership at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), I want to sincerely thank you for the work you do as residents training with us.
As Chief of Staff—and as an Emergency Medicine physician—I am genuinely grateful to be part of your journey. I value the opportunity to work with you, learn alongside you, and support your development. Residency is a formative time, and the relationships, experiences, and lessons you gain here shape not only your careers, but the care we provide to our region.
You are part of an exceptional community of physicians and interprofessional colleagues. The teams at TBRHSC are unrelenting in their commitment to patient care and truly unsurpassed in their dedication, resilience, and compassion. The work can be challenging, but it is deeply meaningful—and you are never doing it alone.
I have had the privilege of practicing healthcare in Thunder Bay for over 25 years and have witnessed remarkable change across our hospital and region. Residents play an important role in that progress, and I am confident many of you will help lead the next wave of innovation, advancing care and strengthening health outcomes for the communities we serve.
We are grateful you have chosen to train here and for the contributions you make every day. Thank you for your commitment, professionalism, and care.
