Time is running out to register for the inaugural SCOPE (Surgical Care Optimization & Primary Care Education), hosted by the Regional Surgical Services team at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.

Who should attend?

MDs, NPs, PAs, medical students, nurses, physiotherapists, and chiropractors.

What can participants expect?

Participants will get up to date practice guidance on various medical/surgical conditions, master orthopedic physical assessments, and learn new clinical skill sets in cortisone injection practice. Participants will have the opportunity to network with our Central Intake team to better incorporate electronic referral platforms and pathways into their primary care practice and various community programs and services to optimize patient care.

Participating Specialties

Hematology, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Otolaryngology, and Surgical Oncology.

When and where is this happening?

Date: May 4, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Valhalla Inn, Thunder Bay, ON

To register, visit https://event.fourwaves.com/scope.

Registration closes on April 20, 2026.

For more information, please contact Katie Cardy, NP-PHC at (807) 684-7103 or Katie.Cardy@tbh.net.

*This program has been certified for up to 7.5 Mainpro+® credits and up to 7.5 MoC Section 1 learning hours.

For Be A Donor Month, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is raising awareness about the urgent need for organ and tissue donors in our community and across the province.

As the population ages, the demand for organ and tissue donations continues to grow. A single donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation. These generous decisions, which are often made during incredibly difficult moments, represent an extraordinary gift from donors and their families.

At TBRHSC, our team approaches every conversation about donation with care and compassion, ensuring patients and families have the information they need to make informed, life-saving choices. Taking the time to discuss organ and tissue donation with your loved ones can have a profound and lasting impact on other families.

“The collaboration between TBRHSC and Trillium Gift of Life Network (Ontario Health) is essential in saving lives. On average, about 1,400 people in Ontario are waiting for an organ transplant,” says Dylan Blake, Trillium Gift of Life Network’s Specialist – Organ and Tissue Donor Coordinator at TBRHSC. “By registering your consent, you are making a selfless decision to help others. Your choice can make a life-changing difference.”

Be A Donor Month is an important reminder to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor. Start the conversation with your loved ones, and take a step that could save lives.

Learn more and register at www.beadonor.ca. It only takes two minutes to potentially save or enhance many lives.

Medical Affairs is pleased to share the Professional Staff Recruitment & Retention 2025-26 Annual Report that provides an integrated assessment of professional staff recruitment, retention, and workforce sustainability at TBRHSC from January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. It highlights measurable recruitment progress, identifies persistent workforce risks, and outlines clear priorities to strengthen physician stability and service continuity moving forward. The full report can be reviewed here.

Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs

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Medical Affairs is pleased to announce that Dr. Rana Chakrabarti has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a Pathologist with the Department of Pathology.

Dr. Rana Chakrabarti completed his Doctor of Medicine (MD) at St. George’s University, following a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BMSc) from Western University. He completed his residency training in Diagnostic and Molecular Pathology at the University of Manitoba, where he developed a strong foundation across both anatomic and clinical pathology.

Dr. Chakrabarti brings a comprehensive scope of expertise in diagnostic pathology, with particular experience in molecular pathology, genomics, and the integration of emerging technologies into clinical practice. His work has included research and quality-focused initiatives aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy, turnaround times, and resource utilization, including projects exploring AI-based morphologic prediction and genomic classifiers in cancer diagnostics.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Chakrabarti has a strong background in research and academic collaboration. He has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications spanning molecular genetics, pathology, and public health, with work published in leading journals. Dr. Chakrabarti is also actively engaged in education and leadership. He has experience teaching and mentoring learners, contributing to academic initiatives, and supporting professional development. His leadership experience includes roles with the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba (PARIM), where he contributed to governance, policy development, and organizational strategy through committee and executive positions.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Dr. Chakrabarti to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Thunder Bay community. His clinical expertise, research background, and commitment to education and innovation will be a valuable addition to our organization and the patients and communities we serve.

Today, we are celebrating Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture – Canada’s first Indigenous nurse.

Charlotte Edith Anderson Monture (often known simply as Edith Monture), Kanyen’kehà:ka (Mohawk) First World War veteran, registered nurse, was born on April 10, 1890 on Six Nations reserve near Brantford, ON, and passed away on April 3, 1996 in Ohsweken, ON.

Edith Monture was the first Indigenous woman to become a registered nurse in Canada and to gain the right to vote in a Canadian federal election. She was also the first Indigenous woman from Canada to serve in the United States military.

In her early twenties, Monture had no luck applying to Ontario nursing schools. Most Canadian nursing programs excluded Indigenous women; the federal Indian Act was a barrier to higher education for Indigenous people. Consequently, Monture looked to the United States, where she was accepted into New York’s New Rochelle Nursing School. She graduated first in her class and became the first Indigenous registered nurse in Canada in 1914.

Until the United States entered the First World War in 1917, Edith Monture worked as a nurse at a private school in New Rochelle, New York. Afterward, she volunteered, at age 27, with the United States Army Nurse Corps, along with 14 other Canadian nurses. She is one of a few Indigenous women who served overseas with this Corps.

Edith Monture became the first female Status Indian and registered band member to gain the right to vote in a Canadian federal election. The Military Service Act (1917) had given wartime nurses the right to vote. However, Indigenous women as a whole could not legally vote federally until 1960.

Edith broke barriers for Indigenous women in the armed forces and with regards to federal voting rights. A street (Edith Monture Avenue) and park (Edith Monture Park) are named after her in Brantford, Ontario.

To learn more on Edith Monture click here.

Over 40 clinics across Northwestern Ontario are taking part in the Cervical Screen-a- thon this April!

If you’re due for cervical screening, now’s a great time to book. Call 807-684-7777 to make your appointment, and visit tbrhsc.net/screenathon to learn more and see all participating locations.

Renovations related to the CVS Expansion Project will be starting in the main lobby, to the Outpatient Lab and Pre-Op reception area and the ECG/Lab space within Pre-Op on April 15, 2026.  Please see the map below showing the area affected. 

In order to accommodate this work, the Lab, ECG and Pre-Op reception will relocate to the cubicle rooms adjacent to the Grand Staircase, on Friday, April 10.  Moves will occur after the clinics are closed on Friday.  Starting Monday morning, patients will go to the temporary location.  

What You Need to Know

Pre-Operative Clinic (POC) – Check-in will occur in the temporary location, but patients will still be seen in the existing space.- access to the POC will be via the Fracture Clinic

Outpatient Lab: Check-in will be in the temporary location.- phlebotomy will also operate fully out of the temporary location.  

ECG: Will operate fully out of the temporary location. 

Waiting Space: Seating in the main lobby will be rearranged to increase capacity, as seating within the existing Fracture Clinic/POC alcove will be removed or adjusted

Signage: Wayfinding signage will be posted, as well as signage at the temporary booth

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding while the renovations occur.  At this time, it is estimated that work will be completed in July.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Capital Planning: Kristi Judge at kristi.judge@tbh.net or ext. 7031 or Aaron Bruno at aaron.bruno@tbh.net or ext. 7305.

Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs

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Medical Affairs is pleased to announce that Dr. Grigory Galochkin has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a Anesthesiologist with the Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine.

Dr. Grigory Galochkin completed his Doctor of Medicine (MD) training at Northern State Medical University in Arkhangelsk, Russia, followed by additional medical training at St. Petersburg State Medical Academy. He further advanced his education with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine at Hadassah Medical University in Jerusalem, Israel. Dr. Galochkin also completed advanced subspecialty training internationally, including fellowship experiences in regional anesthesia and acute pain medicine across leading institutions in Germany, Cyprus, and Canada.

Dr. Galochkin brings a broad scope of clinical expertise in perioperative care, regional and general anesthesia, and acute pain management, with experience managing complex patient populations including trauma, oncology, vascular, orthopedic, and spine cases. His practice also includes delivering acute pain services for patients with complex comorbidities, including mental health and substance use disorders.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Galochkin is actively involved in research and medical education. He has contributed to clinical research initiatives and is engaged in teaching medical students, residents, and allied health learners in both operating room and academic settings. He has participated in national and international presentations and research projects, with a focus on advancing anesthesia and pain management practices.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Dr. Galochkin. His diverse training, clinical expertise, and commitment to education and research will be a valuable addition to our organization and to the patients and communities we serve.

Shared on behalf of Medical & Academic Affairs

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Medical Affairs is pleased to announce that Dr. Simon Meykler has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a Pathologist with the Department of Pathology.

Dr. Simon Meykler completed his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He went on to complete residency training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, followed by fellowship training in Surgical Pathology at the University of Washington, with a concentration in genitourinary and head and neck pathology.

Dr. Meykler brings comprehensive expertise across surgical pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, microbiology, and clinical chemistry. He previously served as a Staff Pathologist at the Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks, where he contributed to anatomic and clinical pathology services, laboratory operations, and quality improvement initiatives. He has also held key leadership roles, including Acting Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development, providing oversight of research programs and supporting clinical research advancement.

In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Meykler is actively engaged in medical education. He has held academic appointments such as Assistant Professor of Pathology at California Health Sciences University and roles with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. His work includes medical student teaching, curriculum development, and mentorship. He has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and presentations in pathology and is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists, where he has also held leadership roles at the state and national levels.

Please join us in warmly welcoming Dr. Meykler to Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and the Thunder Bay community. His clinical expertise, leadership experience, and commitment to education and quality improvement will be a valuable addition to our organization and the patients and communities we serve.

April 7, 2026 marks the 23^rd anniversary for Oncology Nursing Day in Canada. The theme, “Stronger Together: Advancing Oncology Nursing Through Collaboration and Innovation”, highlights the power of connection — across disciplines, teams, and communities — in strengthening oncology nursing practice and improving patient outcomes.

It is a day to recognize the incredible role oncology nurses play in our national health care system. Cancer affects people of all genders, nationalities and age groups. Oncology nurses are on the front lines of cancer treatment, care and research.

There are few specialties in the nursing profession where nurses have the privilege to practice, teach, lead and impact patients and families with an illness across the entire disease trajectory. Oncology nursing affords nurses this opportunity, to care for patients from prevention and screening, diagnosis and assessment, treatment, symptom management and support, survivorship, and palliative and end of life care, helping patients to meet their goals of care along the way. Even during difficult times, oncology nurses are inspired by the patients and families they care for.

We encourage our community to join us in showing appreciation and thanks to all of our oncology nurses for their commitment, passion, and dedication to patient and family centred care.