International Clinical Trials Day is celebrated on May 20, to raise clinical trial awareness and recognize the day that the first clinical trial was started in 1747 by James Lind. On this day each year, we acknowledge and honour clinical researchers, patient partners, and participants and their contributions to improving treatment options and health outcomes for patients.

What is the difference between clinical trials and clinical research?

• Clinical trials study treatments, procedures, or lifestyle approaches in people to determine if they are safe and effective.
• Clinical research involves volunteers or the study of samples they provide, such as blood or tissue.

Clinical trials study prevention (to find new ways to prevent illness), screening (to detect diseases earlier) and treatment (to test new therapies), and are conducted to:

• Understand how treatments work for different people.
• Find new ways to use approved treatments.
• Test new treatments and effectiveness.
• Compare existing treatments and see which works best.

Everyone is impacted by clinical tirals and they can help us learn more about our own health, improve care and treatment as well as help future patients through new discoveries.

For more information, click here.

Bridge Northwest is inviting enthusiastic and motivated staff to join the MEDITECH Expanse Training Team as Local Trainers and Super Users. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a region‑wide digital transformation supporting colleagues, strengthening patient safety, and building skills that extend far beyond go‑live.

Click here to view the full job descrption. Please note, the closing date is May 29, 2026.

For more information, reach out to: Dawna Perry at dawnamaria.perry@tbh.net.

Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Renewal Course

Taking place Monday, May 25 & Tuesday, May 26, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. in the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab (Room 3100, 3rd Floor – TBRHSC)

This course is designed for health care providers who either direct or participate in the management and assessment of respiratory and/or cardiovascular emergencies and cardiopulmonary arrest in paediatric patients.

Click to learn more and to register.

Sign up early as space is limited

During National Biomedical Engineering Week (May 17-23), we acknowledge the important role of Biomedical Engineering Services in Ontario’s health care system.

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC)’s Biomedical Engineering Technologists and Technicians use their knowledge and training to maintain, repair and help with the selection of medical devices and health technology used for patient care at TBRHSC and in Northwestern Ontario.

As an integral part of the patient’s health care team, we thank all Biomedical Engineering Technologists and Technicians for their hard work and dedication.

• 

• 

• 

May 19 is Personal Support Worker Day. It’s an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the vital contributions of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) to Ontario’s most vulnerable residents.

In Ontario, PSWs provide care to any person who requires personal assistance with activities of daily living. The PSWs who work at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre look after a broad range of supportive activities across many areas of the Hospital and Transitional Care Unit, including assisting with activities of daily living such as personal hygiene, mobility, getting dressed, assisting patients with meal selection, the delivery of nourishments, and assisting with feeding as needed.

The role requires compassion, teamwork, resilience, and professionalism in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. Through their dedication and care, PSWs help create a safe, supportive, and person centered environment for both patients and families.

Please join us in thanking our PSWs for everything that they do.

May is National Physiotherapy Month — a time to recognize and celebrate the vital role physiotherapy plays in Ontario’s health care system. Physiotherapists are essential in helping patients improve movement, recover from injury or surgery, manage chronic conditions, and enhance overall quality of life through evidence-based physical interventions.

At Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, physiotherapists are valued members of our interdisciplinary teams. They provide care across a wide range of Hospital areas, including medical and surgical units, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), neurosurgery, the Regional Stroke Unit, Emergency Department, outpatient rehabilitation, hand clinic, Centre for Complex Diabetes Care (CCDC), paediatrics, the lymphedema clinic, hemophilia clinic, and the Rapid Access Clinic.

This month — and every month — we extend our heartfelt thanks to our physiotherapy team for their skill, compassion, and unwavering dedication to supporting recovery, independence, and well-being for patients across our Hospital and community.

We enjoyed celebrating Employee Recognition Week with you. Please take a few moments to complete our short survey and share your thoughts on this year’s activities.

Thank you for everything you do. Your hard work and commitment truly make a difference. 

Clinical placements play a vital role in a health care learner’s journey, bridging academic learning with real-world practice and helping students build confidence, competence, and professional identity. Through hands-on experience, learners develop essential clinical skills, teamwork, and an understanding of patient-centred care.

As an academic health sciences centre, our Hospital is proud to support learners by providing a safe, supportive, and enriching placement environment where future professionals can learn, grow, and contribute meaningfully to patient care.

We want you to meet some of the learners at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) who are currently on that journey — such as Alesha Bishop.

Name: Alesha Bishop

Hometown: Thunder Bay, born and raised.

Current Year: Fourth year NOSM University medical student

What does an average day during your placement look like?

I am currently on my emergency core block so each day is very different. Some days I am working with a preceptor navigating complex acute cases in a rapid fashion, and other days I’m on the fast track side working on clinical and procedural skills including casting, suturing, dressing changes, and overall helping patients with rapid-style care to get them back to doing what they love.

Is there a mentor or faculty member who has significantly impacted you? 

A mentor that has significantly impacted me is Dr. Beaverly Preater. Her love of rural medicine has impacted my desire to practice rural medicine, where patients still experience acute pathology, but you have to navigate situations in resource limited facilities. You rely on the team, your training, and gestalt to treat critical situations, where sometimes guidelines don’t apply and tools become multi-purposeful.

What is one interesting fact others might not know about you? 

I was born in my amniotic sac!

Shared on behalf of Environmental Services

---

Housekeeping will be completing floor care in the Cafeteria and Lobby beginning the week of May 19.  Work will take place overnight between 10:00 pm and 6:00 am to minimize disruption to patients, visitors, and staff.

The project will begin in the Cafeteria and progress to the Lobby, with completion anticipated by Friday, May 29.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ashley Dell, Manager Environmental Services at Ashley.Dell@tbh.net,