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.

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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.

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.

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

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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,

Shared on behalf of Dr. Mohammed Bassuony, Medical Lead, Hospitalist Service and Dr. Adam Exley, Vice President, Medical Affairs

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A Message from Dr. Mohammed Bassuony, Medical Lead, Hospitalist Service

As I near the end of my tenure with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, I am pleased to announce that two highly capable members of the Hospitalist Service will be stepping into cover leadership of the service on an interim basis. Dr. Jacinta Oyella and Dr. Samantha Biggs will assume the role of Interim Medical Co-Leads for the period of May 18, 2026 to August 31, 2026. This provides an overlap with my departure from the leadership position on May 31, 2026 to ensure a seamless transition. 

During the overlap period, I will continue to manage the day-to-day operations of the service while providing orientation to the co-leads, and they will begin supporting physician recruitment activities with Medical Affairs and engaging in future planning meetings related to In Patient Medicine design.

It has been a true privilege to serve this team, TBRHSC and the patients and families we care for. I have every confidence that the Hospitalist Service will continue to grow and thrive, and I am grateful to Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs for stepping up to cover the role during this important period.

A Message from Dr. Adam Exley, Vice President, Medical Affairs

I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Bassuony for his tremendous contributions and dedicated leadership of the Hospitalist Service. He will be greatly missed in this role, and he has built the foundation upon which quality care will continue to be delivered.

Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs will report to myself as the VP of Medical Affairs and will work collaboratively with Dr. Caitlin McCallum as the Medical Director of Inpatient Medicine Services on program operations. From a quality of care perspective, the Hospitalist Service will be aligned with the Department of Internal Medicine during this interim phase.

A schedule identifying a primary lead point of contact between Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs will be communicated shortly to ensure clarity and ease of communication for the team and others across TBRHSC.  Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs will also both play an important role in representing the Hospitalist Service as leadership across Medicine Services begins to assess the recommendations for implementation from the recent review of Inpatient Medicine Services.

When the new Inpatient Medicine leadership structure is approved and ready for implementation, there will be an open and transparent competition for the ongoing medical leadership role overseeing the service. 

We are grateful to Dr. Oyella and Dr. Biggs for stepping up quickly, and Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is fully committed to supporting the Hospitalist Team as it continues to grow and succeed.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, observed annually on May 17, serves as a meaningful occasion to celebrate gender and sexual diversity, recognize the progress achieved toward greater equity for members of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community, and raise awareness about the ongoing challenges they continue to face.

What are homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia?

The terms homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia describe attitudes and beliefs that create barriers for individuals based on their perceived membership in the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

In the healthcare system, recognizing these perspectives highlights opportunities to promote equity and understanding, inspiring efforts to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.

Pride Month is just around the corner. Throughout June, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Steering Committee’s 2SLGBTQQIA+ Subcommittee and Pride Working Group will be hosting several events to celebrate and support the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community. Keep an eye on the Daily Informed Newsletter for more details.

To learn more about the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, please go to: https://may17.org/

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fetal-health-surveillance-4-hour-refresher-virtual-june-3rd-tickets-1985156300935?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Moose Hide Campaign began in 2011 along the Highway of Tears in northern British Columbia, when co-founders Paul Lacerte and his daughter Raven Lacerte took a hunting trip that inspired a national movement. Deeply impacted by the ongoing crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls, they created the campaign as a way for men and boys to take a stand and be part of the solution.

The Moose Hide Campaign is a Canada-wide movement that invites all Canadians to commit to ending gender-based violence. Wearing a small square of moose hide symbolizes a personal pledge to honour, respect, and protect the women and children in our lives. It also encourages meaningful conversations, reflection, and action toward reconciliation and safer communities for Indigenous Peoples.

Participating in the Moose Hide Campaign is a simple but powerful way to show solidarity and support a future free from violence.

On May 6, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre hosted an information booth and gave away Moosehide pins for staff to show their support for this important cause.

To learn more: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/

Click to register for the livestream event held on Thursday, May 14: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/campaignday/