A national initiative to improve Indigenous youth mental health, co-led by local researcher Dr. Chris Mushquash, has secured an additional $10.8 million from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR).

Dr. Mushquash, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction; Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University; Vice President Research at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre; and Chief Scientist at Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, and Dr. Srividya Iyer, Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Youth, Mental Health, and Learning Health Systems and Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, are co-leading the four-year project focused on building a trust-based learning network across Canada to support culturally-grounded mental health services for Indigenous youth.

Indigenous youth in Canada face significant mental health challenges, such as intergenerational trauma, cultural disconnect, increased poverty, and limited access to health services, often due to geographic location and systemic barriers. Despite these challenges, Indigenous youth have strong connections to culture, community, and land, which are powerful protective factors that promote well-being.

As part of the ACCESS Open Minds Indigenous Youth Mental Health and Wellness Network, this initiative will strengthen capacity amongst Indigenous communities and integrated youth services (IYS) networks to deliver inclusive, high-quality, culturally and contextually relevant, and responsive mental health services with, and for, Indigenous youth. The project is guided by the strength of multigenerational teaching and brings together Elders, Knowledge Holders, youth, families, and community leaders, including Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, who serve 13 First Nations across northwest Ontario.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our network to help close critical gaps by cultivating a trust-based, collaborative learning environment across Canada,” said Dr. Mushquash. “With this investment, we can translate knowledge into real-life improvements for Indigenous youth, ensuring that services are more culturally grounded, accessible, and responsive to community needs. Being able to co-lead this work from northwestern Ontario, and specifically Thunder Bay, is deeply significant, as it reflects both the challenges and strengths of the communities we serve.”

The project will utilize various forms of data, including stories, lived experiences, cultural teachings, and images, to guide and strengthen its work. Its goals are to build community capacity, nurture the next generation of Indigenous and allied leaders, and weave Indigenous knowledge systems into service delivery. The interdisciplinary research team also aims to advance approaches rooted in Indigenous worldviews and values. Through these efforts, the network will help empower Indigenous communities and support partner organizations in delivering high-quality, culturally grounded care, while fostering sustainable development and ongoing learning.

“Lakehead University is committed to serving the communities we are proud to be part of, and that includes driving progress through research to improve health outcomes for Indigenous youth here in northwestern Ontario and across Canada,” said Dr. Langis Roy, Vice-President, Research and Innovation at Lakehead University. “This project demonstrates the vital role universities play in advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and partnering with communities to create meaningful, lasting change in society.”

The Government of Canada, through CIHR and Indigenous Services Canada, and its partners, the Graham Boeckh Foundation (GBF) and Bell-GBF Partnership, is investing more than $30 million over four years in the Integrated Youth Services Network of Networks (IYS-Net) to strengthen and expand research across Canada. An innovative approach to youth-focused mental health, IYS provides youth with equitable access to a range of services and supports that contribute to health. This includes mental health and substance use services, alongside primary care, peer support, work and study supports, and more.

Privacy is a fundamental right of every Ontarian. To protect this right, public institutions, which handle personal health information, are required to abide by the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). As an organization governed by PHIPA, all TBRHSC employees and affiliates are obligated to safeguard patient privacy by limiting the collection, use, and disclosure of patient information to that which is necessary to provide care.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) of Ontario is the provincial body, which provides oversight of Ontario’s access and privacy laws. The IPC has legal authority to ensure Health Information Custodians (and their agents), which includes TBRHSC, comply with the provisions of the legislation. One of these obligations involves reporting privacy breaches to the IPC for their further review and action if need be.

Role of the Privacy Officer:        

• Promote Confidentiality and Privacy
• Provide guidance on privacy policies, procedures and legislation
• Orient new staff and provide privacy training to all staff
• Conduct Privacy Audits and Breach Investigations
• Advise staff on matters of privacy, confidentiality and consent

Privacy Breaches occur when personal information is collected, retained, used or disclosed in ways that are not in accordance with the provisions of the Acts, (PHIPA, FIPPA, MFIPPA).

Your Responsibility:

Your personal responsibility is to safeguard patient and organizational privacy in all aspects of your job, and outside of the organization by limiting the collection, use, and disclosure of Personal Health Information to only that which is required to provide care or complete assigned work

Change in Reporting Privacy breaches should no longer be logged through the Hospital’s Safety Reporting system. Instead, any privacy questions or concerns can be directed to the Privacy Officer via phone at 807-684-6988, by email at TBRHSC.Privacy@tbh.

The next phase of terrazzo repairs will begin on Thursday, September 4^th and will impact the cafeteria servery. 

There is no impact to access to/within the cafeteria seating area.  Please see attached map.
The servery will be open on Thursday, September 4th until 3:00 p.m., however, after 2:00 p.m. there will be a limited menu. It will re-open on Monday morning for normal operating hours.  Notification will be issued should this change.  Apologies for the inconvenience.

Per previous, work will be occurring overnight from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and fencing will be placed around the work area for the duration of the timeframe to protect the area and equipment, and to ensure the safety of staff, patients and visitors.  

IMPACTS

• Closure of the Cafeteria Servery 

If you have any questions, please contact Kristi Judge is Capital Planning, at x.7031 or kristi.judge@tbh.net or Darin Pretto at x.6205 or darin.pretto@tbh.net.

Medical Affairs is excited to announce that Dr. Karim Taha has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a full-time Interventional Cardiologist with the Department of Internal Medicine.

Dr. Taha completed his Interventional Cardiology Fellowship in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, after Adult Cardiology and Internal Medicine training at the University of Toronto. He earned his MD from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) from McMaster University.

He brings extensive experience as an Interventional and Clinical Cardiologist, with prior work across Ontario and Newfoundland. His clinical and academic focus includes advanced coronary interventions, cardiac diagnostics, and the use of predictive analytics to improve cardiovascular care. Dr. Taha has presented nationally and internationally on Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology, predictive modelling, and digital health innovations.

Beyond clinical care, he is the founder of MTIMA, a Canadian non-profit that established the first dedicated cardiac services department in Malawi. He is also an active educator and mentor, committed to training the next generation of physicians.

Dr. Taha’s many honours include the Department of Medicine Outstanding Housestaff Award, the Ursula Bangs Research Competition Award, and the Canada Millennium Excellence Award.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Taha. His expertise, leadership, and dedication to patient-centred care will be invaluable to our hospital and community.

Thank you to everyone who participated in HSO Global Workforce Survey. A big congratulations to the winner of six months free parking:

Heather, Adult Mental Health

The HSO Global Workforce Survey is now closed.

Join us on September 10, for Orange Shirt Beading, an hour of beading, learning, and community connection.

Where: ICP Main, Room 2178

Date: September 10

Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations and create beautiful beaded pins. All beading supplies will be made available, or bring a beading project you’ve already started.

We can’t wait to see you there. Seats are limited. Register by emailing Annette Klement, Traditional Wellness Coordinator at Annette.Klement@tbh.net.

To check out the rest of the events happening this month, see the poster below!

Medical Affairs is thrilled to announce that Dr. Laura Kerr has joined the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a full-time Surgical Oncology/General Surgeon with the Department of Surgery.

Dr. Kerr completed her General Surgery Residency at NOSM in Thunder Bay, where she served as Chief Resident and earned her FRCSC in 2023. She has completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the University of Ottawa, with a focus on complex cancer and minimally invasive surgical care.

Her clinical practice includes colorectal, gastrointestinal, breast, melanoma/skin, and abdominal solid organ cancers, supported by specialized training in advanced minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Kerr earned her MD from Dalhousie University in Saint John, New Brunswick, graduating with distinction and receiving the Robert C. Dickson Prize for highest academic standing. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering with a Biomedical Engineering Diploma from the University of New Brunswick.

Dr. Kerr has presented nationally, published research in surgical oncology, and received awards for teaching and academic excellence, including the CAGS Resident Teaching Award. She is also dedicated to medical education and has been a valued lecturer and mentor at NOSM.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Dr. Kerr. Her surgical expertise, academic achievements, and commitment to patient care will be invaluable to our hospital and community.