Submitted by Physiotherapy Professional Practice, SJCG

It is with both gratitude and admiration that we announce the recent retirements of three incredible physiotherapists: Maureen Dillon, Fiona MacLean, and Kelly Bergagnini. Together, they have devoted an astonishing 102 years to the Physiotherapy profession, and now as they lay down their goniometers and reflex hammers we want to wish them well in this next chapter of life. Their contributions to TBRHSC and the physiotherapy community have been immeasurable, and we want to take this opportunity to celebrate their careers and reflect on the profound impact they’ve made.

Kelly Bergagnini: A Role Model in Joint Replacement Care

Kelly began her career with St. Joseph’s Care Group in July of 1992 on the 3N Neurology unit before moving to the Rheumatic Diseases Program (RDU) on the 4th floor. From there, Kelly’s journey took her to the 3rd floor, where she specialized in working with joint replacement patients. She rounded out her career by working 12 years at TBRHSC, where she worked in 3A Surgical Daycare primarily caring for post-operative joint replacement clients.

One of Kelly’s most notable reflections on her career was, “When I started working with joint replacements at SJH many years ago, the pathway length of stay was 8 days. By the end of my career, we were sending joint replacement patients home the same day!”

Her dedication to the evolving needs of her patients and her ability to adapt to new approaches in healthcare make her an outstanding example of growth and innovation in the field.

Maureen Dillon: A Career Focused on Orthopedics and Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Maureen started her physiotherapy career at Port Arthur General Hospital in 1990, before joining St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1997. Throughout her career, Maureen specialized in orthopedics and pulmonary rehabilitation, and she eventually became an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist at the Rapid Access Centre at TBRHSC where she finished her career.

Maureen fondly recalls one of her favorite workplace traditions: “One of my fondest memories was ‘month-end coffee,’ where rotating groups of rehab staff would provide special treats. It was a wonderful opportunity to socialize and promote camaraderie and friendship among colleagues.”

Her contributions to both patient care and team dynamics have left a lasting impact, and we thank her for her years of commitment to the profession, St. Joseph’s Care Group and TBRHSC.

Fiona MacLean: From Scotland to Thunder Bay, a Career Dedicated to Stroke Rehabilitation

Fiona began her career in physiotherapy in Inverness, Scotland, before moving to Thunder Bay in 1991 to work at McKellar Hospital. After McKellar closed, Fiona transitioned to TBRHSC, where she made significant contributions to the Acute Stroke Program.

Fiona reflected on the importance of professional connections and continuing education, saying, “I find the QPC retreats and courses that I have attended are really important events to connect with physios across the continuum and appreciate how dedicated they all are in providing the best care for our patients . These personal interactions and communications in person are so important in these times of emailing and WebEx meetings where the personal connections are not there.”

Fiona’s commitment to her patients and to strengthening professional ties within the physiotherapy community has made her an invaluable member of the team.

A Well-Deserved Farewell

As Maureen, Fiona, and Kelly step into retirement, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for their incredible contributions to both TBRHSC and St. Joseph’s Care Group. Together, they have improved the lives of countless patients over the years. While their presence will be greatly missed, we wish them all the best in their retirement and hope they enjoy this new chapter to the fullest.

Thank you, Maureen, Fiona, and Kelly, for your passion, dedication, and years of service. Enjoy your retirement—you’ve truly earned it!

Please join us in celebrating these three remarkable professionals and the lasting legacy they leave behind!

(Via TBNewswatch.com)

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre’s mobile cancer screening bus is hitting the road.

The Screen for Life Coach departs Thunder Bay on Thursday and spend most of the next seven months on the road, vising communities across Northwestern Ontario “anywhere between Manitouwadge and the Manitoba border,” said Caitlund Davidson, the hospital’s coordinator of prevention and screening.

“We are going on a seven-month tour so we won’t be back in Thunder Bay until November,” she said.” We will be circling through periodically for maintenance and for a couple of screening days here and there in town, but otherwise we’ll be out touring the region for seven months.”

The coach offers breast, cervical and colon cancer screening services to more than 75 locations in the region. Davidson said mammograms are available for people between the ages of 40 and 74 every two years, cervical screenings are available for those with a cervix between 25 and 69 if one has been sexually active, and colon cancer screenings are for those between 50 and 74 “if you are at average risk and have no family history of colon cancer.”

“Early detection is most important because we can treat cancers earlier when they’re found earlier,” Davidson said. “Cancer screening is for patients that have no symptoms, so if you do have symptoms, you would be referred to go to a walk-in clinic or to the emergency department nearest you.”

The screening coach’s first stop is in Dryden on Thursday afternoon in the community’s hospital’s parking lot, Davidson said, followed by Vermilion Bay and then on to Rainy River.

Dates and locations can be found on the health sciences centre’s website. Appointments can be booked by calling 807-684-7777, she said.

“I think we’re excited to be hitting the road,” Davidson said. “It’s going to be a great tour and just know that this is a comfortable, welcoming space, and we do have the same equipment that you would find in a hospital, so don’t be scared to give us a call.”

Shared on behalf of Paula Vangel, Manager, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity & Inclusion

I am pleased to announce that Mona Neekan has accepted the Full Time Indigenous Care Coordinator (ICC) position in the Emergency Department.

Mona brings a wealth of experience working as the Indigenous Patient Navigator in the Emergency Department since 2022 and previous experience working as a Band Representative. Mona is a strong advocate for improving the health outcomes of Indigenous Peoples. 

As the ICC, Mona will report to the Manager, Indigenous Collaboration, Equity, and Inclusion, where she will work in collaboration with the other ICCs in the Miskwaa Biidaaban – Indigenous Collaboration department to provide culturally safe care to improve health delivery and equity outcomes for Indigenous Peoples within the organization. 

Mona will be located in the Emergency Department Administrative area. She can be reached via email TBRHSC.IndigenousCareCoordinators@tbh.net or mona.neekan@tbh.net and by phone at 807-684-6153 or cell 807-620-5288. 

Please join me in congratulating Mona on her new role.

Shared on behalf of Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre; CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute

I am pleased to announce that Dr. Adam Exley has accepted the position of Vice President (VP), Medical Affairs, effective May 20, 2025.

In this position, Dr. Exley will report to the President and CEO and be a member of the Senior Leadership Council to support the implementation of the Hospital’s Mission, Vision and Values as aligned to our Strategic Plan 2026. As VP, Dr. Exley will provide medical leadership while planning high-quality clinical services, and overseeing program/service specific performance objectives that will be reliant on human organizational development.

As VP Medical Affairs, Dr. Exley will oversee the Medical Leadership structure assigned in the dyad model of Program/Service teams to ensure medical oversight occurs in partnership with administrative leadership; resulting in overall quality, safety and outstanding performance of clinical programs. Dr. Exley will also oversee Academic Affairs (AVP Dr. Naana Jumah), Hospitalist Program, and Medical Recruitment and Retention/CVS Medical (AVP Dr. Bill Harris).

Dr. Exley has been serving as Medical Director of the Northwest Region Prehospital Care Program since July 2020, and for the 3 years prior serving as Medical Lead of pre-hospital care. During this time, he has been leading transformative change initiatives in prehospital care and developed land paramedic services for Rural First Nations communities. He has also served as Chair of the Ontario Base Hospital Medical Directors and Program Directors Provincial Advisory Committee. While working to support TBRHSC’s mission of delivering exceptional patient-centred care, Dr. Exley has also served as interim Chief of Emergency Medicine for two terms and continues to be a valued physician providing care for patients across Northwestern Ontario in our Emergency Department.

Dr. Exley’s educational background includes earning his HBSc Honours Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph, as well as his M.D. Doctor of Medicine from the Michael G DeGroote School of Medicine McMaster University. He continued on to complete the Family Medicine Residency Extended Competency Emergency Medicine from NOSM University, where he continues to advance education as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Clinical Science.

As a seasoned healthcare leader, we are confident that Dr. Exley will excel in this role and propel us to our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Exley in this new leadership role and congratulating him on this appointment.

(Originally published in the Ontario Hospital Association’s Health System News)

Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) is guided by the philosophy of Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC): the provision of care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient/family preferences, needs and values, and ensures that patient values guide all clinical decisions. Understanding the patient’s health care experience is essential to our commitment to patient-centred care. TBRHSC has taken the lead on capturing and reporting patient experience information as an integral part of advancing the overall care experience for patients and families.

In June 2023, TBRHSC selected a new vendor for patient experience measurement, significantly improving our data collection capabilities. Initially, surveys were distributed solely through email, with email and patient consent obtained at registration. However, the need to expand outreach and maximize adaptation to digital advancements quickly became apparent.

By November 2023, TBRHSC ventured into uncharted territory — SMS-based survey distribution. Recognizing the power of mobile connectivity, SMS as an additional method for patient experience surveys was launched in December 2023. Now, all eight of our surveys are available via SMS across Inpatient, Emergency Department, and Outpatient clinical areas, ensuring that we reach as many voices as possible in our geographically dispersed community.

As with any new digital innovation, the integration of SMS came with initial challenges. Configuration adjustments led to temporary disruptions in our email automation, impacting response rate data until all issues were fully resolved within the year. Despite these hurdles, the introduction of SMS has yielded positive results, with a one to two per cent higher response rate compared to email automation. While email surveys generally see a higher completion rate — such as a 97 per cent completion rate for the Canadian Patient Experience Survey – Inpatient Care (CPES-IC) survey compared to 85 per cent via SMS — this variation is likely influenced by survey length. Patients who provide both email and SMS consent can only complete the survey through their selected preferred method, ensuring data integrity.

Beyond expanding digital reach, PFCC has collaborated with TBRHSC’s Volunteer Services to enhance accessibility and engagement, especially for patients facing barriers to technology access. Volunteers equipped with iPads now follow ​up with patients at discharge, providing the opportunity to complete a survey before leaving if they faced challenges receiving it digitally. Additionally, for patients who were not initially asked at registration to participate, they are given another chance to enroll through volunteers or our post-discharge callback program.

Patient feedback provides valuable information for making decisions about resource allocation, service development, and overall health care strategy. Feedback loops allow for continuous improvement in care delivery, ensuring that services are constantly evolving to meet patients’ needs. At TBRHSC, we remain committed to innovation and leadership in patient experience measurement. By continuously adapting to digital technologies and integrating inclusive engagement strategies, we are ensuring that all patients have a voice in shaping their health care experience, prioritizing their needs and furthering our vision of exceptional care for every patient, every time. 

The Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) provides prenatal care for the residents of Thunder Bay and surrounding region. Our team is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care that is safe, respectful and culturally sensitive.

No referrals are necessary to access care at the Maternity Centre.

During pregnancy, you are welcome to call the Maternity Centre to schedule an appointment with one of our prenatal care providers. All of our programs are accessible with your Ontario health card.

TBRHSC’s Maternity Centre welcomes the 104 babies born at our Hospital during the month of March. Congratulations on the new bundles of joy!

Find out more about our services by visiting bit.ly/TBRHSC-Maternity-Centre.

April marks BeADonor Month in Ontario, a time dedicated to encouraging individuals who haven’t yet signed up to consider organ and tissue donation. In Ontario, 1,400 people on average are waiting for a lifesaving organ while thousands more are in need of a transformative tissue donation. Increasing the number of registered donors enhances the likelihood of saving lives for those needing transplants. It takes two minutes to register at beadonor.ca, and by doing so, you can offer hope to those who are waiting for a critical transplant.

On April 7, World Health Day kicks off a year-long global campaign centered on Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures. Observed annually by all member states of the World Health Organization (WHO), this initiative highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to high-quality care for birthing people and newborns.

As the northern hub for maternity care, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) supports over 1,300 births annually. Our level 2C perinatal and special care nursery units provide comprehensive, expert care, ensuring families receive vital support during critical moments. We are deeply committed to strengthening the health outcomes of both infants and birthing individuals, and in alignment with national efforts to improve perinatal and newborn care, we continuously strive to provide a foundation for lifelong health. This commitment is reflected through initiatives such as expanded access to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) antibody administration and the reintroduction of prenatal education programs in collaboration with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit and Anishnawbe Mushkiki.

In addition to direct care services, TBRHSC is a key partner in advancing maternal and newborn health through research and system-wide collaboration. As an active participant in the Northern Maternal Child Network, TBRHSC contributes to creating an integrated system of care across the region, identifying and addressing gaps in the northern health system while advocating for improved coordination and support. To further enhance access to care, TBRHSC introduced the Paediatric Emergency Transport Team (PETT), a service dedicated to ensuring critically ill paediatric patients in remote areas receive timely, specialized transport and care. Central to these initiatives is the Maternity Centre, a dedicated space at TBRHSC that fosters comprehensive, interdisciplinary care for pregnant individuals. This space is staffed by a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, lactation consultants, dieticians, kinesiologists and social workers, all working together to support the health and wellbeing of parents/caregivers and their children.

World Health Day serves as a reminder that a unified commitment to improving health outcomes from the very beginning lays the foundation for hopeful futures. At TBRHSC, we remain steadfast in our dedication to perinatal and newborn health, striving for excellence in clinical care, advancing research and advocating for the evolving needs of our community. Through innovation and collaboration, we continue to shape a future where every birthing person and newborn has access to exceptional care, unwavering support, and the opportunity to thrive.

To learn more about World Health Day, please visit the United Nations website at: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-health-day/2025