Shared on behalf of Dr. Bradley Jacobson, Chief of Staff
I am pleased to announce that Dr. Linda Bakovic has been re-appointed for another three year term as the Chief of Paediatrics at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
Dr. Bakovic has served as Chief of Paediatrics since 2022 and has been respected member of the Department of Paediatrics since 2014. Throughout her tenure, Dr. Bakovic has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence in clinical practice, academic leadership, and the advancement of patient care.
During her first term, Dr. Bakovic has been proud to successfully advocate for increased FTE positions with the Ministry, helping to strengthen the team’s capacity. She played a key role in launching the Paediatric Emergency Transport Team, effectively managed the unexpected pediatric viral surges of 2022 and 2023, and led the successful effort to have our Hospital join the Paediatric Oncology Group of Ontario. These achievements reflect his dedication to improving patient outcomes, supporting staff, and enhancing the Hospital’s collaborative partnerships.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Bakovic on her re-appointment and thank her for her ongoing leadership and commitment to quality care.
“Before my cancer diagnosis in early 2025, I had no symptoms and no family history of breast cancer. The reason I decided to schedule a mammogram was almost by chance. My husband Mike is a physician and mentioned that the screening eligibility for mammograms had expanded to include women in their 40s in the fall of 2024 and he suggested I get one,” says the 40-year-old dietitian and mom of four from Kincardine, Ontario.
Launched in 1990, the Ontario Breast Screening Program is Ontario’s province-wide screening program that aims to reduce breast cancer deaths through regular screening. People ages 50 to 74 at average risk of breast cancer were eligible to self-refer for a mammogram every two years. People ages 40 to 49 at average risk were able to access mammograms but required a referral from a health care provider.
This October marks the first anniversary of the program’s expansion, when eligibility was broadened for people age 40 to 49 at average risk of breast cancer to self-refer for a mammogram every two years without a healthcare provider’s referral.
Since its expansion last fall, 155,000 people ages 40 to 49 have accessed breast cancer screening through the program.
“I booked my appointment through the OBSP, thinking I was just doing my due diligence. I did not expect anything to come of it,” says Nicole.
However, she received a call back that same day referring her for further imaging. A biopsy later confirmed non-invasive Grade 3 ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS breast cancer. If left untreated, DCIS can become invasive and metastasize, but Nicole says her mammogram identified the cancer when it was considered ‘stage 0’.
Following a successful surgery, there was no need for radiation or chemotherapy afterwards.
Nicole credits her care team for their help and support throughout her cancer journey. But she says what truly made the biggest difference in her story is how the Ontario Breast Screening Program made early diagnosis and treatment possible.
“Without the guideline change last fall, I wouldn’t have gotten a mammogram for another 10 years based on my age. By then, if my cancer hadn’t already turned invasive, my prognosis and treatment plan would have been very different. The expansion of OBSP gave me access to early detection, and that may have saved my life. OBSP connected me to a system that worked quickly, compassionately and collaboratively.”
Individuals are encouraged to speak with their doctor or nurse practitioner, or call Health811 to have a conversation about their risk of cancer, the potential benefits and potential harms of breast cancer screening, and their preferences and values for screening to determine if it is right for them.
“I’m sharing my story to highlight the difference early detection can make,” says Nicole. “I want women to feel empowered to take that first step and know that the system will be there for them throughout their journey, whatever it may look like.”
Building Strong, Resilient Learners: Rethinking the School Day for Healthy Development with Dr. Christopher Mushquash
Date: October 23, 2025 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST Format/Location: Virtual. Free and open to all.
Explore how daily school routines can support, or sometimes conflict with, healthy child development. Dr. Mushquash will guide participants in reflecting on their own contexts, strengthening skills like self-regulation and collaboration, and discovering practical strategies to nurture resilient, capable learners.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of Canada’s leading voices in Indigenous mental health and child development!
This session will be recorded and uploaded to the KEB Virtual Learning Environment for later viewing.
Sonography Week (October 6-10) is an opportunity to recognize the profession of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ultrasound) which plays a vital role in the care and treatment of community members of all ages.
A sonographer uses an instrument called a transducer (or probe) on a patient over the area of the body under investigation. Sound waves are emitted and received and the ultrasound machine determines the size, shape and consistency of soft tissues which is then relayed in real-time to a computer screen producing an image.
Sonographers are medical detectives. They use their ultrasound training, technical skills, and understanding of the human body and its systems to decide if structures are normal or abnormal and adapt their investigation as they find clues throughout an examination. They also use patient history, lab work and previous studies in their role. The imaging information they obtain is then used by doctors to determine the necessary treatment or next steps for the patient.
The quality of an ultrasound exam is very dependent on the skills of the sonographer who completed the scan. As such, sonography is a growing profession and sonographers are in demand in hospitals, medical imaging clinics and tertiary healthcare facilities. Sonographers can also be employed as educators, researchers or application specialists.
At TBRHSC, sonographers are employed in the Diagnostic Imaging department and perform numerous general, vascular and cardiac ultrasounds.
This week, we celebrate Emergency Nurses Week, and recognize the exceptional people who serve on the front lines of our Emergency Department. Every shift, every decision, and every moment matters, and Emergency nurses at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre rise to the challenge with unmatched skill, compassion, and resilience.
This team of health care professionals focus on the immediate care of patients who require medical attention to avoid long-term disability or death. It is a complex role, treating the trigger event for the emergency visit as well as communicating with the patient, the families, and the care team. This frontline role is very patient centered, not only physically but emotionally too. People in emergency situations often feel distraught and upset. So, the emergency nurse must treat the emotions as well as the emergency medical issue. It can be chaotic, especially if the cause of the visit is a violent incident.
Please join us in thanking our Emergency Department nurses for their tremendous contributions to patient care in our community.
Shared on behalf of Dr. Adam Exley, Vice President, Medical and Academic Affairs
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Simon Sun to the role of Medical Director, Thoracic Surgery and Lung Screening Services.
Dr. Sun will provide strategic and clinical leadership to both the Thoracic Surgery and Lung Screening programs at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. As a collaborative leader, he will work closely with administrative and medical leaders across departments, including Oncology, Cardiology, and Diagnostic Services to drive high-quality, patient and family-centred care for individuals with thoracic conditions.
In this role, Dr. Sun will be responsible for providing expert medical oversight of Thoracic Surgical Services and the Lung Cancer Screening Program. He will lead operational and physician workforce planning in alignment with evolving clinical and community needs, while overseeing clinical performance indicators, quality metrics, and the professional development of advanced practice providers within the program. Dr. Sun will also strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships and contribute to the development of an Alternate Funding Plan (AFP) in collaboration with Medical Affairs. In addition, he will support innovation in thoracic care and advance education and research initiatives that align with the Hospital’s strategic goals.
Dr. Sun brings a strong track record of clinical excellence, interprofessional collaboration, and leadership experience. His vision and dedication to high-quality thoracic care will be instrumental in supporting our Hospital’s mission and regional priorities.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Sun on his new appointment and in offering your support as he transitions into this important leadership role.
Staff from the Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network are often on hand to support schools in celebrating their FAST Hero graduates.
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in Canada, disproportionately affecting older adults. The key to reducing the impact of stroke is rapid recognition and immediate action. Yet too often, warning signs are missed, delaying treatment and reducing the chances of recovery.
Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre’s Northwestern Ontario Regional Stroke Network has been leading the FAST Heroes campaign since 2019. FAST Heroes is an innovative, school-based health education stroke awareness program that bridges generations by engaging children to share lifesaving knowledge with their grandparents. Developed internationally with endorsement from the World Stroke Organization and gaining momentum in Canada, FAST Heroes turns primary grade students into ambassadors of stroke awareness, teaching them to recognize the signs of stroke summarized by the acronym FAST: Face, Arms, Speech, and Time, time to call 9-1-1.
But the impact goes beyond education. The program directly advances hospital mandates to the community, particularly for older adults. Grandparents are the primary target audience of this initiative; by equipping them (through their grandchildren) with the ability to identify the early warning signs of stroke, hospitals and health systems can help ensure that older adults receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Ontario hospitals are increasingly focused on developing care models that prioritize prevention, integration, and partnership with families. While advanced stroke units, telestroke networks, and rehabilitation services remain critical, earlier activation of emergency care remains the single most effective way to improve outcomes. FAST Heroes Canada received endorsement from the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs, in which all EMS services across Ontario are able to support this program through classroom engagement.
The FAST Heroes model contributes to a new way of caring for older adults by:
Empowering families: Children become health champions, fostering intergenerational learning within households.
Promoting timely care-seeking: Older adults who internalize FAST are more likely to activate emergency services immediately, arriving at stroke-ready hospitals within the treatment window.
Strengthening community-hospital connections: Stroke Networks across Ontario are continuing to endorsing FAST Heroes and exploring ways to integrate this awareness campaigns into their community outreach. Staff become FAST Heroes ambassadors and collaborate with school boards and schools to incorporate FAST Heroes into the primary educational settings. Evaluations show that children not only learn and retain the information but are eager to share it with their grandparents, multiplying the program’s reach.
These kinds of initiatives represent an important stride in caring for older adults. By meeting patients and families outside of hospital settings, health systems can help reduce stroke-related disability, preserve independence for seniors, and lessen the long-term burden on hospitals and long-term care facilities.
As Ontario hospitals continue to reimagine services for our aging population, the FAST Heroes program is a strong example of how creative partnerships and community education can complement traditional models of care. By empowering the next generation to safeguard their grandparents’ health, we are not only raising stroke awareness but also building a culture of shared responsibility that ensures older adults receive timely, lifesaving care.
