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Sent on behalf of Wayne Taylor, Director, Cardiovascular, Medicine & Renal Program
We are pleased to announce that Amanda Walberg has accepted the position of Regional Cardiovascular Development Lead.
Amanda has worked as a Performance Improvement Consultant with Strategy and Performance Management at TBRHSC since 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology degree from Lakehead University and a Master of Health Administration degree from Toronto Metropolitan University.
In her new role, Amanda will play a key part in developing and implementing a regional mandate to support cardiovascular care. Working closely with the Cardiovascular Services and CVS project teams, she will focus on improving cardiovascular outcomes, through strong project management and a commitment to advancing healthcare. This work will align with regional priorities and help shape the future of cardiovascular care in Northwestern Ontario.
Amanda will begin her new temporary role at TBRHSC on Monday, September, 8th, 2025.
Please join me in congratulating Amanda and supporting her in this important role.
Medical Affairs is thrilled to announce that Dr. Hailey O’Donnell has joined Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre as a full-time General Neurologist with the Department of Internal Medicine.
Dr. O’Donnell brings a strong commitment to excellence in neurological care, with comprehensive training in advanced therapies, evidence-based management, and the latest developments in treating neurological disorders. She completed her Adult Neurology Residency at the University of Ottawa, following an initial residency in Adult Psychiatry, and earned her Medical Degree from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Thunder Bay. Dr. O’Donnell also holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lakehead University, where she was recognized on the Dean’s List for academic achievement.
Dr. O’Donnell has contributed to both clinical care and medical education, with experience in First Nations community health and as a tutor and presenter at the University of Ottawa Medical School. She has presented at multiple neurology rounds and co-authored a publication in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences. Her leadership includes service on the Wellness Committee and the Neurons on Wheels Working Group.
Having grown up in Northern Ontario, Dr. O’Donnell is passionate about enriching patient care and advancing neurological health in our region. Outside of work, she enjoys spin classes, running, yoga, and sharing her love of cooking with friends and family.
Let’s all extend a warm welcome to Dr. Hailey O’Donnell!
Starting Friday August 15, 2025, the contractor will be begin setting up for the roofing project. They will be occupying the space marked on the map below with a Telehandler to bring equipment to roof level. The work in this area will be going on for roughly a month.
Please avoid the area between the G Door and ambulance bay door. Please use the MRI door as an alternative.
Also, the bike racks in the area will be temporarily removed until the work is complete.
If there are any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to Jeffrey MacDonald at Jeffrey.MacDonald@tbh.net.
(Originally published in Hospital News)
A childhood cancer diagnosis changes every aspect of life as families know it. For Drago and Shanley Pavletic, their new reality also came with many 17-hour drives when their son, Luke, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a common childhood cancer with treatment that stretches over years. With limited care options close to home, it meant countless trips from Thunder Bay to London—1,500 kilometres each way—to access specialized care at Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (CH, LHSC).
Every trip came at a cost—financially, emotionally, and logistically. While their daughter, Petra, stayed home with grandparents, the rest of the family navigated flight schedules, and when flights were cancelled, they made the hours-long drive—at times through bad weather and car trouble. The family relied on the kindness of friends and extended family, both in Thunder Bay and in London, to hold their life together.
For families like the Pavletics in Northwestern Ontario, that burden has now eased. In June, we at the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) in partnership with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre launched the ninth POGO Satellite Clinic. The Clinic provides local outpatient care for children and youth with cancer, closer to home and their support networks. The impact for families is significant. The ability to be at home more often allows families to maintain some semblance of normalcy and return to the daily rhythms of life—like work, school, socializing with friends and family, and participating in favourite activities.
POGO, as the official advisor to the Ontario government on childhood cancer, is the leader of Ontario’s world-class childhood cancer system. Our work is made possible thanks to both provincial government funding, as well as donor support. Together with our partners, we have built a system of care that wraps around families supporting their physical and mental health needs from diagnosis to treatment, to survivorship and, when needed, to end-of-life care.
The existence and expansion of our Satellite Clinic Network isn’t just about convenience. It’s about improving access, ensuring equity, and optimizing outcomes for the 500 children diagnosed with cancer every year in Ontario, and just as many who are seen annually in these Clinics. While children receive their primary cancer care at one of the five specialized pediatric cancer programs in Ontario—in London, Hamilton, Ottawa, Kingston or Toronto—at the appropriate time in their treatment, there is a smooth transition to a care team at a Satellite Clinic to receive aspects of their care locally. The hospital care teams work in tandem, collaborating to deliver quality care in the setting that’s most appropriate to the child’s needs. Satellite Clinic care in community hospitals also frees up much-needed capacity in specialized pediatric cancer programs, while ensuring continuity and timeliness of care. This is a win-win for families and the system.
In 2024 alone, families made 6,500 visits to POGO Satellite Clinics for such services as chemotherapy, x-rays, ultrasounds and managing complications of cancer therapy. That’s 6,500 long-distance trips not taken. With less disruption to family life, it’s improved quality of life.
Care closer to home also lessens the overall financial burden on families. It is estimated that in the first three months after a child’s cancer diagnosis, families spend more than a third of their after-tax income on out-of-pocket costs—much of it on travel. That’s before accounting for lost income when a parent or caregiver leaves work to care for their child.
Outpatient care at POGO Satellite Clinics has also enabled patients to enroll in clinical trials, a core component to continued improved outcomes in pediatric cancer. This is thanks to a framework created by POGO with the Ontario Research Ethics Board (OCREB) to remove geographic barriers to clinical trials typically only accessed in major centres.
Through successive five-year provincial Childhood Cancer Care Plans, produced by POGO and our partners, our vision for care closer to home is clear: timely, equitable care in the right place. This requires strong, ongoing collaboration between POGO, care teams, hospitals, government and other partners. At its core, the POGO Satellite Clinic Network is a care delivery model that supports families like the Pavletics and others with the compassion they require at the most challenging time of their lives.
Porters at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) play a vital role in keeping the Hospital running smoothly and efficiently. With energy and a smile, they transport patients safely and comfortably between wards, diagnostic departments, and operating rooms, ensuring timely care and reducing patient stress.
Always ready to lend a helping hand, porters also support medical staff by moving essential equipment, delivering supplies, and responding quickly to urgent requests. Their positive attitude and dedication create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere that brightens the Hospital environment for patients and staff alike. Fiona, a porter at TBRHSC, truly embodies this spirit, and starts her shift with two goals:
“I always set my intention for my shift and hope that at least one person says that I’m kind. Yesterday it was my first patient and an x-ray tech,” says Fiona. “I also try to smile at everyone I see, and set a goal to find out who has the best smile that day, whether it is a patient or staff. I find that energetically this is a good thing to do – when people see you smile, they smile, and it elevates their mood. It is a small thing that makes a big difference.”
Reliable, compassionate, and dynamic, Hospital porters are essential team players making a real difference every day. Fiona checks in with the patient’s nurse to ensure the patient is prepared to be transported. This includes that they are aware of the move, medically safe to move, paperwork complete, IV lines secured, notes or medications are ready. This step is essential to prevent premature or unsafe transfers, maintain continuity of care, and support effective communication between departments.
Thank you to those who have completed the HSO Global Workforce Survey and congratulations to this week’s prize winner!
Don’t miss your chance to win one of our weekly prizes, including six months free parking. To complete the survey click here.
Once you have completed the survey, use the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSO to enter into the prize draws. Once entered, your name will stay in for the remaining draws.
A reminder that the survey closes August 25, 2025 or until a minimum response rate of 50% is achieved.
Looking for a way to relax, reset, and recharge during your busy day? Check out Namaste with Dave: a mindfulness series led by retired TBRHSC employee & Mindfulness Facilitator Dave Gladun. Trained in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, Dave has been guiding staff through meditation and relaxation practices since 2014.
Namaste with Dave recorded sessions can be accessed anytime, with three guided mindfulness experiences to choose from:
Whether you’re new to mindfulness or have been exploring it for a while, these videos are a simple, effective way to bring calm and clarity into your day.
Take a moment for yourself. Click to explore the videos and enjoy a few minutes of peace!
Link: https://informed.tbrhsc.net/departments/human-resources/employee-experience-and-wellbeing
Shared on behalf of Dr. Adam Exley, VP, Medical Affairs
Base Hospital Physician Leadership
I am pleased to share upcoming changes to the physician leadership of the Northwest Region Base Hospital Program (NWRPCP), effective September 1, 2025.
Dr. David Savage, a current Medical Lead with the Base Hospital, has been appointed as Medical Director of the NWRPCP, assuming the role from myself. In this capacity, Dr. Savage will provide strategic and clinical leadership for all medically related aspects of the program, including oversight and delegation of controlled medical acts to certified paramedics and Thunder Bay Fire Rescue. Working within a dyad model alongside the Program Administrative Director and NWRPCP Manager, the Medical Director role is accountable for meeting the Ministry’s performance indicators: Medical Delegation, Medical Control, Education, and Continuous Quality Improvement. Dr. Savage’s experience in the Medical Lead Role and his collaborative leadership style position him well for success in this new capacity, and I am confident in a strong and seamless transition.
We are also pleased to welcome Dr. Frederic Sarrazin and Dr. Heidi Wells as Base Hospital Medical Leads. In this role, they will support program operations, education, and quality improvement efforts while promoting system integration and enhancing the delivery of prehospital care across the region. The Medical Leads also participate in regional emergency and trauma leadership efforts and serve as key liaisons with paramedics, service providers, and hospital teams.
Dr. Jon Smith, a current Medical Lead with exemplary service, will take on expanded responsibility as a Senior Medical Lead – Base Hospital, supporting strategic initiatives, providing clinical oversight, and mentoring new members of the medical team.
Finally, I extend sincere thanks to Dr. Paul Dupuis for his exceptional service as a Base Hospital Medical Lead. His contributions to prehospital care, education, and quality improvement have been greatly valued by the program and the broader system.
Please join me in congratulating Drs. Savage, Sarrazin, Wells, and Smith on their new roles and in thanking Dr. Dupuis for his dedicated leadership.
