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 Emma Starr.

What does an average day during your placement look like?

An average day during my placement involves reviewing my caseload and prioritizing which patients to see, attending rounds, completing assessments independently and alongside my preceptor, discussing intervention plans, and completing documentation and charting.

Is there a mentor or faculty member who has significantly impacted you?

Absolutely — Lindsay Johnson, my preceptor. She is incredibly supportive, reassuring, and consistently provides thoughtful, meaningful feedback that has helped build my confidence and skills.

What is one interesting fact others might not know about you?

Before entering this field, I worked in tourism as a wild dolphin educator on an island in Australia.