Report from Matt Simeoni

Chair, Board of Directors, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

I am very proud that our hospital is one of the first Ontario hospitals to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. This role to imperative to the fight against COVID-19 in our community, and there is an extraordinary effort behind it. In collaboration with the Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU), our hospital team is working to distribute vaccines as fast as possible, based on vaccine supply and provincial direction.

Already, significant milestones have been achieved, such as completing all second doses for Long Term Care residents in Thunder Bay consenting to be vaccinated, and the establishment of a larger vaccine clinic Lakehead University’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Education building. These achievements are made possible through partnerships, perseverance, and dedication. I am grateful to all involved.

Like most of you, I am eagerly waiting for the day when my loved ones can be vaccinated against COVID-19. That time will come. To learn more about Ontario’s vaccine rollout plan, please visit: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/covid-19-vaccines-ontario. In the meantime, we can all do our part to stop the spread of COVID-19 by following the public health guidelines. It has been a long and difficult year for many of us, in various ways. While pandemic fatigue is challenging our patience, and must be acknowledged, we must continue to be vigilant.

I want to take this opportunity to extend, on behalf of the Board of Directors, endless appreciation for the people working – both on the front lines and behind the scenes – to make safe, quality, patient and family centred care possible every day. I also want to thank the community for your patience, and for understanding the challenges that come with the need to protect acute care for all.

I would also like to acknowledge TBRHSC Board representative, Douglas Judson, for serving as one of the inaugural Co-Chairs of the newly formed Regional Services Committee of the Board. Douglas, who lives and practices law in Fort Frances, brings tremendous value to this role. This Committee will support the regional mandate and goals of TBRHSC, St. Joseph’s Care Group and all regional system partners, to advance a more integrated system of care and services that will improve the care experience and outcomes for patients of Northwestern Ontario.

In addition, congratulations are extended to Board member Dr. Sartia Verma on well-deserved recognition. The Medical Post is an online information source for Canada’s physicians. In February, the Medical Post published their 2021 Power List, a compilation of Canada’s 30 most powerful, influential and impactful doctors. Dr. Verma, Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and TBRHSC Board member, was prominently featured on that list for her commitment to bringing high-quality health care to the north, her championing of diversity and her valuable new perspectives on how to meet the needs of our region’s unique patient populations.

Finally, progress continues on the next integrated Strategic Plan for TBRHSC, and Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute. Our first priority is to hear from you. Your input and ideas will shape the future of health care; stay tuned for more information coming soon.