Board Chair Message - December 2006

Again, I have to say how remarkable it is to observe and hear about the care our healthcare teams provide. I want to recognize the accomplishments of our physicians, staff, and volunteers. We don’t say enough about how much we appreciate these people.

I heard about our growing reputation of excellence while at a Convention in Toronto. We had a number of our people making presentations because we were “the leading edge” and others wanted to find out how we are doing it. Folks, and you know who you are, you make us all proud!

As well, a lot of effort is being put into making our Molecular Medicine Research Centre on Munro Street a reality. Scientists have moved in and Laboratory research has begun. There is an aggressive agenda that is being followed. The start-up funding is nearly all in place since Premier McGuinty recently announced provincial support of over fourteen million dollars. We are expecting similar good news from the Federal Government soon. As the Teaching and Research components come together, TBRHSC is repositioned as a national leader in healthcare.

Having said that, let me join with everyone to celebrate Dr. John Rowlands as our Founding Scientific Director of the Molecular Medicine Research Centre (MMRC). He is currently the Head of Medical Physics Research at Toronto Sunnybrook Regional Cancer Centre. His goal, he says, is “to develop High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) equipment, guided by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that will use heat to destroy cancers deep in the body without surgery”. Our research is congruent with our goals. It is all about “patient care”. Beyond that, it is exciting to think that research in Thunder Bay could someday dramatically impact the world of healthcare.

Before I finish this note, I want to mention that I recently sat with a large group of people celebrating the launch of a Regional Stroke Program DVD. As the presentation unfolded in the Ojibwe language, (the other languages are OjiCree and English), it became apparent how important it is that we focus on language issues while we deal with the obvious physical, mental, and spiritual matters of care. Considerable resources are being applied to address the various languages in our cultural environment as our mandated languages, English and French, receive special attention.

One last thing. I have returned from visiting another hospital in the region which makes ten out of the fourteen regional hospitals within the last year. As I speak with healthcare providers in each community, I am reminded how dependent they are on us. It is important that we be prepared to serve the acute care needs of people needing our care. We keep building our capacity to do so.

As the calendar year closes, I want to wish everyone the best of the holiday season.

Thank you for your continued support.

Ron Nelson, Chair
Board of Directors

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