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My research vision is to encourage and support research to meet the unique needs of the people of Northwestern Ontario and to improve the health outcomes of our population. In alignment with the Health Research Institute’s vision of “bringing discovery to life,” I am interested in exploring opportunities to enhance patient care, while inspiring students through the integration of research and applied learning opportunities. By engaging learners in research and health care technology advances in the educational environment, we can instill a spirit of innovation in the future leaders of health care in our region and beyond.

It is my privilege to represent Confederation College on the Health Research Institute’s Board of Directors. We are grateful to have a permanent seat on the Board, supporting Confederation College’s valued and longstanding partnership with the Health Research Institute. Colleges have much to offer in applying the latest research through an applied, experiential learning environment. Confederation College is able to take advantage of our partnership with the Health Research Institute to apply the latest research developments to our curriculum and support the work of the Institute through our regional campuses as well.

The most important thing people should know about the Health Research Institute is how critical its work is in helping to support local research, which can help address the issues unique to northwestern Ontario.  Through the Health Research Institute’s efforts, our region is better able to anticipate the changing needs of patients and find solutions we can apply in the health care setting locally. The range of research projects in which we are engaged is considerable and we should be proud to have such a diverse group of scientists committed to working with the Institute.

I was appointed as the President of Confederation College in September of 2018 and have more than 30 years of progressive leadership experience in health care, human services and education. Prior to Confederation, I was the Vice President of Rehabilitative Care at St. Joseph’s Care Group (SJCG). There I witnessed first-hand the health care issues faced by people across this region and how advances in research are helping people on a practical level through prevention, treatment and care. I was born and raised in Thunder Bay. Prior to working at SJCG, I worked at Confederation College for 14 years, including serving as the Dean of the School of Health and Community Services. I hold an Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree from Lakehead University and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto, where I studied social policy and administration.

Research is vital in Northwestern Ontario, helping us find solutions to our unique health care challenges. Despite our barriers to care, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre programs consistently rank among the best in Ontario, and we are a Leading Practice in several areas including orthopaedics, Telemedicine, and Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC). The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation continues to support health research thanks to the generosity of donors throughout the region.

Mike and Dawn Wrenshall are incredible examples of how local residents can make a big difference to research. Their contribution was a direct result of the care Mike received. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer in 2018 and referred to urologist Dr. Hazem Elmansy.

“When you find out you have cancer, your world shifts – majorly,” Mike said. “I had surgery in less than a week. It was such a relief to get it out of me… You feel violated that something like that would be in your body.”

Mike and Dawn credit Dr. Elmansy for helping Mike survive his cancer. “We’re extremely lucky to have him here in Thunder Bay,” Mike said. “I don’t actually think our community recognizes just how talented and caring he is.”

The story doesn’t end there. What you may not know is that research is of particular interest to Dr. Elmansy. Many clinicians choose to practice in Thunder Bay specifically because of the research opportunities available to them. It’s big enough to offer a wide range of possibilities, yet small enough that it’s easy to work with other clinicians and scientists at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.

The couple decided to support Dr. Elmansy’s ongoing urological research, donating $10,000 to the Health Sciences Foundation. “I am proud to donate in honour of him,” Mike said. “I thought that if there was anything I could do to recognize his work and allow him to continue to offer incredible care, then I’d do it. It’s our way to show support for the work he’s doing now and the work we hope he will continue to do in the future.”

Many people in Northwestern Ontario like the Wrenshalls understand the importance of local research to find local solutions. Donations through the Foundation’s Health Discovery Fund help support scientists and clinician researchers meet those goals with funding that wouldn’t otherwise exist.

Standard patient records, whether they are paper or electronic, are large and often fragmented collections of information. But what if you could bring all that information into a design environment and create a “blueprint of care”? This would allow care providers to literally visualize the treatment plan and instantly see the big picture. That’s exactly what Dr. Arnold Kim, a Hospitalist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, set out to do 10 years ago.

When you go to see the doctor, he or she records your symptoms in your chart, analyzes what you’ve said, and then starts treatment planning. Your doctor may order tests, prescribe medications, and plan a follow-up visit. But these entries are disconnected bits of information that will need to be read again in the future, forcing the care provider to reconstruct the patient story or “narrative” from scratch every time.

“That’s a weak point in the medical system,” Dr. Kim said. “Narrative works well when you are giving simple directions, like to the store from your house. But when we rely upon narrative to describe very intricate relationships like those in health care, it breaks down. There are many more directions, perhaps several destinations, and even different steps happening at the same time.”

Now imagine that when doctors enter information into your electronic medical record (EMR), the system automatically suggests a blueprint of care. Instantly, any health care professional helping you can visualize your care plan, where you are, and what the next step is.

Aurora Constellations is that software. Dr. Kim calls it a patient care design tool – and there is nothing quite like it anywhere. The name comes from the fact that when we see constellations rather than a mass of disconnected stars, we are better able to navigate. Aurora Constellations represents the next generation of EMR technology, adding decision support for treatment planning, automating test ordering, direct prescription ordering, integration of the latest research, and more.

“It’s a powerful way to accurately implement evidence-based medicine, standardized care procedures, and hospital policies inside the patient’s blueprint of care,” Dr. Kim said.

Although patent pending, Aurora Constellations software is still in the development stage, he said. A number of collaborators came together including our Hospital, students from the Computer Science Department at Lakehead University including James McCormack and Lisa Ewen, and the Northern Ontario Medical School (NOSM). Clinical trials involving NOSM students are scheduled to begin at our Hospital in the fall of 2019.

“Students tend to be more tech savvy, so I believe that they will be more able to help undertake this huge shift towards design-based patient care.”

The Summer School of Medical Imaging (SSMI), jointly hosted by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute and Lakehead University’s Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, offers a unique research experience that showcases the graduate environment in Medical Imaging as a prospective career path for undergraduate students.

Within this program, Lakehead University and the Health Research Institute provide topical tutorials and a seminar series, and host an end-of-summer research project competition. The program runs from May to September.

“The Summer School of Medical Imaging is a great example of how the Health Research Institute partners with Lakehead University to train and retain our region’s youth,” said Dr. Alla Reznik, Canada Research Chair in Physics of Molecular Imaging, Senior Scientist at the Health Research Institute, and Summer School of Medical Imaging Co-Chair for 2019. “In the past, many students studying in Thunder Bay felt that they had to leave the city to pursue education and careers in science. Now, our youth are realizing they can have a top-quality education and career in the medical field — without leaving Northwestern Ontario.”

The roster for the 2019 edition of the SSMI includes 14 undergraduate students from Lakehead University, Ryerson University, and the University of Calgary. They’ll be working closely with scientists on research projects related to the medical imaging field, such as low-dose X-ray and Positron Emission Mammography imaging, novel tools in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and targeted cancer diagnostics.

The SSMI provides undergraduate students with a paid research position. Students work under the supervision of Lakehead University-Health Research Institute scientists to complete projects in their field of interest. These projects are related to the scientist’s research theme and often make real contributions to advancements in medical imaging technologies. Students who are successful in obtaining summer employment work in their supervisor’s lab and must attend the weekly Summer Student Seminar Series to gain exposure to a variety of research areas and topics in the field of Medical Imaging.

Social events such as barbeques, hiking and various sports activities are also organized as part of the summer schedule to encourage networking between students.

To learn more about the SSMI, visit http://bit.ly/SummerSchoolofMedicalImaging for more information.

Summer School of Medical Imaging: Class of 2019

Maxwell Yuan, Lakehead University
Craig Macsemchuk, Lakehead University
Tristen Thibault, Lakehead University
Anirudh Shahi, Lakehead University
Alejandro Ortigas, Lakehead University
Sarah Yeo, Lakehead University
Camryn Newman, Lakehead University
Malikah Haq, Lakehead University
Jonas Olsen, Lakehead University
Emily Hodgson, Lakehead University
Austin Hopkins, Lakehead University
Nicholas Randall, University of Calgary
Mihnea Constantin, Ryerson University
Yadunandan Sharma, Ryerson University

After a successful debut in 2018, Research Day returns for another year.

The second annual Research Day will take place on Friday, October 4^th at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (the Hospital) and will offer valuable information, skills-building and networking opportunities for anyone interested in health research. Research Day is proudly presented by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, in collaboration with the Hospital.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Moving Research to Patient Care: From Bench to Bedside’.

Highlights of this event will include a special keynote presentation from Dr. Patrick McGrath (‘Translating Research to Patient Care’), a panel discussion (‘Using seed funding to leverage research for patient care’), research presentations, interactive workshops, poster presentations, lunch and networking.

For more information, and to receive updates on this event as they develop, please contact Lisa Niccoli at niccolil@tbh.net

Northwestern Ontario health care is unique in that we must collaborate with various institutions and agencies strewn over a vast area to effectively meet the health care needs of our region. Likewise, far-reaching partnerships in health care research are just as essential. They allow us to share diverse knowledge and resources which ensure a depth of study that better pinpoints region-specific solutions and develops greater capacity for discovery.

Research that is initiated, designed, and implemented by local investigators can best inform and advance optimal health care delivery for the people of our region and beyond. So it goes without saying that our many communities play a vital role in assisting scientists, scholars, and researchers in the development of locally relevant health care research. Such locally focused research can lead to new understandings or promote necessary changes that will increase regional capacity and innovate program development.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute is distinct in its approach to health care research: from scientist initiated research, to educating and training in health care delivery, to developing the means to identify and investigate areas of health care concern, to collaborating with others to enhance health care on local, national, and international stages.

Becoming a member of the Health Research Institute Board of Directors will allow me to better assist in the research needs of our region by, in the continued spirit of collaboration, lending my own knowledge to research institute scientists and, in turn, utilizing the expertise of my fellow board members. 

About Andrew Ross

Andrew Ross is the Manager of the Anishnaabe Bimaadiziwin Research Program, a collaboration of the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC) and Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority (SLFNHA).  He has experience with the design and implementation of educational and health care research programming in the Sioux Lookout region, including collaboration between First Nations communities, health care centres, and universities from across Ontario. Andrew oversees and assists researchers with navigating the research review and ethics process for both SLMHC and SLFNHA.

Prior to working in Northwestern Ontario, Andrew served as Assistant Dean at the Memphis College of Art (MCA) in Memphis, Tennessee where he oversaw institutional effectiveness, institutional research, academic advising, and served as a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) faculty member and advisor.

Andrew holds a BA and BEd from Lakehead University and a MFA from MCA.

Under Andrew’s leadership, the Anishnaabe Bimaadiziwin Research Program strives to create a culture of inquiry that will foster relevant research, both locally and regionally, to better inform health care providers and act as a catalyst in promoting excellence in optimal health care delivery.  The Research Program seeks input from numerous outside partners and agencies, including First Nations tribal councils and communities, and is continually developing opportunities and partnerships to expand research programming that includes community-based research models.

Dr. Ingeborg Zehbe is a Scientist with the Health Research Institute, a Lakehead University / Health Research Institute Research Chair and an Associate Professor with the Northern Ontario School of Medicine.

As a Cancer Biologist, Dr. Zehbe’s research focuses on human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer. Her personalized health approach brings basic research, tumour model engineering, patient-targeted, non-invasive treatments, as well as screening and prevention under the same umbrella.

Cervical cancer is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), a common infection that most men and women get at some point during their lives. Usually the body can successfully fight off the virus, but sometimes the infection persists leading to more serious conditions including cervical cancer and cancers of the head and neck.

Cervical cancer is preventable, and it is curable when caught in its early stages. Dr. Ingeborg Zehbe has spent her professional career investigating ways of reducing cervical cancer deaths through basic research, testing non-invasive therapeutics, and improving current cancer screening. She collaborates with experts in a wide range of fields including physics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, virology, epidemiology, public health, sociology, and ethical philosophy as well as clinicians at our Hospital.

During her research, Dr. Zehbe found that Indigenous women are at a much higher risk of dying from cervical cancer than the national average – in some cases as much as 20 times higher. This is due to several factors including cultural sensitivities, geographical barriers, and access to care. Dr. Zehbe leads a team that launched the Anishinaabek Cervical Cancer Screening Study (ACCSS) to encourage screening among women from 10 First Nations in Northwestern Ontario and to compare the results of two types of cervical screening designed to overcome the barriers to screening.

To learn more about Dr. Zehbe, her research, and the members of her research lab, visit https://www.zehbelab.com/