Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre has put together the 10-person team that will lead its new heart surgery program, set to open in early 2028. The hospital in Thunder Bay, Ontario, is partnering with the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto’s University Health Network to bring cardiac surgery services closer to home.
Right now, people in Northwestern Ontario who need heart surgery have to travel more than 1,000 kilometres to southern Ontario. The region also has the highest rate of cardiac disease in the province. The new program aims to change that by providing care locally for about 300 patients a year, with room to grow to over 1,000.
The core clinical team includes Wayne Taylor, director of cardiovascular, medicine, and renal programs, who serves as the clinical project lead. Other key roles include Shannan Power as clinical project manager, Kaitlyn Veneruz as clinical nurse specialist, and Amanda Walberg as regional cardiovascular development lead.
The hospital is working on a phased staffing and training plan. Staff will get hands-on training at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre, and perfusionists will complete a two-year cardiovascular perfusion program at the Michener Institute. The goal is to have a fully skilled team ready to safely care for patients when the program launches.
The Ontario government has invested over $93 million to build the program. Construction is underway on 76,000 square feet of new and renovated space, including a 14-bed cardiovascular surgery unit, a 6-bed coronary care unit, and a hybrid operating room that combines imaging and surgical tools.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation has also raised more than $20 million through its “Our Hearts at Home” campaign, the largest fundraising effort in the foundation’s history.
