Message from Kyle Shaen
Chair, Board of Directors, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
June 1, 2019
I recently attended the opening of the new Ibn Sina Simulation Lab, and I was left speechless. That was partly because the technology behind this state-of-the-art learning and research lab is, of course, amazing. But I was especially touched by one of the donations that helped make it happen. The Muslim Physicians, a group of eleven like-minded physicians, came together to contribute $500,000 towards the project. They named the Simulation Lab after Ibn Sina, a physician who helped usher in the age of modern medicine.
I believe we are lucky to have such caring and committed doctors here in Thunder Bay. We are used to seeing doctors work tirelessly to improve health care, ensuring patients get the best care possible. These physicians went a step further, donating their own money towards a Simulation Lab because they deeply believe in the health benefits to patients across Northwestern Ontario. A donation of this size is a game changer and will positively impact health care in our region for years and decades to come.
So just what is the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab? We’ve all heard of flight simulators. They are also excellent tools combining computers and real-life controls to train new pilots and help experienced pilots learn how to handle difficult situations.
The Simulation Lab is very similar. It’s a dedicated space inside the Hospital for hands-on training for doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals. Inside you’ll find life-like mannequins and software programs that simulate disease and injury – and these mannequins react just like a real person would. The mannequins can also be programmed with rare or complex cases so that interprofessional teams can learn how to work together without risking patient safety. Dr. Stewart Kennedy, Executive Vice President, Regional Programs, Clinical Supports & Medical Affairs at our Hospital, has said that it will help health care providers in terms of education, technical performance, and clinical reasoning. I’ve talked to some people who have used Simulation Labs, and they tell me it’s an incredibly realistic – and useful – tool.
Thank you once again to the Muslim Physician group and to everyone who helped bring this modern learning and research environment to Northwestern Ontario. Thanks to their generosity and dedication, we have taken another giant leap forward in patient care.
You can learn more about the Ibn Sina Simulation Lab and the names of all the very generous doctors here: http://bit.ly/IbnSinaLab