What's new at HSN

What's New at HSN?

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Thank you to our Volunteers – A Message from David McNeil, President and CEO

As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week at Health Sciences North, I want to take a moment to recognize and thank our extraordinary community of more than 400 volunteers.

On behalf of our entire organization, thank you for your dedication to supporting patients, families, and staff across our organization. Your presence brings comfort in difficult moments, your compassion strengthens the care we provide, and your generosity of time makes a meaningful difference every single day.

Volunteers are an essential part of the HSN family. Whether you are welcoming patients, supporting programs, or offering a kind word when it’s most needed, you help create an environment rooted in empathy, dignity, and respect. You remind us that health care is not only about treatment; it is about human connection.

Friday, April 17, 2026

A Crisis Can Happen Anytime — Help Is Here 24/7

A crisis can happen at any time, and it doesn’t always look the way we expect.

It can be overwhelming anxiety that won’t go away. A moment of deep emotional distress. Substance use concerns. Thoughts of suicide. Or concern for someone you care about. In these moments, it can be hard to know where to turn, or even how to take the first step.

At Health Sciences North, we want our community to know one thing: You are NOT alone.

Friday, April 17, 2026

Defying the Odds: HSN’s Hemophilia Program helping kids like Easton live full lives

Easton was born with severe hemophilia A, a rare blood disorder that affects the blood’s ability to clot, a diagnosis that could have changed everything for his family.

“Although we knew there was a risk when we conceived, we hoped maybe we got lucky,” said his mom, Keisha Velcich.

Keisha and Easton’s dad, Mitch, worked closely with their obstetrical team to create a safe birth plan, opting for cord blood testing immediately after delivery rather than prenatal testing. The results came quickly, but their doctor waited until morning to share them.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Strengthening culturally safe care for Indigenous children and families

Health Sciences North (HSN) has signed a Joint Protocol Agreement with Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services to strengthen how we support Indigenous children, youth, and families when they come to hospital for care. The agreement outlines how our teams will work together to ensure coordinated, culturally safe responses to pediatric care needs. It clarifies the roles and responsibilities of both organizations and reinforces a shared commitment to supporting the health, safety, and well-being of Indigenous children while respecting the rights of Anishinabek families and communities. Through this partnership, HSN clinical teams and Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services will collaborate to support healing, family preservation, and community-led care whenever Indigenous children present to hospital. This protocol is part of ongoing work to strengthen partnerships between HSN and regional child and family service agencies to ensure Indigenous children and families receive...

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Health Sciences North staff member recognized as Provincial Organ Donation Champion

A dedicated advocate for organ and tissue donation at Health Sciences North is being recognized at the provincial level for her compassion, leadership, and commitment to patients and families.

Rocsan Vaillancourt has been named a recipient of the 2025 Provincial Donation Champion Award by Ontario Health through the Trillium Gift of Life Network. The award honours healthcare professionals across Ontario who demonstrate exceptional advocacy for organ and tissue donation.

Vaillancourt, who serves as a MAID Navigator in Sudbury, was nominated for her unwavering dedication to ensuring donor wishes are respected and fulfilled. She is recognized for consistently identifying opportunities for donation, maintaining strong communication with provincial coordinators, and remaining available, even after hours, to support patients, families, and care teams.

Monday, March 30, 2026

Sudbury Scientist Awarded $2 Million in Funding Towards Cancer Prevention Research

Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, and rates are on the rise, particularly in younger populations. More than 40% of Canadians are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. However, new funding to support cancer prevention research provides hope that nearly half of cancer cases could be addressed through improvements in early detection and prevention approaches. Last month, Canada’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, together with leaders from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and United Health Network (UHN) in Toronto, made a landmark announcement. Through the CIHR Institute of Cancer Research Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention Team Grants, six funding organizations, led by CIHR, have come together to invest over $41 million towards basic science cancer prevention research. This is the single largest CIHR-led investment in cancer prevention research to date. Through this initiative, 19 research teams across...

Friday, March 27, 2026

2025-2028 North East Regional Cancer Plan

Shaped by hundreds of voices from across Northeastern Ontario, we are proud to share the 2025–2028 North East Regional Cancer Plan. This plan reflects the vast geography, deep diversity, and unique strengths of our region, while also aligning with Ontario’s shared priorities of equity, integration, innovation, and accountability.

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Parking Capacity Update – Ramsey Lake Health Centre

Recent significant snow accumulation has reduced parking capacity at Health Sciences North’s main site by approximately 14% (about 335 spaces).

To help ease congestion, patients and visitors are encouraged to consider being dropped off, using public transit, or carpooling whenever possible. Patients may also wish to arrive earlier for their appointments to allow extra time for parking.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as our crews continue working to clear snow and restore parking availability in the coming weeks.

Monday, March 23, 2026

Hospital to Home helping patients recover at home and freeing up hospital beds

After three weeks in hospital recovering from a broken back, Marlene Keefe returned home in severe pain, using mobility aids and facing the reality of recovering alone.

Fiercely independent and hesitant to accept help, she wasn’t sure she wanted anyone coming into her home. That is, until she worked with her care team at Health Sciences North to enroll in the province’s Hospital to Home (H2H) program.

“I didn’t think it was for me,” she said. “I like to do things myself.”

Now, she says enrolling was one of the best decisions she made during her recovery. Marlene is one of hundreds of patients benefiting from Hospital to Home, a provincially supported transitional care program that helps patients who no longer require acute hospital care continue their recovery safely at home.