The Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic is celebrating the grand opening of its new and expanded home at Suite 501, 1265 Arthur St. E., in the former Spence Clinic. Crystal Kaukinen, the clinic’s executive director, called the development of the new space an important milestone in the growth of the clinic and its ability to provide accessible, team-based primary care to the Thunder Bay community.
Since its opening in 2009 as a small team with funding for four nurse practitioners, the clinic has grown significantly.
“We have expanded to a team of more than twice its original size, serving almost 7,000 patients,” Kaukinen said, adding that the growth was supported in part by expression of interest funding through the Ontario Trillium Foundation that they received in 2023.
The clinic’s interdisciplinary team now includes nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, social workers, system navigators, a dietitian, kinesiologist, pharmacist, and administrative professionals.
The clinic encompasses the entire fifth floor and features 19 exam rooms, an accessible exam room and washroom, a larger board room for group programming and a renovated gym for kinesiology appointments and group exercise.
“Our growth is about much more than numbers,” Kaukinen said. “It is about bringing together a team with different areas of expertise so that patients can receive the right care, from the right member of the team, at the right time.”
Kaukinen says that, at its heart, the clinic provides primary care that is rooted in the principles of nursing, which include caring, compassion, and maybe even being an advocate.
Samantha Romito, a nurse practitioner, said all the staff at the clinic receive support and work closely as a team.
“I have good collaboration and support educationally from other nurse practitioners, as there’s almost 18 of us, so I think it’s been beneficial as a new nurse practitioner to come into an environment that’s so well supported,” Romito said.
During the opening ceremony, the clinic recognized Lynne Thibeault, Sandra Crawford and Dona Ree for their vision and leadership that shaped the clinic and dedicated spaces in their honour. Kaukinen announced the dedication of the conference and board room to Lynne Thibeault, who served as board president during the clinic’s formative years.
The nurse practitioner office will honour Sandra Crawford, the clinic’s first lead nurse practitioner and an educator and mentor to generations of nurse practitioners.
An accessible exam room will be dedicated to the memory of Dona Ree, who passed away in 2019 and was committed to advocating for vulnerable individuals throughout her career.
