What’s New at 
Brightshores Research Institute

News

New Georgian, Brightshores Partnership to Advance Palliative Care in Grey-Bruce

June 9, 2025

Starting this fall, Georgian College and Brightshores Health System will offer palliative care simulation training to a variety of health care providers who see palliative patients through the early, middle and final stages of the end of their lives.

Brightshores Research Institute's Director of Research and Innovation, Rebecca Brookham, leads the research to bolster palliative care and support for families in Grey-Bruce.

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Event

Alberta Rural Health Week

May 26–30, 2025

Spreading the word: Rural Healthcare isn’t just underserved. It’s structurally different.

That was our message during Alberta’s Rural Health Week, where Director Rebecca Brookham and Executive Director Neil MacLean delivered the inaugural keynote at the event hosted by John Sproule and the Institute of Health Economics.

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News

Welcome Nabeela Ratansi

June 2, 2025

We're thrilled to announce Nabeela Ratansi as the inaugural Chief of Staff at Brightshores Research Institute. Nabeela joins us in this pivotal role with more than 20 years of leadership in healthcare and nonprofit strategy. We’re excited to begin this next chapter with her at the helm!

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News

Faster, easier check-ins for Emergency Departments in Owen Sound and Southampton

April 28, 2025

Emergency Departments (EDs) are the busiest areas of any hospital, with care teams working quickly to assess and respond to patients with a wide range of needs. To help prioritize patients’ care needs, Brightshores is introducing new digital technology in the Southampton and Owen Sound EDs, which will make the triage process faster, easier, and more efficient.  

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News

Transforming Rural Health: Brightshores Research Institute Takes Independent Leap

The Brightshores Health System proudly announces the evolution of its Office of Research and Innovation (ORI) into an independent non-profit entity, now known as the Brightshores Research Institute (BRI). This strategic transition underscores a steadfast commitment to advancing healthcare solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural communities.

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Event

Rural and Northern Health Conference

February 27 – 28, 2025

Ann Ford, President & CEO of Brightshores Health System and Neil MacLean, Executive Director of Brightshores Research Institute to speak about how the two organizations are working together to transform healthcare delivery in rural communities.

Conference Website
News

Bringing Patients More Timely and Personalized Care with PatientCompanion

January 9, 2025  — A new platform stands to modernize the traditional call bell system by prioritizing the urgency of patients’ requests and, in turn, supporting nurses to deliver more responsive and personalized care.

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Event

Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference

January 21, 2025

Dr. Neil MacLean is invited to participate in the plenary session of the conference, Innovations in Rural Health Services. The discussion is focused on emerging innovations in Ontario’s health system and their implications for rural Ontario.

Conference Website