Dr. Annabella Zawada Bursary

Dr. Annabella Zawada was an incredible family physician that tragically lost her life in October 2021. She grew up in Thunder Bay after immigrating from Poland as a child.  Annabella was an excellent student, always at the top of her class in elementary, high school, and university. She graduated from Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Science in Biology degree before going to medical school at the University of Toronto. Upon completion of medical school, she did her residency in Northwestern Ontario practicing throughout the region before joining a clinic in the small town of Terrace Bay in 2005. Annabella worked at the McCausland Hospital and served as Lead Physician, Emergency Room Doctor, and Chief of Staff, as well as Associate Professor at NOSM University. She even became the regional Coroner when she saw the need in her community. Annabella’s work was greatly appreciated by the Terrace Bay community for her love and passion. She was always an incredible advocate for patients willing to fight for them to receive an appropriate level of healthcare. The community nominated Annabella, and she won a Top 20 Under 40 Northern Ontario Visionary Award in 2014.

In 2016, Annabella and her family moved back to Thunder Bay. Shortly thereafter she opened the unique Umbrella Sexual Health Clinic as she saw a major need for accessible, non-judgemental sexual health services.  Annabella firmly believed in the philosophies of “Love is Love” and “Equality for Everyone”. Annabella touched the lives of many people from all walks of life. She was a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, and most of all; an amazing person that loved to help those in need. One nurse colleague when describing Annabella said – “When we see a puddle, we step around it. Bella cleans it up, finds the leak and fixes it.”

She will be missed by many, and this Bursary has been established by her family and friends to recognize her and hope her story inspires future family physicians.