Senior Executive Team

Susan Brown is an experienced health care leader, passionate about improving care for patients and communities across B.C.’s southern Interior. President & Chief Executive Officer since 2018, Susan is responsible for the overall strategic direction and operations of the health authority, including working with IH’s many stakeholders and partners.

Susan joined IH in 2011 as Vice President of Clinical Operations and has held progressively complex portfolios since that time, including her most recent role as Chief Operating Officer. She has experience working in the United Kingdom and several areas within the province of British Columbia.

Susan serves on the Board of Directors for the Health Employers Association of British Columbia, and holds the role of Adjunct Professor at the University of Alberta and Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan.

Susan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a Master’s degree in Leadership. More recently, Susan undertook a Fellowship in Health System Improvement through the faculty of Public Health at the University of Alberta. She is also a Certified Health Executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

In her role as Vice President, Human Resources, Population Health and Pandemic Response, Karen Bloemink leads IH’s recruitment and employee experience strategies. She is also responsible for IH’s COVID-19 pandemic planning and response.

Karen started her career in health care as a Registered Nurse at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Over the years, she has gained experience working in urban and rural communities in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. Karen joined IH in 1996, since then holding leadership roles with increasing responsibility across acute, long-term care and community services. In 2019, Karen became Vice President, Clinical Operations, IH North.

Karen holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria.

As Vice President of Communications and Culture, Susan leads a portfolio responsible for corporate communications, brand and marketing, media relations, public affairs and culture development.

Having joined Interior Health in 2022, Susan brings extensive experience working with large corporations that involve engagement with Indigenous, federal, provincial, and municipal governments. She served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Western Forest Products, Vice President, Social Responsibility & Communications for the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, and has a health care background having held senior communication roles with the BC Ambulance Service.

In 2017, Susan was recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under Forty, and is a respected public speaker on the topics of women in business, social responsibility, community investment, diversity and inclusion. Susan has a unique combination of public and private sector experience with strategic expertise and familiarity working in a multi-faceted stakeholder environment.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern B.C., completed the Sauder School of Business Executive Leadership Program at the University of British Columbia, holds and Executive Management Diploma from the University of Western Ontario, and is a Chartered Director with the DeGroot School of Business at McMaster University.

As Vice President of Medicine and Quality, Dr. Mike Ertel is accountable for the delivery and quality of medical care in IH, and has oversight of the patient safety, research and health system evaluation departments.

Mike is an emergency medicine physician at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) and has been a member of the Interior Health medical community for more than 25 years. Prior to becoming vice president, Mike held various leadership positions in the Okanagan, including serving as Chief of Staff at Kelowna General Hospital and as medical director for Emergency Services across IH.

Mike completed his medical degree at Western University in London, and emergency medicine training at the University of Ottawa. He is a Clinical Instructor with the Southern Medical Program at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. Mike is currently on the Board of the Canadian Resident Matching Service.

Mal Griffin was appointed Vice President of Digital Health in 2021, and is responsible for digital health strategy and operations, clinical and business analytics, information management and technology services, and IH-wide implementation of advanced clinical information technology solutions.

Mal joined Interior Health in 1997 and moved into the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) in 2005 and during his tenure oversaw the development and implementation of a secure clinical information exchange between health authorities and physician offices, and launched Interior Health’s patient information portal, myHealthPortal. In 2016, he became Vice President of Human Resources, and sponsored the development of IH’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy. Mal holds an Executive MBA from the University of Fredericton, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University.

Mal is a member of the Healthcare Benefits Trust Board of Trustees, and also serves on the Board of Directors of InspireHealth.

Dr. Shallen Letwin was appointed Vice President, Clinical Operations, IH South in April 2019. In this role, he leads clinical services for Kootenay Boundary, Central and South Okanagan, as well as several IH-wide clinical programs and networks.

Shallen has wide-ranging operational and leadership experience in the areas of acute care, community and primary care, long-term care, pharmacy services, and cancer care across the provinces of Alberta and B.C. He has worked in the B.C. health system for more than 20 years, previously serving as Vice President, Regional Operations for BC Cancer and Vice President, Clinical Operations for Fraser Health.

Shallen holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Alberta and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of British Columbia. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists.

Donna Lommer is IH’s Vice President, Clinical and Corporate Services, and in this role oversees a wide range of services, including medical imaging, pharmacy, laboratory, facilities and support services. Donna also leads IH’s health system planning and primary and community care transformation teams.

Donna joined Interior Health in December 1990 and has demonstrated progressive growth within the organization across several portfolios. A member of the Senior Executive Team since 2010, Donna became Vice President, Support Services and Chief Financial Officer in 2014.

Donna holds an Executive MBA from the University of Fredericton and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA). She is currently serving as a Trustee on the Municipal Pension Board, and a Board Director for BC Investment Management Corporation.

Addie Pryce is from the Nisga’a Nation of Gingolx, on the north coast of British Columbia. In her role as Vice President, Aboriginal Partnerships, Addie is committed to the health and well-being of all Aboriginal people and communities in the Interior region. She fosters relationships with First Nations and Métis partners and organizations, and provides executive leadership to IH’s work in cultural safety and humility.

Before joining IH in 2021, Addie held senior leadership roles within B.C. and Ontario, including working with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, and the First Nations Information Governance Centre. Most recently, Addie was the director of the health sector for the Assembly of First Nations, where she advocated for First Nations’ health and well-being.

Addie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Carleton University and Diploma in Adult Education from University of British Columbia. In 2006, she was the recipient of an Assistant Deputy Minister Award of Excellence in relation to work with early childhood development.

In her role as Vice President, Diane leads clinical operations across IH’s northern geography, including the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap, North Okanagan and East Kootenay. Diane is also responsible for several IH-wide clinical programs and networks, including surgical services and mental health and substance use.

Diane joined Interior Health in early 2020, as executive director for clinical operations in Kootenay Boundary. Prior to joining IH, Diane worked in the Saskatchewan health system since 1992, holding progressively senior positions, including Vice President for Saskatoon’s Indigenous Health portfolio.

Diane holds a Master of Health Administration degree from the University of Regina, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, from the University of Saskatchewan.

As Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Sylvia leads Interior Health’s business support and accounting functions, manages contracted services and is responsible for capital planning and projects.

Sylvia is a proven strategic health leader with 25 years of experience working in the financial sector, including internationally within the UK National Health Service and within the B.C. public sector. Prior to becoming CFO, Sylvia served as IH’s Corporate Director of Business Integration and Development for 11 years, where she gained experience forming and sustaining partnerships with community, government and private entities.

Sylvia completed a Fellowship in Health System Improvement through the University of Alberta, and has her Project Management certification through the UBC Sauder School of Business. She is active in her local community as a vice-chair of the Kelowna Women’s Shelter and an Immigrant Employment mentor with the Kelowna Community Resources Centre.