Senior Executive Team

Susan Brown is an experienced health-care leader who is 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 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.  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 and holds the ICD.D designation

Dr. Shallen Letwin was appointed Vice President Human Resources and Professional Practice on Nov. 4, 2024. Shallen has been with IH since 2019 as Vice President, Clinical Operations IH South and previously held vice president positions with two other health-related organizations. In addition to his extensive clinical operations experience, Shallen has been actively involved in areas related to human resources and professional practice. These include participation as a Board Director for SWITCH BC (Safety, Wellbeing, Innovation and Collaboration in Healthcare). This organization has a direct interface with our union colleagues, SafeCare BC and the Health Employers Association of BC. Additionally, Shallen works with colleagues to advance the Provincial Health Human Resources strategy and has contributed to and represented health organizations over his career with bargaining processes, essential services planning and labour relations issues. 

Shallen has wide-ranging 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 25 years. He 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.

As Vice President of Communication and Engagement, Susan leads a portfolio responsible for corporate communications, web and digital marketing, media relations, public affairs, community engagement and strategic communications projects.

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 partner 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.

Brent Kruschel was appointed Vice President of Digital Health in 2023, 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.

Brent joined Interior Health in 2002, holding various positions within the Information Management and Technology portfolio prior to taking a leadership role in Capital Planning Project Delivery in 2016. During his time at IH Brent led several technology initiatives including the regional implementation of Meditech 6.1 (CONNEX) and the launch of myHealthPortal. As Chief Project Officer, Brent led the development of the David Kampe Tower at Penticton Regional Hospital and led the planning and procurement of the Gaglardi Tower at Royal Inland Hospital. In 2019, he became Vice President Technology, Informatics, and Facilities at Fraser Health. Brent holds an MBA from Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia.

We are currently recruiting for this position.

In her role as Vice President, Clinical Operations, Diane leads diverse teams who deliver a variety of health services to people across the entirety of Interior Health (IH), including the Okanagan, East Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, and Thompson Cariboo Shuswap. Diane is also responsible for overseeing clinical programs and networks that deliver specialized care available in the region.

Diane joined IH in 2020 as Executive Director for Clinical Operations in Kootenay Boundary. She was promoted to Vice President, Clinical Operations, IH North, in 2021 before assuming her current role overseeing clinical operations in both the north and south areas of the region. Prior to joining IH, Diane worked in the Saskatchewan health system for almost three decades, holding progressively senior positions, including Vice President for Saskatoon’s Indigenous Health portfolio.

Diane is passionate about patient care and values collaboration with strategic partners, physician colleagues, administrative leaders and staff to meet IH’s strategic priorities. 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 Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Vice President, Corporate Services, 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.

As Vice President, Quality, Research & Academic Affairs, Dr. Glenn McRae has oversight of the quality and patient safety, research, health system evaluation and the academic affairs departments.

Glenn has been with IH since 2014 and has held the position of Chief Nursing Officer and Professional Practice Lead, and most recently, the role of Executive Director, Quality and Patient Safety. Prior to that he held several leadership roles with Alberta Health Services. Glenn has a passion for Quality and Safety and has worked tirelessly to improve our processes within the region on several fronts.

Glenn has a Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular, Molecular, and Microbial Biology, a Bachelor of Nursing degree with distinction, an additional certification in Critical Care nursing (ACCN), is a Master of Business Administration and has his PhD in Nursing. He has also completed the Advanced Training Program in Health Care Delivery Improvement, is a certified Master Disclosure Trainer and has completed the Patient Safety Executive Development Program.

Dr. Mark Masterson was named the Vice President, Medicine for Interior Health on Nov. 18, 2024. 

He came to Interior Health in 2012 as an anesthesiologist after studying medicine at the University of Calgary and completing an anesthesiology residency at UBC, during which time he also worked with Resident Doctors of BC, the Royal College of Physicians, Surgeons of Canada, and Doctors of BC.

Mark’s career has evolved with Interior Health as he has held various leadership roles including chief of staff at Kelowna General Hospital, network medical director of surgical services, and executive medical director for IH South. These roles have enabled him to work at sites throughout Interior Health, and he is continually impressed with the dedication of care providers across the region.