We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.

Name: Sharon Reisdorf

Job Title: Speech Language Pathologist

Years of Service: 21

Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital

Community: Kelowna

Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish

After 47 days in intensive care at Royal Inland Hospital, Ric Egan asked his care team to help him leave this world – with hope and in victory.

Ric had been in and out of RIH since he became a quadriplegic 30 years ago in a dirt bike accident. Despite those enormous physical challenges, he maintained a zest for living.

This year, however, his health took a rapid decline and he made a decision. He wanted to marry the love of his life and then he wanted to die at home.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.

Name: Eric Tommasini

Job Title: Physiotherapist

Years of Service: 6

Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital

Community: Kamloops

Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc

In the wake of a deadly rise in drug toxicity and overdoses, the care team at Vernon’s Downtown Mental Health and Substance Use Centre has been quietly saving lives.

An invaluable support for more than 900 Vernon residents, the centre helps with *harm reduction, health services and social supports. Since opening on May 12, 2020, more than 3,500 people have visited, and over 400 drug consumption events have been safely supervised, with zero deaths.