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Name: Fiona Bradford (she/her/hers)  Job Title: Social work professional practice leader Years of Service: 6 Worksite: East Kootenay Regional Hospital Community: East Kootenay region – between Invermere, Kimberley, and Cranbrook Ancestral Territory: I live and work between the Ktunaxa and Secwepemc territories  Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: We generally regret the things we didn’t take a chance on in life, rather than the things we did.  As a forester turned social worker, ultra-marathoner and team leader, Fiona Bradford brings her full focus and passion into everything she does in life. For Fiona, social work was an intentional career choice. She originally completed a forestry degree and worked in the B.C. forest industry. Says Fiona, “I was a forester before GPS was invented, and I admit that my directional skills were not very good. I spent a lot of time looking at upside-down maps and wondering where my truck was parked!” After eight years in that profession, she realized that her heart was more suited to a people-focused career, and returned to university to pursue a bachelor and then master degree in social work. When she and her husband decided to raise their three kids in Invermere, Fiona started a private practice, which she ran as a sole practitioner for 10 years. She then realized she wanted to work toward systemic change within a team of social workers, which led her to Interior Health. At IH, Fiona has had several different roles: she’s worked in mental health counselling; renal social work; on the regional mental health and substance use team; and now works as a professional practice leader out of the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. 

We know that representation matters in health care. Women play an integral role in teams within Interior Health sites, departments, projects, and education. At every level, there are contributions made by women to improve the health and well-being of our communities. Women hold a number of key leadership roles at Interior Health including president & CEO, as members of the board of directors, and medical chiefs of staff. More than 1,000 of the physicians working at health-care facilities in our region are women. “Within Interior Health, I think we have done quite well in this space.  We have female leaders at all levels and we have wage parity,” says Susan Brown, president & CEO of Interior Health.  “However, there is always room for improvement by making it easy for those who want to advance by, for example, making childcare more accessible. What is really important is that we are using our employee feedback to advance in this area." This year the Government of Canada's theme for International Women's Day is Every Woman Counts. “For me, it’s that not everything women do will be visible to others, or even readily acknowledged. There are a lot of working women out there who juggle full plates every day, at work and at home! It’s not always easy, but the work women do is meaningful and makes a difference to individuals and communities,” says Susan.   In honour of International Women's Day on March 8, 2023, we're profiling four of the amazing women at Interior Health.

Four teens have won Interior Health’s Take a Breath: Teen Voices on Tobacco and Vaping poster contest. Each winner will receive a $150 gift card of their choice. The winning posters are being professionally printed, displayed in hospitals and health centres, and shared with schools throughout the region. “We want to thank everyone who took the time to submit an entry for this poster contest to help raise awareness and help people make informed decisions on this important health topic,” says Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet. “Smoking tobacco and vaping have significant, proven negative impacts on our health. These posters by youth for youth provide important information about the health risks, and differences between commercial and traditional tobacco use.”

Name: Kevin Miskosky (he/him/his) Job Title: Maintenance Worker Years of Service: 32 Worksite: Gateby Care Facility Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: Syilx Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Do it once, do it right.” - Anonymous Kevin Miskosky, maintenance worker at Interior Health, has been in B.C. health care for an impressive 32 years. Kevin started at Surrey Memorial Hospital, then moved to Vernon Jubilee Hospital in 1997, and finally to Gateby Care Facility in Vernon in 2009.  A jack-of-all-trades, when asked what keeps him motivated in his job, Kevin responds: “All my moms and dads at Gateby.” The residents are what is most important to Kevin, day in and day out.

In February at Interior Health, we honour Black History Month and the vast contributions our Black employees have made and continue to make throughout our health-care system.  As Black History Month comes to a close, we spoke with several Black Interior Health employees about the struggles, barriers and journeys they have experienced, and the importance of celebrating Black history beyond February and educating ourselves about Black history.  It’s also an important reminder that, although we continue to implement and enhance diversity and inclusion efforts, there is a lot of work yet to be done to address bias, stereotypes, and racism.

Name: Kristin Auclair (she/her/hers) Job Title: Admitting clerk Years of Service: 10 Worksite: Penticton Regional Hospital Community: Penticton Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Life is too short” and “Everything happens for a reason” Kristin Auclair’s inspiration to work in health care came close to home. “I worked in the lab at (Penticton Regional Hospital) for nine years before making my change and working as an admitting clerk,” Kristin said. “My mom inspired me with my career in the lab because she was also in the lab for many years.” Kristin says one of her proudest moments working for Interior Health was getting a permanent full-time position in the lab after working many years as a casual. She also credits getting a job in admitting, which she had always wanted, as another one of her proudest moments.