Name: Erica Lynn McDivittJob Title: Interim Clinical Educator for RadiologyLength of Service: 21 Years                      Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Tk’emlups te SecwepemcFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” When Erica Lynn McDivitt entered the health-care field more than two decades ago, she wanted to help patients, and that’s still her main pursuit. However, her focus has switched from being a frontline worker to helping mentor the next generation of X-ray technologists. “Our job is very interesting. Having the privilege to share that knowledge and experience is what inspires me today,” says Erica. “I want to create positive experiences for not only patients but for my co-workers and the future generation of X-ray technologists.”

When Marianne Danzalan left the Philippines to start a new chapter in Canada, she carried with her not only her experience as a physiotherapist but also a dream: to continue helping people move, heal and live better lives. Five years later, that dream has become reality. In October, Marianne began her new role as a licensed physiotherapist with Interior Health (IH) at Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre in Merritt, B.C. It’s been a journey filled with determination, courage and countless hours of hard work.

Name: April Lee Anne Wright (she/her/hers)Job Title: Unit ClerkLength of Service: 11.5 yearsWorksite: West Chilcotin Health CentreCommunity: Tatla LakeAncestral Territory: Tŝilh qo t’inFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “We need to remember life doesn't need to be so complex. Stop, be present and find the joy in simply being able to walk in the splendor around us.” —April April Wright, a unit clerk at West Chilcotin Health Centre, loves being part of her small remote community. When she’s not in the clinic helping and caring for her fellow community members, she’s getting her hands dirty in her garden or exploring the forest with her dogs. “There is something so simple and soothing about being in the garden helping things grow, or walking in the forest in the winter with my dogs admiring the wonderful things nature has given us. It sets the world right for me.” April enjoys helping people, advocating for their needs, and being available during difficult times in their lives. She can offer them comfort and human connection in a community where services and access can be limited. “Living and working in a small remote town gives me a larger sense of purpose since the patients we're caring for aren't just patients: they’re friends, neighbours and people we love and spend time with. We are fortunate enough that we get to share their joys with them, and we are blessed to be able to offer them empathy and comfort on some of the most difficult days of their lives.”

As the weather cools down and flu season ramps up, taking a few extra precautions can make all the difference in staying healthy. Influenza and other respiratory illnesses spread easily, especially in workplaces, schools and health-care settings. With a little care and preparation, you can reduce your risk of getting sick or passing illness to others, so you can focus on what matters – like cozying up with a pumpkin spice latte. Read on for five simple doctor approved tips to help you and those around you stay healthy this flu season.

This is part two in our three-part series that explores food literacy in schools in the Interior Health region. Every Friday at Senpaq’cin School (pronounced Sen-Pok-Chin) in Oliver, students from kindergarten to Grade 7 take part in Fire Fridays, a land-based learning program that connects syilx language, culture and food sovereignty. At the First Nations school, sessions begin with a talking circle where students explore traditional foods and culture, and the importance of honouring food systems and providers.  Students then move through hands-on learning stations, from art and drumming, to gardening and cooking. Each station is designed to spark curiosity and pride in cultural teachings. This season, students have been harvesting local ingredients and cooking their own meals from start to finish. 

Name: Olivia Duncan (she/her/hers)Job Title: Long-Term Care CoordinatorLength of Service: 18Worksite: Mountain View LodgeCommunity: LillooetAncestral Territory: Northern St'at'mic Olivia Duncan, a long-term care coordinator for Mountain View Lodge, grew up in Lillooet on the traditional, ancestral and unceded Northern St’at’imc territory. She returned with her husband and two children in 2019 after living in Fort St. John and Penticton.   When Olivia was 17, she started working at Lillooet Hospital with Support Services with both the housekeeping and dietary teams. She thanks her supervisor at the time for taking a chance on a teenager! She immediately fell in love with the energy of the hospital and thought the world of the nursing staff. “They were such a tight-knit community,” Olivia says. “And I wanted to be a part of that!” Olivia pursued a career in nursing after high-school graduation and has been nursing since 2014. For her, it’s all about connection. In each area of nursing she’s worked, Olivia’s always found joy in building relationships with her patients, residents and their families. She understands that being in a hospital or long-term care facility can be a very vulnerable moment in time for patients and their families. It's a really special moment when she’s able to take a bit of that worry away.

School District 73 (Kamloops-Thompson) has welcomed a new group of students eager to explore health-care careers into its Health Sciences Academy (HSA).  A partnership between School District 73, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and Interior Health (IH), HSA offers high school students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to blend academics with real-world experience. Students earn both high school credits and a psychology course dual-credit through TRU, while participating in career exploration placements with IH.  Related Stories@IH: Academy ignites high school students’ passion for health careers

The Interior Health (IH) Legal Substances team and the YOUTHWISE Advisory Group are excited to launch IH’s annual youth poster contest, Beyond the Buzz 2.0: Youth Voices on Substance Use for the chance to win a gift card worth $150 of the winners choice. Unlike many other campaigns that focus exclusively on the health concerns of substance use, IH’s innovative contest has a different approach that aims at empowering youth to share their perspective on the issues. Ultimately, this project helps to develop peer-to-peer messaging for teens across the region, encouraging positive decision-making and strengthening prevention messaging from a teen’s perspective.

Name: Emily Davidson (she/her/hers)Job Title: Licensed Practical NurseLength of Service: 9Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital  Community: KelownaAncestral Territory: syilx For nearly a decade, Emily Davidson has called the syilx ancestral territory—also known as Kelowna—home. She acknowledges the importance of living and working on this land with humility and respect.  “To me, reconciliation means acknowledging atrocities done to the First Nations Peoples,” she says. “It means checking my own bias when assessing a patient or speaking with their families. It’s about choosing to actively be a part in deconstructing colonialist ideals and becoming humbled by learning about ancestral knowledge, languages and practices. We have so far to go, and so much to learn.” For the past six years, Emily has been caring for patients as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) at Kelowna General Hospital, where she remains a steady presence on Ward 3 East.  "I have been on the same ward for six years and have no plans to leave,” she says. "Consistency and routine help me focus on giving the best care I can, even with the variables in health care."