Name: Kecia Ward (she/her/hers)Job Title: Nursing Unit Assistant Years of Service: 19.5Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital (RIH)Community: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwépemc (Shuswap / Interior Salish) NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: From my always knowing mother: "Be careful the toes you step on today as they might be attached to the butt you have to kiss tomorrow!" Kecia Ward’s life and career have been shaped by her roots, her passion for health care, and her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others. Born in the vast prairies of Saskatchewan, Kecia brings a grounded, humble perspective to her work at Interior Health (IH), where she has become an invaluable part of the team at the Royal Inland Hospital's (RIH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Name: Magalie Knopf (she/her/hers)Job Title: Social WorkerYears of Service: 1.5 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital and Home & Community CareCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwepemc Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "What’s meant for you will never miss you, and what misses you was never meant for you." - Imam Al-Shafii For Interior Health (IH) social worker Magalie Knopf, her destination is the product of her journey. Born in Haiti, she was adopted and moved to Canada at the age of four. She grew up in Alberta as the youngest of eight children. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work and has been a registered social worker in Alberta and B.C. “What inspired me to pursue a career in social work was initially rooted in my own experiences: I experienced significant loss at an early age. I became passionate about maternal health and advocating for education and support systems that could prevent maternal death, especially for those in developing countries,” Magalie says. “I have always been drawn to being part of systems impacting change. Working in health care allows me to support change both at a macro level and micro level by addressing not only immediate health needs, but also social determinants of health.”

Name: Jonathan Saah (he/him/his)Job Title: Data Governance SpecialistYears of Service:  7Worksite: Vernon Jubilee HospitalCommunity: ColdstreamAncestral Territory: syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.” – Nelson Mandela For Jonathan, Nelson Mandela’s quote highlights the importance of our actions and how they shape the value of our lives. To him, it also suggests the true meaning of life comes from living with purpose, kindness and a commitment to improving the well-being of others. Jonathan’s career in health care began with a strong foundation in business. He graduated from the co-op business program at Toronto Metropolitan University, gaining practical experience in business and computer sciences through roles at Johnson & Johnson Medical Products, Imperial Oil and Kraft Canada. He also worked as a marketing information analyst for World Vision Canada, a humanitarian aid and advocacy organization.  After completing his master’s in business development at the University of Waterloo, Jonathan spent 12 years in municipal government and consulting as an economic development specialist. He later transitioned to health care, leveraging his business expertise, research and analytical skills in his current role with Digital and Analytics Services at Interior Health (IH).

Name: Sherry-Lynn Picheniuk (she/her/hers)Job Title: Patient Care Coordinator/Registered NurseYears of Service: 25 yearsWorksite:  Penticton Regional HospitalCommunity:  PentictonAncestral Territory: syilx/OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Let’s fix the problem. What are our options?” A true team player who has “no countdown to retirement,” Sherry-Lynn Picheniuk is fuelled by the energy and trust of her colleagues at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH). The patient care coordinator and registered nurse (RN), who has been with Interior Health (IH) for 25 years, says she hopes to continue supporting her team as long as possible while bringing joy to patients and clients.

Name: Joanna (Jo) Harrison (she/her/hers)Job Title: Executive Director, Clinical Informatics, Digital HealthYears of Service: 18Worksite: RegionalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory:  Secwépemc NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Life can be short and not all of us in this world get the gift of a long and healthy life. I try not to take that for granted so stay true to my values.” – Jo Harrison Joanna (Jo) Harrison knew from a young age she was interested in a career in health care. While most of her family are academics or engineers, Jo found herself drawn to the complexities of the human body. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy in London, UK, Jo worked in a tertiary hospital and joined the Territorial Army Medical Corps as a lieutenant physiotherapist. “I spent many of my weekends dressed in green practising skills to respond, coordinate and manage large-scale trauma situations and run field hospitals,” recalls Jo.

Name: Karen Moison (she/her/hers)Job Title: Executive Assistant to Chief Financial Officer & Vice President, Corporate ServicesYears of Service: 6Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Services CentreCommunity: Okanagan/KelownaAncestral Territory: syilx/Okanagan (O-kan-a-gan) Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: The world is yours to explore! Karen Moison was born in Richmond, B.C. and grew up in Ladner. She’s been living in the beautiful Okanagan for 30 years. She divides her time between two communities: West Kelowna in the Okanagan and Christian Valley in Boundary Country, a community she plans to make her primary residence in the future. Karen is a compassionate, loving person who is deeply family-oriented. She’s always seeking new adventures! Karen has been with Interior Health (IH) since December 2018. She started as a project and administrative assistant in Strategic Initiatives. Karen transitioned to support the simulation department before accepting a Human Resources (HR) recruitment assistant role.

Name: Nicky Stewart (she/her/hers)Job Title: Food Service SupervisorYears of Service: 25Worksite: Cariboo Memorial HospitalCommunity: Williams LakeAncestral Territory: Secwépemc NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Always see the glass half full” and “You draw more bees to honey than vinegar.” Born in Vancouver, raised in Kamloops, and residing in the Cariboo, Nicolette (Nicky) Stewart is coming up on an impressive 26 years with Interior Health (IH). She cherishes spending time with her family, friends and dog, Tia, and is passionate about coaching her grandchildren’s soccer team alongside her daughter. That passion continues at work, where Nicky supervises the dietary department at Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH). “I have a great food services team that supports our many departmental successes,” she says. “I also have an excellent manager who continually allows us to bring forward and develop those successes.”

Name: Nicole Big Sorrel Horse (she/her/hers)Job Title: Practice Lead, Indigenous Mental Wellness TeamYears of Service: 10Worksite: Kelowna, Indigenous Mental Wellness Team, MHSU TransformationCommunity: Unceded syilx nation, West Kelowna.Ancestral Territory: Unceded syilx nation Nicole Big Sorrel Horse is a practice lead on the Indigenous Mental Wellness team at Interior Health (IH), where she works closely with Indigenous partners and Clinical Operations to develop person-centered, culturally safe, and evidence-based resources that address mental wellness and substance use for Indigenous people.  As a strong, compassionate person who enjoys spending time with her son and family, she’s inspired by her family and Indigenous peoples in the different Nations and communities that she supports and works with.

Name:  Loreen Jacobson (she/her/hers)Job Title: Registered NurseYears of Service:  45Worksite: Home Health, Royal Inland Hospital Community:  MerrittAncestral Territory: Nlaka'pamux NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Always follow your intuition! Loreen Jacobsen was born and raised in New Westminster, B.C., and moved to Merritt in 1990. Graduating from the Registered Nursing program in the late 1970s at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Loreen continued her training throughout her entire career. She went on to do a critical care course, and later a primary nurse course in 2021. All of her education supported her throughout her professional journey at Royal Columbian Hospital, Burnaby General Hospital and now Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre.