Name: Julie Bodden (she/her/hers) Job Title: Community Integration Care Coordinator Years of Service: 8 Worksite: Vernon Urgent & Primary Care Centre Community:  Vernon Ancestral Territory: Syilx Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “When you make an observation, you have an obligation.” - M. K. Asante Meet Julie Bodden, community integration care coordinator at Vernon Urgent & Primary Care Centre! This adventure-seeking world traveller has visited all seven continents, experienced penguin watching in Antarctica, climbed Kilimanjaro, and has even dove with whale sharks and giant hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos!

Name: Yvea Zaels (she/her/hers) Job Title: Project Manager, Hospital at Home Program, Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) Years of Service:  3.5 years Worksite:  KGH (and home office) Community:  Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx First Nations  Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Conquer yourself."   Yvea Zaels is a multi-disciplined project manager who is passionate about helping others and creating an equitable workplace.  When we say multi-disciplined, we mean it! Yvea has a background in project management, electrical engineering, astronomy, marketing, international business, business analysis, adult learning, public speaking and professional editing. She also has extensive experience with connecting people from multiple cultures and is fluent in four languages. In fact, Yvea sponsored the first Russian speaking club in the world and developed a curriculum in collaboration with an experienced accent reduction specialist (speech language pathologist). Yvea’s dedication to creating an equitable workplace ultimately led her to join Interior Health’s Employee Voices, an internal employee advisory group that aims to advise, guide and make recommendations that support Interior Health. Committee members contribute diverse viewpoints in support of creating a respectful, welcoming, culturally safe and inclusive workplace for everyone. Yvea Zaels  

Name: Jenna Hunter (she/her/hers) Job Title: Interim Regional Knowledge Coordinator/Internationally Educated Nurses – Clinical Education Years of Service: 18 Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital Community: Vernon  Ancestral Territory: Syilx Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver Born in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), Jenna Hunter’s career and life have come full circle. After becoming a registered nurse (RN), Jenna would spend her time caring for patients in the same hospital that she was born, before becoming a clinical educator. Jenna is grateful to all the people along the way who believed in her and took the time to encourage her. When she’s not at work, you can find her spending time with her family, travelling and enjoying the fresh air with a book in hand. She also adds that she’s always up for anything as long as it’s an adventure.

Name: Marie Vajda (she/her/hers) Job Title: Administrative Services Manager Years of Service: 6 Worksite: Penticton Health Centre   Community: South Okanagan  Ancestral Territory: Syilx Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Don't stress. Take it one email, one request and one day at a time.” And “sorry—my crystal ball is broken!” After working in retail supervision and management for 10 years, Marie found herself at a junction when the company she was working for closed.  After going back to school, she found a job as a medical office assistant in a busy North Vancouver office. When her husband’s work took them to Prince George, she found a job as a medical software tester and trainer. Six years later, in 2017, the Vadja family moved to Penticton, where Marie found a position in administration at the Penticton Health Centre. What started out as a casual role became a permanent position. She was promoted to supervisor, then manager, administrative services.

Name: Adigo Angela Achoba-Omajali (she/her/hers) Job Title: Clinical Practice Educator Years of Service:  12 Worksite:  South Hills Tertiary Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre Community:  Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc  Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou Adigo Angela Achoba-Omajali is a clinical practice educator working out of South Hills Tertiary Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre in Kamloops. Born to her mother Mary Ede Achoba (née Ukwenya) and her father Isaac Isa Achoba in Kaduna state in Nigeria, her origin is of Kogi state and she hails from the Ibaji kingdom. As a lover of travel, Adigo has lived in many countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, England and Bangladesh. She is a life-long advocate who is passionate about the work she does to ensure silent voices are heard through education. “Knowledge is power!” says Adigo. Leading with a positive mindset, she aspires to provide respectful, integral and inclusive care to every single person who needs it. 

Name: Dwayne Schroeder (he/his/him) Job title: Health care assistant Years of service: 11 Worksite: Three Links Manor Community: Kelowna Ancestral territory: Syilx Okanagan Advice to live by: Live and let live Dwayne Schroeder has spent over 11 years with Interior Health as a health care assistant (HCA), but if he had his way that number would be a lot higher. “I wish I would have started earlier,” he said. After Dwayne’s previous career in the food industry ended, he was on the hunt for a new opportunity. His wife suggested he enroll in the Health Career Access Program because he is great with people. It’s clear that Dwayne was wise to follow his wife’s advice. “I did very well in the course and after graduation I was able to gain employment with Interior Health,” Dwayne said. “I have loved it ever since.”

Name: Marilyn Winters (she/her/hers) Job title: Registered Nurse Years of service: 32 years Worksite: Kamloops Home and Community Health—North Shore  Community: Kamloops Ancestral territory: Whispering Pines/Clinton, T’kemlups, Simpcw, Secwepemc, Neskonolith, Adams lake, and Little Shuswap nations.  Advice to live by: Let's not dwell on the problem, let's figure out a solution. Marilyn Winters has dedicated 32 years of her life as a health-care professional to the service of others and her community. After completing her degree from Thompson Rivers University, and becoming a registered nurse in 2012, Marilyn devoted her time, and passion, to helping and caring for her patients across the Interior Health region.

Name: Debbie French (she/her/hers) Job Title: Nursing Unit Clerk Years of Service: 21 Worksite: East Kootenay Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic Community: Cranbrook Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: Work hard, be nice, eat tacos. Debbie French is a nursing unit clerk at the East Kootenay Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Clinic in Cranbrook. She enjoys working with people and helping them fulfill their kidney health needs. She describes herself as hard working and loyal, both on the job and in her personal life. She admits she can also be “fiercely protective” as well with friends and family.

Name: Jennifer Turnbull (she/her/hers) Job Title: Child Care Licensing Officer  Years of Service: 16  Worksite: Kamloops Public Health Unit Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder.” By day, Jennifer Turnbull is helping make sure daycares in the Thompson and Cariboo regions are running smoothly. “I still really like working with children. I have an ECE [early childhood educator] background and worked in daycares for 10 years before I came here,” noted Jennifer, who has been in her role with Interior Health for 16 years.