Name: Shannon Carver (she/her/hers)Job Title: Director, Medical Imaging OkanaganYears of Service: 25Worksite: Penticton Regional HospitalCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Always try to look at the bright side of life – as staying positive is infectious. Shannon hails from a small town in Saskatchewan called Kamsack. She finds inspiration from being around energetic people and loves to travel. She also participates in a variety of indoor and outdoor sports, especially those that involve water, which is what attracted her to life in the beautiful Okanagan. Shannon and her family enjoy camping, golfing, biking, boating and wake surfing. Shannon also enjoys recreating on ice, playing competitive ladies and mixed curling. Shannon has worked with IH for 25 years and is currently the director of medical imaging for the North and South Okanagan. She was hired as a casual medical radiation technologist and worked her way up to director. Shannon’s key to success is she values a work-life balance, and spends her free time exploring parts of the world near and far with friends and family.

Name: Marilyn J. Ransome (she/her/hers)Job Title: RN - Community Integration Care CoordinatorYears of Service: 10Worksite: Lansdowne Park MallCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: SecwépemcFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Be the reason someone smiles.” – Roy T. Bennett Marilyn Ransome is inspired by teamwork. As a community integration care coordinator (CICC)/team leader in Kamloops, the Victoria, B.C. native is responsible for the coordination of day-to-day operations and quality client care, and supports the seamless movement of clients through the health-care system and in accessing appropriate resources.  “The home health team I work with is inspiring.” When the chips are down and our backs are against the wall, this team rallies together to help each other with tenacity, perseverance and humour.”

Name: Kathy Smith (she/her/hers)Job Title: Administrative ServicesYears of Service: 15Worksite: East Shore Community Health CentreCommunity: East Shore/Crawford Bay and Surrounding CommunitiesAncestral Territory: Kootenay/KtunaxaFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: The best gift you can give someone is your time. Kathy Smith was born in Edmonton. She lived in the towns of Calmar, Warburg and Whitecourt, Alta., before moving to Riondel, B.C. in 1999. Kathy considers herself “loyal to a fault at times” and likes to help people. She believes this career chose her. “When asked if I wanted to work as a receptionist in a small clinic in Riondel for Dr. Savory, little did I know that it was so much more than just answering a phone and making appointments. I have been able to help people who have a hard time trying to navigate our ever-changing system. It has been a very huge learning curve for me, which I love.”

Name: Diane Betman (she/her/hers)Job Title: Clinical Practice EducatorYears of Service: 15Worksite: Vernon Jubilee HospitalCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Don’t go through life, grow through life.” – Eric Butterworth Born in Three Hills, Alberta (and, yes, there are actually three small hills close by), Diane Betman, clinical practice educator, has also lived in Nova Scotia, Brazil and B.C. In fact, she can speak Portuguese fluently as she lived in Brazil for 14 years. A friendly, positive person, when Diane reflects on her choices, she believes no other career would have given her more satisfaction than nursing.  “Being a nurse has given me the opportunity to meet so many different people and learn from them while supporting their health journey. I am always learning something new and, as a clinical practice educator, I get to share these learnings with other staff. I hope that at the end of the day I have been a positive influence in the lives of others.”

Name: Rebecca Myers (she/her/hers)Job Title: Patient Registration ClerkYears of Service: 20Worksite: Cariboo Memorial HospitalCommunity: Williams LakeAncestral Territory: SecwepemcAdvice to live by: You can die in debt. Self-described as short and feisty, Rebecca Myers, patient registration clerk in Williams Lake, celebrated her 20th anniversary with Interior Health this year. Rebecca started her career at Interior Health (IH) as a medical laboratory assistant, only just switching to patient registration in mid-2022 to expand her learning possibilities.

Name: Dr. Carol Ward (she/her/hers)Job Title: Geriatric psychiatristYears of Service: 17Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Tk’emlúps te SecwépemcAdvice to live by: Be curious. Personal stories hold immaculate power, especially in their ability to connect people in the most authentic and meaningful way. Because of this reason, Dr. Carol Ward, a geriatric psychiatrist, ensures that understanding personal stories become the cornerstone of a patient’s treatment plan. Carol is most known for her work in caring for older adult patients living with dementia - whom she shares a special and natural connection with. Growing up in the Atlantic Provinces, Carol recalls having friends who were extraordinarily funny and resilient seniors.

Name: Christine Olmstead (she/her/hers)Job Title: Operations knowledge coordinatorYears of Service: 15Worksite: CHSCCommunity: Central OkanaganAncestral Territory: Central OkanaganAdvice to live by: You cannot control others’ actions; you can only control your own reaction. Christine Olmstead was born in Vanderhoof, B.C. and raised in Penticton. She describes herself as motivated, passionate, supportive and caring. Christine has been with Interior Health since 2005, starting as a community health worker while completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UBC Okanagan in 2007. She was hired as a casual home health RN right after graduation. In her role as an operations knowledge coordinator, Christine provides front-line home health clinical staff, team leads and managers with required education sessions and support in their learning through Ministry of Health directives, regional roll-outs and changes at an operational level. She also supports orientation requirements and education for new home health staff. Another part of Christine’s role is “translating knowledge.” This involves interpreting information received from leadership (such as practice leads and directors) and presenting it to staff in ways that they are able to understand, prioritize and incorporate into their current practice. “We have to take into account that adults learn in different ways, and we have to be flexible and aware of what works and what doesn’t,” says Christine.

Interior Health (IH) has a Digital Health (information technology) team committed to continuously adapting, responding and innovating to meet the needs of our population, while also supporting an efficient patient and provider experience. The Digital Health team ensures resources and technology are used effectively across all geographic service areas. Meet two members of our dedicated digital health team who help make these new innovations possible.

Name: Greg Kilroy (he/him/his)Job Title: Medical Radiation TechnologistYears of Service: 5Worksite: Kootenay Boundary Regional HospitalCommunity: TrailAncestral Territory: Ktunaxa Nation and Okanagan NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Wake up, love life and put your best foot forward. As a medical radiation technologist, Greg Kilroy’s goal is to help make patients’ hospital visits as enjoyable as possible. Even though he works every day in the operating room, emergency department and diagnostic imaging, Greg often reminds himself that patients don’t feel as comfortable in these environments as he does.  “My goal is ensure all patients feel safe and cared for, and to provide the best diagnostic images possible,” he said.