Name: Kerry Carlson (she/her/hers)Job Title: Physiotherapist (Community Care)Years of Service: 30Worksite: Vernon Jubilee HospitalCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always!” — Robin Williams Kerry Carlson was born and raised in the small community of Morinville, Alta. She graduated from the UBC School of Physical Therapy in 1992 after an initial career in medical research. Kerry traded test tubes for people, and started a new physiotherapy career at Queen Victoria Hospital in the lovely mountain town of Revelstoke. It was in October 1992, that Kerry first walked into Vernon Jubilee Hospital and was hired as a casual physiotherapist.

Name: Renee Faubert (she/her/hers)Job Title: Clinical Respiratory Educator (Registered Respiratory Therapist, or RRT)Years of Service: 5.5Worksite: Kelowna General HospitalCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: It is what it is. Renee Faubert’s goal as Kelowna General Hospital’s (KGH’s) respiratory therapy (RT) educator is to ensure Interior Health delivers the best respiratory care to all patients, but especially pediatric patients. Registered respiratory therapists (RRTs) are certified medical professionals who treat problems with a patient's lungs or breathing. RRTs work closely with doctors to diagnose and monitor a patient's condition. Renee keeps her colleagues up to date with the latest medical evidence, shows them how to use the latest respiratory equipment and serves as a resource in complex cases. “I’m involved with respiratory therapy education related to ventilation in the ICU, tracheostomy education on wards, and I’m available to all KGH staff who have respiratory-related questions,” says Renee. Most of her career has been spent in pediatrics and neonates (newborns). She has been involved with many pediatric regional policies, educational opportunities and presentations. Renee is a Pediatric Advanced Life Support and Basic Life Support instructor, and takes pride in sharing her respiratory knowledge of pediatrics to other specialties.

Health care assistants (HCAs) make a tremendous difference in our lives. HCAs may have many different job titles, including: Community Health Worker Residential Care Aide Home Support Worker Long-Term Care Aide Home Health Aide Continuing Care Assistant Personal Care Aide The one thing all HCAs have in common is that they provide frontline personal care and assistance services to vulnerable patients, clients and residents. Meet two of our HCAs at Interior Health.

Name: Mike Adams (he/him/his)Job Title: Team Leader, Healthy Community DevelopmentYears of Service: 30Worksite: Vernon Health Centre​​​​​​​Community: Head of Okanagan Lake, briefly known in time as VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by:  “If you're not having fun and laughing, then it's time to move on.” “People. Helping people, supporting people, working with people.”   As an environmental health officer, Mike Adams’ passion is for making communities healthier places to live, learn, work and play. His goal is that everyone in the community has an equal opportunity to have the best life they want.

Name: Madison Waddington (she/her/hers)Job Title: Ultrasound TechnologistYears of Service: 10Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwepemc / Shuswap Interior SalishAdvice to live by: Live your life to the fullest; we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Madison Waddington is an outgoing, energetic ultrasound technologist. She works at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, the city where she was born and raised. “I first got into the medical field because I was following in my dad’s footsteps to become an X-ray technician.”

Name: Chris Foley (he/him/his)Job Title: Workplace Health & Safety AdvisorYears of Service: 20Worksite: Commerce CourtCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a ride!’” — Hunter S. Thompson Workplace Health & Safety advisor Chris Foley is originally from Howell, Michigan. After marrying his Canadian wife, Jacquie, he moved to B.C. in 1993. They’ve lived in Summerland for the past 28 years, where they raised four amazing children. Chris has a fun-loving nature, and he’s always looking forward to the next adventure. When it comes to his job, Chris is hard-working and serious about helping others. “I started 20 years ago as a home support worker and care aide. Then, I worked as a rehab assistant because of the desire to help patients. Since I got the opportunity to join the Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) team, I’ve kept sight of the patient care piece, but focus more so on staff safety and well-being nowadays.”

Name: Brandy Martin (she/her/hers)Job Title: Central Functions Rehabilitation AssistantYears of Service: 25Worksite: Vernon Jubilee HospitalCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: SyilxAdvice to live by: You have to have a work-life balance. Brandy Martin, a central functions rehabilitation assistant, was born in Medicine Hat, Alta. She moved to Vernon, B.C., in 1987 and has been working at Interior Health for more than two decades. “As a health-care worker for the past 25 years, and a JOHSC [Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee] co-chair for the past year, I have come to really appreciate working with others that have a good work ethic and are willing to work collaboratively together to achieve the same goals.”

Name: Tanya Chmilar (she/her/hers)Job Title: Registered Nurse/Registered Psychiatric NurseYears of Service: 25Worksite: Community Health Services CentreCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Have fun and do your best. Maintain a work-life balance. Tanya Chmilar lives her motto every day — both at work and in her personal life: Have fun and do your best. After earning her Psychiatric Nursing Diploma in 1985, and her General Nursing Diploma in 1988, Tanya worked in Vernon, Kelowna and Cranbrook psychiatric inpatient units. She moved to Vancouver to complete her BScN from the University of British Columbia (UBC), then worked in emergency and short stay psychiatry at St. Paul’s Hospital and UBC.

Name: Jana Schulz (she/her/hers)Job Title: Regional Dementia Education Coordinator, East KootenayYears of Service: 7 monthsWorksite: Rocky Mountain LodgeCommunity: CranbrookAncestral Territory: Ktunaxa Nation Jana Schulz was born and raised in Cranbrook, B.C. In less than a year at Interior Health (IH), she has made a big impression as the Regional Dementia Education Coordinator for the East Kootenay, based at Rocky Mountain Lodge in Cranbrook. “She does a wonderful job, and is very much appreciated by her colleagues on the regional Seniors Mental Health team,” says her co-worker, Cherylynne Greenard-Smith. “Her courage to speak up and give recommendations for fair and culturally sensitive treatment of Indigenous Peoples is incredibly helpful to the work that we do, and also admirable and inspiring.”