Dr. Anders Ganstal enjoying his favourite winter activity - skiing Name: Dr. Anders Ganstal (he/him/his)Job Title: Emergency Physician, Clinical Assistant Professor for UBC Department of Emergency Medicine, Regional Medical Director for the British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) InteriorYears of Service: 17Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Tk'emlúps te SecwépemcFavourite Quote/Advice to live by: Live for today, plan for tomorrow With the ultimate goal of improving patient care, Dr. Anders Ganstal leverages his local and regional leadership roles to advance large-scale health-care initiatives. Referencing one of his favourite sports, Anders shares, “Quality improvement is similar to mountain biking. When you look up to the top from the bottom, it’s quite overwhelming. It’s one step at a time; that’s how you get to the top of the mountain.”  For this physician leader, it’s the contribution of every single person and each incremental step in the right direction that help push a change initiative forward. 

Wanda (in the blue shirt) and her family Name: Wanda Handschuh (she/her/hers)Job Title: Health Services for Community Living (HSCL) Nursing, Clinical Educator RNYears of Service: 30Worksite: Day-Break Adult Day CentreCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan / Okanagan Interior SalishAdvice to live by: “If you are going through hell, just keep going,” and “Normal is only a setting on a dryer.” Wanda Handschuh has spent her entire life in British Columbia. Born in Dawson Creek, Wanda has also lived in Hudson Hope and Mica Creek, then Kamloops to complete school, study nursing and get married. After living in Revelstoke for a year with her husband, Darren (together for 34 years now), they moved to Vernon in 1991 and have never left.  Wanda enjoys supporting people with their health. Making people comfortable and sharing a laugh is important to her in her work. Currently a Clinical Educator in Health Services for Community Living (HSCL), Wanda enjoys meeting new people, and working with clients and their caregivers.  “Nursing has been a perfect fit for my personality and my passion. I look forward to continuing to learn about myself and others on this life journey.”

Celeste hiking at Idaho Peak in Sandon, B.C. Name: Celeste Hein (she/her/hers)Job Title: Patient Ambassador and Support WorkerYears of Service: 11Worksite: Boundary District HospitalCommunity: Grand ForksAncestral Territory: Syilx – Okanagan Interior Salish Celeste Hein was born and raised in Grand Forks, B.C., where she has been working as a Patient Ambassador and Support Worker at the Boundary District Hospital for 11 years. As an adventurous, outdoorsy person, she lives by the adage, “At the end of the day, your hair should be messy, your feet dirty and your eyes sparkling.”

Name: Kelsey Madeira (she/her)Job Title: Long-term Care AideYears of Service: 4.5Worksite: Sunnybank CentreCommunity: OliverAncestral Territory: SyilxAdvice to live by: Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody. “There is nothing quite like caring for your elders,” says long-term care aide Kelsey Madeira. “Being able to care for those who can't take care of themselves gives me so much pride.” Kelsey enjoys working at Sunnybank Centre in Oliver. “It is so homey and a great place to work,” she says. “All of my co-workers are absolutely amazing and we make a great team!”

Dooshima enjoying views of Okanagan Lake in the winter Name: Dooshima Jessica Iyorchir (she/her)Job Title: Student Data AnalystYears of Service: Two monthsWorksite: Community Health & Services CentreCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: SyilxAdvice to live by: Keep moving forward. Dooshima has a natural belief that there is nothing she can’t accomplish.  Raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Dooshima graduated from high school at the age of 16, from university with an undergraduate degree at the age of 21, and is currently pursuing her post-graduate diploma for marketing and data analytics at Okanagan College at the age of 23. “My education and work have always advanced throughout my life. I have no intention of stopping here, but rather to continue climbing to greater heights.” Dooshima now lives in Kelowna and works as a Student Data Analyst at Interior Health. 

Lauren Knapton, recreation therapist at Cottonwoods Name: Lauren Knapton (she/her)Job Title: Recreation therapistYears of Service: Six monthsWorksite: Cottonwoods Care FacilityCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: SyilxAdvice to live by: "People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said but people will never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou Recreation therapist Lauren Knapton is inspired by the moments of joy she and her colleagues share with people in their care.  “Nothing makes me happier than when I see a resident experience a true moment of joy – either during a recreation program, dancing with a staff member, or listening to music,” she says. “Those small moments are what makes this job so amazing.”

Name: Shelby Henry (she/her/hers)Job Title: Administrative Services Clerk, Rehabilitation DepartmentYears of Service: 10Worksite: Shuswap Lake General HospitalCommunity: Salmon ArmAncestral Territory: SecwépemcAdvice to live by: “If you want a rainbow, you have to put up with a little rain.” — Dolly Parton Born and raised in Salmon Arm, B.C., Shelby Henry describes herself as bubbly and an animal lover. At work, she’s highly organized and focused on colleagues and clients. “I love to help people. I firmly believe we are all put on this blue marble floating through space for a reason. I have just been lucky enough to find my calling: it is to help people. I try and make things better than how I found them. I work with an incredible group of people and it is a blast to know we make a difference every day doing what we love.”  

Dr. Matthew White (left) and Dr. Brenden van der Westhuizen (right) About 20 per cent of all unscheduled emergency department visits in Interior Health are the result of an injury, or trauma. Contrary to popular belief, most injuries are not accidents – the majority of injuries are actually predictable and preventable. It’s the simple things we can do that count – taking a pause before acting, not using the phone while driving, putting on a helmet or wearing a life jacket. We urge everyone across Interior Health to consider how you can help prevent injuries for yourself and those around you. Meet two of our trauma physicians here at Interior Health.

Dr. Ilona Hale, on a ridge above 12 Mile Creek near Golden. Name: Dr. Ilona Hale (she/her/hers)Job Title: Family Physician ResearcherYears of Service: 25Worksite: Kimberley Medical ClinicCommunity: KimberleyAncestral Territory: KtunaxaAdvice to live by: "Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than you found it..." - Wilferd Peterson Dr. Ilona Hale is no stranger to small-town life – she was born and raised in the mining town of Lively in Northern Ontario. Now, Ilona is a rural family physician in Kimberley, as well as a clinician researcher. “I’ve always considered it an amazing privilege to practice medicine – to have the opportunity to be part of peoples' lives every day, and share tools to help them, even if it’s in a small way. When I see people getting better, it makes me want to keep going.”