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.”

Michelle cross-country skiing at Dawn Mountain Name: Michelle Plenderleith (she/her/hers)Job Title: Operating Room Booking / Nursing Unit Clerk Years of Service: 7Worksite: Golden & District HospitalCommunity: GoldenAncestral Territory: KtunaxaAdvice to live by: Let go of the small things. Michelle’s favourite things about her job are three-fold:  Her coworkers, including nurses, physicians, and medical device reprocessing, administration and housekeeping staff The patients she has the opportunity to see and talk to, and helping them navigate the health-care system  How fast paced her role is, and that it changes day to day so it’s never boring

Name: Dr. Sue MacDonaldJob Title: Executive Medical DirectorYears of Service: 7Worksite: Kelowna Community Health CentreCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx Later this summer, Dr. Sue MacDonald will retire from her role as Executive Medical Director with Interior Health. IH Aboriginal Partnerships recently recognized Dr. MacDonald for her ongoing commitment and medical leadership in support of improving Aboriginal Health outcomes and access to culturally safe care. 

Name: Jacqueline Mattice (she/her)Job Title: Aboriginal Patient Navigator Years of Service: 1Worksite: Cariboo Memorial HospitalCommunity: Williams LakeAncestral Territory: SecwépemcAdvice to live by: "If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don't have to be pushed. The vision pulls you." - Steve Jobs Jacqueline Mattice was born in Lillooet and raised in the small community of Shalalth. She is one of eight children raised by the strength and dedication of her single mother. Jacqueline has a great sense of humour. She is kind, friendly and humble. Her work with Elders as a human resource assistant led Jacqueline to apply to the social work program at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. “I knew at that time I wanted to assist Aboriginal people,” she says. Jacqueline completed her fourth year practicum at Royal Inland Hospital with Aboriginal Patient Navigator Deb Donald. “She taught me so much in my three months at RIH.” Jacqueline joined the Cariboo Memorial Hospital team as an Aboriginal Patient Navigator last June. “From the first day [the team] made me feel welcome and everyone goes above and beyond when I need assistance,” she says. 

Name: Nicole Walby (she/her/hers) Job Title: Manager, Clinical OperationsYears of Service: 1Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: SecwepemcAdvice to live by: “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” - Minor Myers Jr. Nicole has deep roots in nursing. Her favourite part of being a nurse is when she’s present when a patient who has had challenging medical needs gets to go home – watching a client and their family leave knowing that she’s participated in meeting their treatment priorities. “I am inspired by the people that I work with. My cup is filled by seeing patients and families improve their health status through perseverance and education; watching new staff grow and develop; and seasoned staff advocate for best practice.” One of the projects Nicole most enjoyed being part of was working with the porter team to create support for the units. She appreciated how the group found it empowering to see the huge impact they made by taking on some non-nursing duties, and spending time with patients and clients that are lonely or confused. “I am frequently amazed at the level of compassion, dedication and enthusiasm shown by the people I am fortunate to work with.”

Name: Jessica Niemela (she/her/hers)Job Title: AudiologistYears of Service: 3Worksite: Vernon Health UnitCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: SyilxAdvice to live by: “It’s not just about hearing, it’s about being heard.” – Gael Hannan Going through her own journey with hearing loss and wearing hearing aids provided inspiration for Jessica’s career choice.  “The journey is not always easy and requires a holistic approach that goes beyond wearing hearing devices,” shares Jessica.  The onset of permanent hearing loss can happen after birth, making it important for children to have their hearing screened prior to entering school in order to give them the best chance for academic success and social/emotional development. Jessica finds it most rewarding to work with children and families through their own journeys with hearing loss and to see them become their own self-advocates for accessibility.

Name: Dr. Kathryn Brown (she/her/hers)Job Title: Cardiologist, Regional Director of Cardiac Diagnostics, Medical Director of CardiologyYears of Service: 7Worksite: Kelowna General HospitalCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Life is 10 per cent what happens to you, and 90 per cent how you react to it. An adrenaline lover and avid traveller by heart, Kathryn is also a passionate and dedicated physician leader at Interior Health. She started her physician career as a cardiologist, and has now expanded her role to also serve as an administrator and leader as Regional Director of Cardiac Diagnostics and Medical Director of Cardiology. “Being a physician is inherently a privilege,” shares Kathryn. “You care for people at their most vulnerable, frightened, hopeful and every phase in between. To immediately be trusted, confided in, and have people place their bodies, their futures and their fears in your hands is an amazing and humbling honour that I try to live up to every day.” In this work, she helps improve and shape the future of heart health and care in our communities – yet another amazing opportunity she says she is grateful for.

Clint Blok, playing his guitar while camping Name: Clint Blok (he/him/his)Job Title: Community Integration Care CoordinatorYears of Service: 11Worksite: Penticton Urgent and Primary Care CentreCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Be the best version of yourself! When Clint began nursing school, he planned on working in the operating room (OR), but it turns out he’s never worked or done a placement there. Eleven years in to his career with Interior Health, Clint is a Registered Nurse (RN) Team Lead (or Community Integration Care Coordinator) at the Penticton Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC). 

Kimmi and Harjit are medical office assistants at Cedar Sage Health & Wellness Centre  Health care is teams, within teams, all working together towards supporting the patient experience.  Our administrative services staff are integral members of clinical service delivery in primary care, home health, public health, and mental health and substance use.