Name: Natalie Daniels (she/her) Job Title: Manager, Indigenous Patient Care Length of Service: 11 Worksite:  Regional/Remote Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: syilx Natalie of Wiikwemkoong First Nation has called syilx territory home for 15 glorious years. She lives in a town colonially known as Vernon with her partner, Kirsten, and their dog Rosalita, who has “perfected the art of hammock lounging” during many family camping trips. To Natalie, inclusion and accessibility are what create the opportunity to truly belong. And through her leadership, her laughter and her determination, she has built a career out of embracing life’s ups and downs with heart.

Name: Xavier Gomes (he/him/his) Job Title: Manager, Support Services, East Kootenay Length of Service: 4 years Worksite:  East Kootenay Regional Hospital Community: Cranbrook Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."  Xavier is inspired to work in health care because it affords him the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. “My mission is to support healing and recovery by ensuring access to nourishing food and proper nutrition, while promoting clean, safe environments that foster health, dignity and well-being for every patient and staff member I serve,” he shares.  He’s motivated every day by patients’ gratitude and the positive impact he has on their lives. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that my efforts contribute to their comfort and recovery during a time when they need it most,” Xavier says.  

Name: Echo Porlier (she/her/hers) Job Title: Rural Nurse Educator Length of Service: 20 years Worksite: Nicola Valley Hospital Community: Thompson Cariboo region Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc/Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: "A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything." —Dr. Sudhir S. Balerao A self-described old soul, Echo Porlier enjoys the fundamentals of living: gardening, canning, preserving and reading. “I like to read physical books you can touch, smell and crinkle the corner to save your page!” She says these hobbies and tasks keep her grounded in her roots and provide an antidote to her varied and busy professional life as a rural nurse educator in Interior Health (IH). Inspired by her mom Diana Heighes’s nursing trajectory and her dedication and her ability to connect with patients, Echo pursued a similar path that allowed her to blend two of her passions: teaching and health care.

Name: Diana Heighes (she/her/hers) Job Title: Registered Nurse (RN) Length of Service: 35 years Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Day Care Surgery Community: Barnhartvale Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: Equity for everyone. Diana grew up in the small of community of Chase, B.C., and moved to Barnhartvale just outside of Kamloops 22 years ago. At 16 years old, Diana started taking the courses required for nursing. After high school, she worked for a general physician in Chase. “I quickly realized how much I liked medicine,” she recounts. “My husband and I had two young children when he encouraged me to return to school to pursue my nursing dream.”

Name: Kimberly Ramier (she/her/hers) Job Title: Registered Nurse, Certified Practice – Opioid Use Disorder (CP OUD) Length of Service: 11 Worksite: Williams Lake Mental Health & Substance Use Community: Williams Lake Ancestral Territory: Secwepemc and Tsilqhot'in Nations Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: This too shall pass. Kimberly (Kim) Ramier was born in the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwepemc and Tsilqhot'in Nations (colonially known as Kamloops) and has lived most of her life in Williams Lake. For Kim, accountability, acknowledgement and hope aren’t just words—they’re a way of showing up every day in her role as a registered nurse (RN). Her connection and love for her hometown has shaped her into a true nurturer. Whether it’s raising a beautiful family, or helping people in crisis, Kim has always had an immense and strong motivation to alleviate fear, pain and panic in those around her.  Kim’s path to health care wasn’t straightforward. At 17, she admits she was a little rebellious, taking two tries to finish grade 12. Later, while raising two children, she worked in the service department at an automotive dealership before deciding to pursue nursing in her early 30s. Earning her degree at 35 remains one of her proudest accomplishments. “We should not be defined by our struggles but admired for our successes.” - Kim Ramier

Name: Dr. Nancy Humber (she/her/hers) Job Title: Physician Length of Service: 29 years Worksite:  Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre Community: Lillooet and Goldbridge Ancestral Territory: Northern St'at'imc Favourite quote: "If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together.” — African Proverb  "Health care is a complex, ever-changing service that will require deliberate, multidisciplinary approaches that consider equity, cultural awareness, and patient and family-driven success metrics to ultimately improve the health experience and outcomes of this region."  Dr. Nancy Humber is a familiar presence in the Northern St'at'imc communities, also known as Lillooet. With nearly three decades serving as a physician at the Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre, Nancy’s career journey has been rooted in a commitment to lifelong learning and meaningful allyship.  “I love people, and I have an amazing opportunity to work in the different Northern St'at'imc communities, meet local health-care teams, and learn from Elders in their homes in their communities,” she says. “These experiences have taught me how to be a better doctor and person and have improved my cultural understanding of how to be a better ally.”  

Name: Stefanie Elliott (she/her/hers) Job Title: Complex Care Housing Team Lead Length of Service: 11 years Worksite: Mental Health and Substance Use Complex Care Housing Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucius Stefanie Elliott is a Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Complex Care Housing team lead originally from Vancouver Island. She moved to the Tk'emlúps (Kamloops) area in 2000, then travelled the world from 2015 to 2019. Stefanie believes it’s essential to build strong relationships with coworkers and clients and learn who they are as individuals. “To have your genuine self be accepted by others gives a feeling of belonging,” she says. “Each person has their struggles and strengths—it’s an honour to have these valued relationships in my life.”

Name: Sarah Kozin (she/her/hers) Job Title: Project Coordinator - Digital Health Length of Service: 12 Worksite: Kelowna Community Health and Services Centre Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: syilx Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For Sarah Kozin, making a difference isn’t about being in the spotlight: it’s about knowing that her work, whether big or small, helps improve care for patients, families and communities. That quiet drive, paired with a deep sense of purpose, has shaped her 12-year journey with Interior Health. Based in Vernon, B.C., where she has lived her entire life, Sarah is a project coordinator with Digital Health. She’s worked across a variety of roles, building strong relationships, deepening her skills and staying grounded in what brought her to health care in the first place. “I pursued a career in health care because it is deeply personal to me,” she says. “My own mother is a two-time cancer survivor, and witnessing her journey and the incredible support we received from the health-care team showed me just how vital a strong, compassionate and effective health-care system is. “It was through those challenging times that I truly understood the power of a dedicated care team in supporting not just individuals but entire families and communities. “Every step I take to support and improve health care has a ripple effect that helps patients, families and entire communities. That connection fuels me. It reminds me why I show up every day and why I continue to push myself to do better for the system, for the people in it, and for everyone who depends on it.”

Name: Jessica Calder (she/her/hers) Job Title: Medical Office Assistant (UPCLC) and Peer Volunteer (MHSU) Length of Service: 2-plus years Worksite: Kamloops South Shore Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre (UPCLC) & Kamloops community Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Jessica Calder experiences health care’s front line through different angles in her positions with Interior Health. She works full-time as a medical office assistant (MOA) at the Kamloops South Shore Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre, where she interacts with patients looking to see a health-care professional for their concerns. A Kamloops resident for 37 years, Jessica gets out into the community as a Peer Support Volunteer for Mental Health & Substance Use (MHSU) on her days off. She said this role involves a lot of walking around downtown Kamloops, checking in on people and seeing if they need anything, and handing out harm reduction supplies. “I love to help others, especially the vulnerable population and people who may be experiencing homelessness,” Jessica says. “I work in health care as a Peer and a MOA because I can give back. I had a staff member at MHSU recommend me as a Peer and I’m so grateful that she did."