We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Emily Lindsay (she/her) Job Title: Clinical Dietitian Years of Service: 10 Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH) Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -Aesop Born and raised in Williams Lake, B.C., Emily Lindsay, is a second-generation health-care professional. Her parents' influence - both having worked in health care - piqued her interest in a health-related career, and dietetics seemed the best choice as it combined her love of food and science. "I enjoy my career as nutrition has such an important role in all aspects of health and dietitian involvement can greatly improve patient outcomes." Emily completed her undergrad at the University of British Columbia and a one-year internship at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia in Prince George, with placements around the province. After working one year in Fraser Health, Emily moved to Vernon with her husband and has worked with inpatients ever since ("so much for me thinking I was going to have my own cooking show when I graduated!"). Loyal, dedicated and caring, for Emily the patient comes first. Recently, she worked with an elderly patient who was worried whether he could return home with his wife due to his increased care requirements with his percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube feed. With extra teaching and support from the dietitian team and nursing staff, plus community follow up, he and his wife are fully independent with his feedings. "It was a true example of teamwork and patient-centered care. It was fulfilling to see him be able to return home." Emily loves cooking and baking, listening to country music and gardening. Her athletic pursuits include downhill skiing, running and chasing after her four- and six-year-old children. She's looking forward to getting back to travelling soon.   Emily's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: Dan Meyer. “Our pharmacists are awesome resources when it comes to questions around micro-nutrient dosing, symptom management and medication side effects. We are always so thankful for their expertise. And Dan is just fun to work with!" - Emily Lindsay Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Tanja Stockmann (she/her) Job Title: Environmental Sustainability Manager Years of Service: 8 Worksite: Kootenay Boundary Area Office, Castlegar Community: Rossland Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks)/Okanagan Interior Salish and Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah)/Kootenay Ktunaxa Favourite Quote: "If you look really closely, most overnight successes took a really long time." -Steve Jobs Tanja has sound advice to live by: be patient and have faith in people. This makes sense, given her career in environmental sustainability. She's gets her inspiration from the possibility of change and being part of that change. "I chose this career because even small changes can make a difference and eventually, they all add up to make a real difference. Climate change is expected to change the health of our population, so anything we can do to limit climate change, hopefully will result in less changes to human health." Tanja reflects that one of her proudest moments at Interior Health is working with students from various environmental sustainability programs, who spend four months in their practicum.  I've worked with some incredible students over the years and their energy and enthusiasm always regenerates me, gives me new perspectives, and enables me to learn more and share my experiences. I keep in touch with almost all of them and have watched their careers transition. Knowing I was a small part of their journey gives me a lot of satisfaction. It's a huge privilege to be part of their lives. Tanja hails from Ottawa, Ontario and moved to B.C. in 2013 for her position with Interior Health as Environmental Sustainability Manager. When not at work, she spends time outdoors, travelling by motorcycle, mountain biking, ski touring, alpine and XC skiing and hiking. Living in Rossland gives her very easy access to nature! Tanja riding her BMW 750 GS. Along with the outdoors, Tanja enjoys time with a paint brush in her hand painting scenes of people doing the same activities she loves to do. I love painting - it uses the creative part of my brain, which also needs exercising some days. It's a great way to unwind, get messy and laugh at the results. Tanja's passion for environmental sustainability has been a huge asset for Interior Health, as our organization works to limit the impacts health care has on the environment. Looking ahead, Tanja is looking forward to travel beyond our borders and getting back to being around one another.  Rossland range of the Monashee Mountains on route to a cabin. Tanja's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I'd like to nominate Lorne Sisley, Corporate Director, Facilities Management and Operations. Lorne has been with IH for more than 10 years. He's held a few different roles during this time and her is an excellent leader." Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Marc Fex Job Title: Activity Worker Years of Service: Less than a year Worksite: Various Community: Central Okanagan Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks)/Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "There is no such thing as failure." Born in Ottawa and raised in Langley, B.C., Marc Fex's inspiration every day is to put a smile on the faces of people he works with. As a fairly new Activity Worker with Interior Health, having started in December 2020 as a greeter at a COVID-19 testing site, Marc's proudest moment so far is joining the IH team. He loves being able to interact with people and make their day. Marc describes himself as enlightened, caring and fun-loving - all attributes that go a long way in his chosen career. He supports seniors that use our centres, including doing activities, helping with meal times, exercising with them and sharing stories.  Marc's beautiful wife, Kathy Something you probably didn't know about Marc? He wrote and recorded a song called " Hey Girl," which aired back in 2002 on the University of British Columbia radio station, CiTR. Marc also started his own YouTube channel about four years ago. "I go to dealerships and do walkaround reviews on ATVs, UTVs, outboard engines, boats, sleds, dirt bikes, etc. My biggest love is ATVing. I wanted to get plugged into the industry a little more and stay in the loop of technology. I'm excited with my channel's growth!"   ATV ride at Clear Creek Hot Springs around Harrison, B.C. Marc's always had a love for the back country, starting shortly after he got his driver's licence. Over the years, off-roading with trucks and jeeps turned into hitting the back country on ATVs. Marc says, "it's an amazing feeling to find a lake you've never seen before. To spend time in a peaceful, quiet place."  The dock at Bouleau Lake Marc's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: Kara Cooper. “Kara genuinely cares about her staff. She's easy to approach and always open to finding the best solutions. She's always thinking ahead as to what our needs might be or what might make our work lives easier. I can tell Kara has a huge heart and I'm very thankful for her leadership. She has her team's best interests at heart. I'm honoured to be part of her team! IH has some amazing people on its team! " - Marc Fex Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Sarah Wozniak (she/her) Job Title: Benefit Advisor Lead Years of Service: Less than a year Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "You cannot control everything that happens to you; you can only control the way you respond to what happens. In your response is your power." -Unknown   Sarah Wozniak is an outgoing, adventure-seeking, lifelong learner who is passionate about helping people. This description makes her role in Human Resources (HR) the perfect fit. A proud Métis woman, working in HR allows Sarah to engage with people from all walks of life that are pursuing their own passions. "In my role with IH, I'm ultimately supporting medical professionals who are working extremely hard on the front line for our local communities during a global pandemic. That's powerful, and very motivating!" Sarah started with IH in October 2020. Her proudest moment (so far!) was speaking to 170 HR team members in January on the Benefit department's accomplishments and upcoming projects. Even though she was still in learning mode, Sarah was excited to provide a sneak peek into all the incredible work being done by the team, the real impact of the work they are doing, and to highlight her gratitude for her colleagues. "I'm looking forward to gaining more technical knowledge and understanding of our team and IH's processes! There is so much to learn and some complex tasks that I can't take on just yet." With her passion about people and culture, leadership, development and engagement, Sarah's long-term goal is to join the HR management team at IH. Sarah has an undergraduate degree in Business Management with a major in Human Resources from the University of British Columbia Okanagan. She also recently obtained her Chartered Professionals in Human Resources designation and is going to back to school part-time for her Master of Business Administration through Thompson Rivers University. When she isn't working or learning, Sarah enjoys getting outside, painting, reading, photography and adventuring with her loved ones. Photo captions: Above left: Sarah's favourite local café in Kelowna, Karat Chocolate Boutique & Café. "If you are downtown and looking to treat yourself or a friend, the specialty drinks and desserts are always outstanding!" Above right: "Oranj Fitness has been my home away from home since moving to Kelowna from Calgary. It is where I feel a strong sense of community and holds a special place in my heart; somewhere that helped grow my network and gain incredible friendships." Sarah's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “Dominique Frost is warm, welcoming, hard-working and fun person to be around! She is also new to Interior Health but still really embodies: 'every person matters.' I think it would be great to introduce Dominique to a broader group given that she has been working from home for the majority of her time at IH. I would like to know more about her too!" - Sarah Wozniak Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Chioma Akinkugbe Job Title: Clinical Informatics Analyst Years of Service: 2 Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "God is love."    Chioma's kind demeanour and bright smile radiate in the workplace. In all of her hard work, it's evident that her passion for technology and information management leads to effective hands-on clinical work that helps the lives of so many. Having a strong understanding and patient personality, Chioma's role as a Clinical Informatics Analyst is integral to the patient care team. Knowing each day that she is making a difference brings a sense of gratitude and pride over her.  "As a member of the Employee Voices Advisory Group (EVAG), I've been hugely impacted. I am learning and unlearning so much as a person and an African woman. There is a lot going on in the world and I strongly believe changes can happen from small diverse groups, such as the EVAG committee. I am really looking forward to seeing a more diverse and inclusive Interior Health." -Chioma Akinkugbe, member of the Employee Voices Advisory Group (EVAG) Her sense of adventure and love of travelling came at a young age, inspired by her father who is a professor that teaches in different countries. Granted the opportunity to live in Botswana for over a year, she was mesmerized by the beauty of the country and welcomed by lovely and kind people. Born in Ibadan, Chioma was primarily raised in Lagos, Nigeria. Chioma describes Lagos as a big city, similar to Vancouver/Toronto, and is not for the faint-hearted. Reminiscing on growing up in Lagos, she wouldn't change a thing. She explains that Nigerians are some of the nicest, happiest, and most adaptable people ever. When it comes to good food and celebrations, these are at the top of the list. Encouraged by her Dad to move to Canada for schooling, she relocated to Abbotsford in August of 2012. Working in Miramichi, N.B., for a year, she was called back to the beautiful British Columbia. Calling Kelowna home for over five years, it's safe for Chioma to say this is now her second home. When she isn't working, she spends her time working out, watching horror movies, reading, relaxing or planning her next adventure. Looking forward, Chioma is excited to raise her grandbabies and live a carefree life leading into retirement. Thank you, Chioma, for all that you do!   Chioma's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “Sheena Brown-Bailey is an amazing co-worker and friend. She is the Administrative Assistant at Kelowna Community Health Centre. She is always very helpful!" - Chioma Akinkugbe Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Allison New Job Title: Community Integrated Care Coordinator Years of Service: 22 Worksite: Shuswap Home Health Services Community: Salmon Arm Ancestral Territory: Secwepemcúl’ecw (Secwépemc) Favourite Quote: "Stay true to yourself and the values you hold most dearly. Integrity matters, but just as importantly, so does love and connection to others. "  -Allison New Allison embarked on a career as a nurse with Interior Health over 22 years ago. With her role as the palliative care coordinator at the Shuswap Home Health Services, she continues to deliver quality care to all patients and families, the same way she would want her loved ones to be treated. A pivotal moment in her career sparked from attending the MOREob program, where teamwork and safety help transform maternity care within the team at Shuswap Lake General Hospital. Furthering her skillset, patient care was positively affected through her team's engagement. She has recently taken on the role of team lead at Shuswap Home Health services and hopes to continue the same work but now it will be for a broader community population. “Bedside nursing and leading nurses for me is all about helping patients and families achieve their goals and wishes while navigating our complex health care system. Nursing is diverse and we see people at very intimate and intense times in their lives. I have been lucky to assist patients needing maternity care, acute/intensive care, and community-based end-of-life care during my career and it has all been very rewarding work.”  Working in the diverse field of nursing, Allison has had the opportunity to work in an array of settings, from maternity care, acute/intensive care and community-based end-of-life care. This rewarding work has driven her to partake in the development of a dedicated palliative nursing team. Over the past 16 months, statistics show that their goal of complementing the community-based palliative care program in the Shuswap is a success. With referral rates and home-based death rates significantly increasing over 30 per cent, this reaffirmed the team of their ongoing hard work. Outside of her nursing career, Allison lives life to the fullest. Describing herself as an energetic introvert, she proudly acknowledges that she has no social media presence; her adventures in the outdoors show that she likes living in the moment. Some of the joys in her life include traveling and exploring B.C. with her husband, either via house boating on the Shuswap or in their camper van. Allison also has a green thumb, tending to her gardening on a small acreage in Tappen, and she's lucky to be able to take in the scenery of her vineyard and Shuswap lake from the patio of her guest cabin.  Another significant part of Allison's life is her Indigenous roots, which she recently began to explore. Thanks to her auntie, she is now a member of the Saik-uz native band located near Vanderhoof and hopes to celebrate and learn more about this part of her heritage in the near future.  Thank you Allison for all that you do! Allison's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “Janice is a phenomenal nurse who works in a Long Term Care facility. Patients and their families always come first for Janice and her position can come under some intense pressures at times! Grace under fire is how I would describe Janice as well as fun-loving and eternally professional. She leads nurses who care for patients with complex dementia care needs, short-term rehab and stabilization needs, and those needing end-of-life care. She is adept at juggling many different needs and does it with a smile and a joke handy. She is a valued member of our Salmon Arm community of health care workers." - Allison New Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Marlis Gauvin Job Title: Director, Medical Program Transformation Years of Service: 14 total (5+9 with a gap in between) Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "In a world where you can be anything… be kind."  -Unknown “I’m proud of the impact I’ve had in coaching and mentoring peers and colleagues during my career, and then celebrating their successes with them. My true joy in work comes from building strong relationships and helping others discover their own potential.” While there have been quite a few moments of personal success over the years for Marlis Gauvin, she’s most fulfilled when she sees a complex project through to completion or helps launch an innovative program. Participating in Interior Health’s Core LINX leadership program and completing a certificate in project management through Okanagan College also helped Marlis develop her skills as a leader. As Director, Medical Program Transformation, Marlis has enjoyed leading some complex and fascinating projects. She is primarily focused on working directly with our medical and operational leaders to help find sustainable service models and medical staff compensation solutions to support those models of care. Her team of project leads is currently engaged in redesign projects for Infectious Diseases and Oncology Services, as well as supporting emergency response to wildfires. In previous roles, Marlis also led our Laundry Transition project, and co-developed and launched our NAVIG8 Physician Leadership Development program. “I appreciate working for an organization that has supported me in my journey to take on increasingly challenging and rewarding roles throughout my career. I am fortunate to have worked alongside and learned from so many truly talented and exceptional mentors, leaders and teams.” Marlis is driven by a desire to make a difference. The individuals she works with and their focus on finding the best possible solutions to complex situations inspire Marlis. For her, it’s rewarding to work closely with our physician partners and leaders, and know that her team's work helps support the delivery of exceptional care. She also enjoys opportunities to volunteer as a parent in her community and, most recently, through the Patient Voices Network after the unexpected loss of a family member. Something others may not know about Marlis is that she’s a host parent for international high school students. Marlis has made lasting connections with families from a variety of countries. (“I’m still working on my Spanish and Japanese.”) Marlis was born in Saskatchewan but relocated to Kelowna at the tender age of one, growing up in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. This worked out well for someone who loves the outdoors – Marlis is fortunate to live where she can mountain bike, hike, camp and kayak all within a few minutes of home. In fact, Marlis is also a bit of an adventure enthusiast. She loves to whitewater raft, scuba dive, and snorkel with the occasional sea turtle or dolphin. Marlis also describes herself as “a lifelong learner, a voracious reader, and probably a bit of a nerd. I enjoy live theatre and music, and have the lyrics to way too many songs taking up real estate in my head.” A single mom with three incredible kids – “by far my greatest accomplishment in life” – Marlis is working towards earning her Masters of Business Administration degree virtually through Cape Breton University. With life starting to move forward after the pandemic, Marlis can’t wait to be able to have big family gatherings to celebrate birthdays and holidays again, and to finally celebrate her daughter’s wedding with their extended family. She’s also excited about the idea of being able to travel again. “This pandemic has certainly taught me to appreciate the value of gathering with family and friends when we can.” Marlis' nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I would recommend Peggy Scott, Project Lead, Medical Transformation, or Linda Reynolds, Director, Physician Compensation, who have both been with IH for many years and have vast experience in what they do." - Marlis Gauvin Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Sarah LaFleur (prev. Donnelly) Job Title: Coordinator, Clinical Student Placement Years of Service: 2.5 Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."  -Leo Bscaglia Since receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) in 2004, Sarah LaFleur knew she wanted to support and work with nursing students. So, Sarah's work today is a perfect blend of her aspirations and work experience. Born and raised in Alberta, Sarah's background includes teaching post-secondary BSN students, bed-side nursing in acute care and managing long-term care in remote northern Alberta. It's the expertise of coordinators like Sarah that advances health-care education in B.C. The Coordinator, Clinical Student Placement, is responsible to liaise, strategize, support, facilitate and coordinate all placements for post-secondary students that require practicums to receive their credentials. In 2020, IH played host to 5,103 students. In fact, of all the health authorities in B.C., IH places the second-highest number of students each year. An independent and resourceful individual who enjoys a challenge, there's nothing that makes Sarah feel prouder than when she's able to negotiate a declined clinical student placement in to an acceptance. Never one to stay at rest, Sarah is looking forward to finishing her Master's in Nursing degree. Additionally, in her free time, you can find her quilting and crocheting in the beautiful city of Kelowna. Sarah's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I recommend Aneta D'Angelo, Director, Clinical Education, because she does tremendous work in her portfolio of clinical education, including Clinical Student Placements, Employed Student Nurse (ESN)/New Grad (NG), and Specialty Education. I believe raising awareness for the Professional Practice Office is important and the work we do is valuable." - Sarah LaFleur Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Lisa Zetes-Zanatta Job Title: Executive Director Clinical Operations, Rural Acute and Community, Thompson and Cariboo Regions Years of Service: 18 Worksite: Thompson Cariboo Shuswap Corporate Office Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwepemc (She-whep -m) / Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "You can either focus on the lemons or enjoy the lemonade." Lisa comes from a diverse background, having been raised in New York then living for three years in rural Nicaragua as an epidemiologist. It was in Nicaragua that she fell in love with the rural context of health care (and learned to speak fluent Spanish). Now, after 20 years, she has found her way back to delivering meaningful health care in diverse, rural communities and supporting the people who live there.  Lisa describes herself as focused, quality driven and ethical. For those who know her, this description is perfect. Lisa is dedicated to delivering person-centred, quality care, which shines through in her every day.  "I love the fact that I can influence the care delivery model and quality focus for a large region. I am lucky that I am able to work in the region that has four different First Nations represented, with 38 different communities in this beautiful, Thompson-Cariboo region. I have come to love the can-do and 'git-er-dun' attitude of the people we serve and staff teams in rural areas." In the last several years, Interior Health has experienced an increase in floods and wildfires, and now a global pandemic - increasing the need for health care.  "The team has stepped up at all levels of the health authority to put our patients first and provide the best care possible in some of the most challenging times I have seen in a long career of health-care delivery. I am extremely proud." While Lisa is grateful for the technology that has provided communication support throughout the pandemic, she is looking forward to seeing her team and colleagues in person. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys knitting, sewing, crafting, decorating and playing with her amazing, black lab, "not-so-puppy" puppy.  Lisa is wife to her amazing husband Robin, a technical director of an animation company, and mom to two wonderful boys. Tristan (20) is attending Thompson Rivers University in the cellular molecular microbiology program. Dylan (14) is in grade 9, a hockey goalie, and is on the ice daily. As a family, they love heading up to their cabin in the Cariboo to have fun in the forest, on the dock, and in the lake. Thank you, Lisa, for your outstanding leadership and all that you do to support rural communities and people in the Thompson Cariboo region. Lisa's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I would like to nominate Karen Cooper, director of clinical operations for allied health, community & seniors care in the Thompson region. I have never met someone who gives more in her day to her work. She knows more about Interior Health operations than anyone in this region, as she has worked in so many facets of health care. – Lisa Zetes-Zanatta   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority