We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Rachel Thibault Job Title: Administrative Primary Care Supervisor, Manager Support for Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Years of Service: 18 Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." -Mark Twain Rachel's outgoing personality and love of connecting with people drew her to pursue a career in Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU). Her kind demeanour, bright smile and optimistic outlook help her excel in her role as Administrative Primary Care Supervisor, and Manager Support for MHSU. Over the past 18 years, she expresses her gratitude and pride for working within her community as a team to keep communities safe. Her work with marginalized populations has implemented positive change, especially throughout Urgent Primary Care. Her passion for mental health inspires those around her to advocate for others and give back to the community.  "I'm proud to come to work every day and be a part of teams that are contributing so much to our community, especially during a dual pandemic. From the COVID testing site to the Urgent and Primary Care Centres to Outreach Urban Health and the Rutland Aurora Centre, I see patients come into all of these places and receive excellent quality care from the staff. I've seen people, literally, be brought back to life by co-workers. I watch our staff facing COVID head-on every day, putting themselves at risk to ensure our community is safe. I'm very proud to work alongside these health-care heroes." - Rachel Thibault, Admin - Primary Care Supervisor, Manager Support for Mental Health and Substance Use Rachel shares her love of working within a team that is so inspired to create meaningful change that improves people's lives, especially those in marginalized populations. In the face of a pandemic, Rachel continued to motivate her team to provide mental health and substance use services to those in need. Her determination to help people live their best lives drives her career at Interior Health. Motivated to live life to the fullest, she inspires others to do the same.  Outside of work you can find Rachel reading, cooking, playing music or snuggling with her cat. Rachel's love of music intrigued her to pursue piano as a child, leading her to play at the Royal Conservatory in Grade 8. A lover of learning, she admits to a wealth of knowledge for trivia, especially Harry Potter-themed. After visiting Disneyland nine times, eager for her 10th trip, she has the insider knowledge to win the game. Looking forward to travelling again, Rachel is excited to plan her next getaway. Thank you, Rachel, for all that you do!  Rachel's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I will nominate Natasha Allen-Mark, MHSU Admin Team Lead. Her dedication and level of caring about the job she does deserve to be recognized!"- Rachel Thibault 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: Kim Dedora Job Title: Manager, Employee Experience Years of Service: 13 Worksite: Polson Annex Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Don't judge a book by its cover and always choose kindness when you can!" Kim's outgoing personality and love of connecting with people drew her to pursue a career in Human Resources. Her kind demeanour, bright smile and optimistic outlook help her excel in her role as Manager of Employee Experience at Interior Health. Over the past 13 years, her proudest moment at IH was being promoted to Manager of Employee Experience. This unique opportunity to build a department from scratch included hiring an amazing team of staff who dedicate their energy to make workplaces and experiences at IH the best they can be. Kim shares her gratitude for her talented team and reflects on the incredible work accomplished since the inception of the department.  "Working in Human Resources inspires me every day. It's fascinating because it is all about people; their interests, passions, dynamics, personalities, all driving how they show up to work every day. Working in an organization the size of IH, it's easy to reduce the work to a to-do list. But if you put the person at the center of what you're doing, you can make a huge impact." - Kim Dedora, Manager, Employee Experience Employee Experience Team; Tracy Mooney, Anna Meyers, Kim Dedora, and Elisa Brown. Leading diversity and inclusion initiatives for IH is important to Kim because the work aligns with her personal values. From an early age, she has always had a passion for social justice, equity and fair treatment for all. She would like to express her gratitude to the entire Employee Experience team and the work they have accomplished this past year. Conducting Interior Health’s first-ever Employee Census, refreshing IH’s Diversity and Inclusion Plan, establishing the Employee Voices Advisory Group and developing the Anti-Racism Policy, were personal highlights for her. Kim was blown away that over 10,000 employees participated in the Employee Census, sharing their personal information, so that IH can focus D&I efforts where they are needed most - this was especially humbling. This month, Kim and her team are working to promote awareness campaigns to recognize Pride and National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21). Being an ally has never been more important. The recent and tragic news of the discovery of 215 children buried at the former Kamloops Residential School has been devastating for all staff, and especially Aboriginal staff. She considers working in Human Resources to be a privilege and an opportunity to support staff on behalf of the organization. She is proud to support the work under the Aboriginal HR Plan, and with the Aboriginal Employment team, accomplish to goals of increased Aboriginal recruitment and retention at IH. Left; Kim and Anna, Orange Shirt Day, 2019. Right; Kim with her children, Orange Shirt Day, 2020. Another proud moment for Kim at Interior Health was being trusted with the responsibility of designing, leading and emceeing the Linking Leaders event, with over 300 IH leaders in attendance. Kim shares how she felt an incredible sense of accomplishment for pushing herself out of her comfort zone trying something new. The success of this high-profile event did not go unnoticed and her involvement continued the following year.  Raised in the Okanagan close with her family, Kim returned from completing her undergrad degree in Victoria to raise her own family in Vernon. Year-round you can find Kim exploring the mountains spending time with family and friends, in the summer weekends at Shuswap Lake or Eagle Bay and up at Silver Star in the winter. An adventurer at heart, she looks forward to travelling with her family and exploring new places. Thank you, Kim, for all that you do! Kim's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I would like to nominate Jenna Dietz. Not only is Jenna a dedicated and inspiring manager, but she is also friendly, kind and genuinely cares about her staff. Jenna even completed her Master of Business Administration (MBA) while she was on maternity leave! Talk about raising the bar for new moms everywhere! She is just a gem!"- Kim Dedora   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: Dr. Travis Allen Job Title: Family Physician/Hospitalist Years of Service: 5 Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "I love lamp."- Brick Tamland, Anchorman In the vast world of medicine, there are many career paths to take to become a physician. For Dr. Travis Allen, his interest in medicine sparked during a first aid demonstration in third grade. From that moment on, it was clear he would pursue a lifelong journey of helping people. As a Family Physician and Hospitalist at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), he spends his days positively affecting the lives of many ranging from his patients, colleagues, to his greater community. When asked to describe himself in a few words, his sense of humour becomes apparent, as he self-describes as sarcastic, brilliant, hilarious, saintly and of course, humble. Raised in Prince George's supportive and tight-knit community by his single mother, Travis learned the importance of community at a young age. Beginning his career teaching first aid, he furthered his education through his undergrad followed by graduating from the newly developed Medical School Program in his hometown of Prince George.    Intrigued by the world of rural medicine and the variety of family medicine during medical school, Dr. Allen was eager to gain hands-on experience in an assortment of settings. Partaking in a rural medical program organized and led by Prince George physicians, he worked in many rural communities across British Columbia. As Dr. Allen reflects on his experiences serving rural communities throughout his career, his smile beams ear-to-ear, as he shares his passion for providing care to low-resource communities in need. Throughout his career, he has continued his rural locum work experiencing new places, work environments and meeting new people. These experiences helped shape the trajectory of his career and continues to be priority work. Pushing himself out of his comfort zone, he also worked in other countries in West Africa, such as Liberia, and Ghana. Working in unique situations such as helping villages battling tropical diseases continually challenged him to develop as a physician. These experiences quickly put the world of modern medicine he was accustomed to into perspective. Meeting new people, learning new skills and practicing medicine in a new environment contributed to growing Dr. Allen’s skill set and confidence as a practicing physician. Pursuing his passion for teaching others and giving back to his community, he sought teaching opportunities at the University of British Columbia. Thinking of his role as a preceptor, Dr. Allen happily shares how "[he] loves teaching and paying it forward and helping shape the doctors of tomorrow." Working within his community of Vernon at the Urgent and Primary Care Centre, Dr.Allen works with vulnerable populations who do not have a family doctor. This part-time role brings him closer to helping those in need and mentoring other doctors along the way. Dr. Allen reminisces on his journey to becoming a doctor, as he shares how, “with medicine, you get all sorts of opportunities to push yourself out of your comfort zone, to learn new skills, and grow as a person.” Approaching life with a growth mindset with abundant learning opportunities, he sees the daily diversity of work as an exciting problem to solve. Proud to be working alongside a diverse and talented team of health-care professionals, he expresses how grateful he is for his diligent and innovative team to navigate the pandemic together. His contagious sense of humour and optimistic outlook has been pivotal in creating a positive work environment for all. Career highlights at Interior Health over the past five years include designing a vision statement with fellow hospitalists to bring the team together and promote a positive work culture. The vision refresh continues to contribute to building a strong hospitalist team at VJH. Laying down roots to raise his own family with his wife in her home community of Vernon, they recently welcomed their baby girl to the world. Congratulations! His love of gardening yields home-cooked gourmet meals presented with love. Goofy at heart, he creatively names dishes adding to the fun of exploring new cuisines. Relaxing after a hard day's work, he spends most nights sipping his favourite drink, watching a movie paired with buttered popcorn. Early mornings before work, Dr. Allen spends time making memories with his family. Most recently, he has been learning to play the Muppet song on Ukulele for his daughter. Watch his performance below. Looking forward, he is excited for simple pleasures like watching the latest movie in theatres with popcorn layered in butter and in-person strategic planning sessions. Motivated to grow the hospitalist department at VJH and across Interior Health, his cohesive and high-performing team can provide more care further to vulnerable populations. Always looking to brighten someone’s day with a laugh, Dr. Allen continues to encourage others to make the most out of life and seek adventure and fun. Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Allen! Dr. Allen's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Susan Lawrey, a Unit Clerk at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, can naturally make everybody's day at the hospital brighter. She's always smiling and treats everyone like family, from patients and their families to all of her co-workers. She works hard to go above and beyond for patients yet still makes time to remind fellow staff of the big picture-to treat each other with kindness. If you are lucky she will even feed you!" - Dr. Travis Allen 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: Sharon Reisdorf Job Title: Speech Language Pathologist Years of Service: 21 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts" -Eleanor Roosevelt Are you familiar with the work of Speech-Language Pathologists (S-LPs)? When hearing about Speech-Language Pathology as a profession, most people have limited perceptions of what it involves. However, it has a much broader scope than we imagine. At Interior Health, S-LPs work in both adult communication and swallowing services, voice and early childhood development programs, helping to prevent, assess, and treat speech and language, swallowing, and cognitive-communication disorders.   If you are considering a career in S-LP, know that it requires a high level of education, with a Masters degree being a minimum requirement. Take Sharon Reisdorf, S-LP at Interior Health for example. She always knew she wanted to be a therapist of some kind, and contemplated becoming a music therapist at one point; hence, her BA in music and psychology! But that’s not all. She also holds a specialization in linguistics and a Masters degree in Speech-Language Therapy, of course! Now that we know what it takes to be an S-LP, let’s learn more about Sharon’s journey as an S-LP. Her career began at a rehabilitation hospital in Florida. After working at Wascana Rehabilitation Hospital in Regina, she moved to Kelowna, relocating for her husband’s job. Sharon’s career at Kelowna General Hospital spans an extraordinary 21 years! Photo of Sharon Reisdorf, Speech-Language Pathologist at Kelowna General Hospital. Photo provided by the KGH Foundation. When asked about her proudest moments at IH, Sharon shares heartwarming and thought-provoking stories about her patients. During the early days of the pandemic, she recalls working with an acutely ill patient in rehab, who had recently transferred out of ICU. Sharon mentions she still remembers the day her patient walked out of rehab, after triumphing over a complicated hospital stay. Sharon feels it is a privilege to be part of a patient’s journey as they go from being fearful and non-verbal to advocating for themselves and making meaningful connections with friends and family. She also emphasized how, in terms of swallowing for example, how fulfilling it is to see patients transition from a tube feed to eating orally after intensive therapy.  Apart from her life-changing work, Sharon finds peace in playing music. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis helped her go back to playing the piano, which had been a big part of her life. Now, it helps to keep her grounded after a long day. Kelowna’s vibrant streets keep her exploring more parts of town on her bike and she has found a new love for pickleball.  Thank you Sharon for all that you do and for sharing your story with us. A special thank you to all Speech-Language Pathologists across Interior Health in celebration of S-LP month.  Sharon's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I would like to nominate Elisabeth Teasdale, an Inpatient Stroke Nurse who facilitates the care for all the stroke patients. She is incredible and I would love to see her featured." - Sharon Reisdorf 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: Eric Tommasini Job Title: Physiotherapist Years of Service: 6 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote: "Be a better version of yourself today than you were yesterday, aspire to be a better you tomorrow than you are today." Have you ever given much thought to value-based health-care services? Value-based health care isg the monetary amount we spend on health-care programs and services to get optimal results for our patients. The Canadian Physiotherapy Association did an evidence-based assessment of the value provided by physiotherapy services and found that it has significant benefits when utilized in our health-care system for cardiovascular rehabilitation, chronic lung disease, prevention and risk reduction of falls, strokes, musculoskeletal conditions and several other health issues that affect the lives of Canadians. Physiotherapists work autonomously and collaboratively alongside the collective health-care team within Interior Health to empower, and promote independence and quality of life for those in our care. Now that we have a better understanding of the role a physiotherapist plays, let’s follow Eric Tommasini’s journey to becoming a physiotherapist at Interior Health, and appreciate him for all his life-changing work! Eric was born and raised in Kamloops, located in the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc, but left his hometown to pursue an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of Calgary, and later received his Masters of Physical Therapy at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Eventually, he returned to Kamloops to work at the Royal Inland Hospital – a purposeful move as Eric remarks: “It (Kamloops) embodies my core values and interests.” The people of Kamloops provide a sense of community, connection and belonging, they work hard and take advantage of the city’s active lifestyle and recreational opportunities – things that are important for Eric and his family. Eric and his wife, who works as a nurse at Royal Inland Hospital, are all smiles as they raise their daughters in Kamloops. The capabilities and resilience of the human body never cease to amaze Eric, which is why he pursued a career in physiotherapy. Eric not only understands this from his studies and work, but through the numerous activities he partakes in as well. He played several sports growing up and, although finding time is more difficult with three young children, Eric continues to exercise most notably by running. Eric jokes that his wife encourages him to exercise for the multitude of benefits it provides - she agrees that “it makes me a better husband, father, therapist, and co-worker”. Seeing the benefits firsthand, Eric feels fortunate to be in a position where he helps others take care and control of their health. As a physiotherapist, Eric gets a great deal of job satisfaction. He couldn’t imagine anything more fulfilling than helping a patient to return home to be with their spouse after a hip fracture, or helping someone who wants to walk their daughter down the aisle on their wedding day after having a stroke. Being a physiotherapist is serious and meaningful work, but it doesn’t take away from his humorous side. He admitted that when he is not working or running, he can usually be found eating excessive amounts of peanut butter, having dance parties with his daughters, and finding other ways to goof off. A beautiful newborn girl is welcomed to Eric's growing family. When asked about his proudest moment at Interior Health, Eric was kind enough to provide some insight into his way of thinking. “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” he says. He notes that there can be frustrations when working in health care, working through a pandemic can be deflating, and that life can sometimes give you lemons: “I think it is important to have a positive, encouraging, and compassionate mindset for those we work for, those we work with, and for ourselves.” Eric prides himself on being a frontline leader who helps navigate others particularly during difficult times and thanks IH for providing him the tools to develop these skills. Eric put himself out there by requesting to take several leadership courses through IH, by advancing his career and overall job satisfaction through seeking mentorship, and by getting involved in wider initiatives aimed at progressing his workplace and organization. Eric believes that there are endless opportunities within IH and encourages anyone to explore their interests and aspirations. Thanks to Eric for sharing what it's like to be an Interior Health Physiotherapist! Visit this link to learn more about a career path in physiotherapy with Interior Health, including work environments, job duties and education requirements. Eric's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I recently took a Coaching Course (virtually) with Claudy Pastoor and it has opened my mind. I know nothing about her, but I appreciate the course and what she taught me. I feel like anyone and everyone would benefit from her coach approach - both in personal and professional situations. With that being said, let me and IH know more about her!" - Eric Tommasini 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: Amara Stangeland Job Title: Registered Nurse, Adolescent Psychiatry Years of Service: 2 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "In a world when you can be anything, be kind."       Amara’s kind demeanour, welcoming smile and caring approach allow her to excel in her role as a Registered Nurse in the Adolescent Psychiatry Department at Kelowna General Hospital. In the vast world of nursing, there are many career opportunities to explore. For Amara, it was the first day of nursing school when a spark ignited her interest in working with the youth. Intrigued by the opportunity as a nurse to support and guide youth at such an important point in their life, she knew she was on the right path. Seeing the resilience of adolescents first hand continues to motivate Amara in her work. Through providing care, she is able to guide them on the right path and teach them valuable life skills that can change their life trajectory. Born and raised in The Pas, Northern Manitoba, Amara grew up very close with her family. Her passion for helping others was evident at a young age. Eager to help those around her, Amara was always a supportive person people would lean on. Shortly after high school, Amara moved to Sylvan Lake, Alta., where she graduated with her nursing degree and gained work experience in hospitals for over a decade. Inspired by the opportunity to live the Okanagan outdoor adventurous lifestyle, Amara and her fiancée moved to Kelowna over two years ago. When Amara isn’t working you can find her exploring the mountains year-round, biking, snowboarding, or hiking. Passionate about living an active lifestyle, Amara loves to practice hot yoga, stand up paddleboard, dance, and try new outdoor activities with friends. Her love of travel has taken her across the world to many countries where she was able to experience different cultures, including hiking the Tour de Mont Blanc in Europe. After postponing her wedding multiple times due to the pandemic, Amara looks forward to marrying the love of her life this August. Congratulations! In celebration of Nurses Week, Interior Health sincerely thanks all of our nurses for their commitment and dedication to caring for our communities. Amara expresses her gratitude for her incredible team, for their continuous support, their strength and resilience, especially working through a pandemic. Additionally, she is proud of the way the community has shown up for their health-care workers, through words of encouragement, acts of kindness and spreading positivity. It all adds up and helps everyone feel supported. Thank you for sharing your story and for all that you do! Happy Nurses Week!   Amara's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Kalie has been working hard, long hours at Urgent Care COVID testing site. She is a kind and caring nurse, especially during these challenging times. She remains calm and positive throughout it all. She deserves to be recognized for the hard work she puts in along with the other essential workers. Happy Nurses Week!" - Amara Stangeland 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: Dr. Glenn Fedor Job Title: Family Physician, Senior Medical Director Years of Service: 40 Worksite: Cariboo Memorial Hospital Community: Williams Lake Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc (She-whep-m) Favourite Quote: "Docendo discimus. By teaching we learn." Over his 40 years of service as a Family Physician, Dr. Fedor has had a positive impact on many people, most notably on his patients and the staff at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. His motto around the office, “Docendo discimus. By teaching we learn,” creates a welcoming and educational environment for all to learn within. His commitment to starting each day with a smile radiates positivity all around him. He's eager to share his knowledge about everything he knows and encourages others to do the same because of his belief that memories can live on through lessons that one has taught. A strong believer that balance is the key to life, Dr. Fedor continually inspires others to have fun and make the most out of life. He loves to crack jokes and see others smile. His engaging stories and sense of humour not only entertain others but usually contain valuable lessons.  Amidst the pandemic, he encourages others to embrace change, innovate, learn more, and make a difference. From his perspective, the more you know, the better you can do. His will to see others grow to motivate those around him to embrace change for the better. After all, there's a lot to learn in the world of medicine, helping people from birth to death.  Fellow members from the Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC), where Dr. Fedor served as the chair, travelled to his community in Williams Lake to thank him for his 40 years of service. He was nominated by his coworker, Dr. Doug Neufeld, for the Lifetime Achievement Award, through which he was recognized for his outstanding contribution to the community and the work he did throughout his career.  Dr. Glenn Fedor (middle) honoured with a lifetime achievement award in 2019 at the BC Rural Health Awards. Photo courtesy of Williams Lake Tribune. Dr. Fedor was the third child born to a growing family. He was the quieter and introverted one among his four siblings. However, his love for telling stories and connecting with others taught him to push his boundaries. His original aspiration to pursue a career as an Architectural Engineer was derailed by his cousin’s persuasions to become a doctor. Ultimately inspired by his cousin’s medical career, Dr. Fedor went on to become the second doctor in the family. While living with his grandparents on their farm, he was taught that life is about changing, and not only is change good, but it can make a difference.  Dr. Fedor met his beloved wife in Edmonton before moving to British Columbia in 1981. One of his proudest moments was the birth of his first child, born in April 1982 at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. He often recalls a fond memory of his: when celebrating the birth of his first child, he shared a toast of champagne with his wife, when the cork accidentally hit her and bounced off the ceiling, nearly missing the medical staff on the floor. A lot has changed since then, but Dr. Fedor’s enthusiastic personality and thirst for life remain intact. He is so proud of his four incredible children and loves being a grandfather to their precious children. An avid outdoor explorer, Dr. Fedor loves the four-season playground where he can enjoy golf, skiing, hiking, and camping in his renovated 1973 travel trailer. He loves going fishing and camping and enjoys sharing these experiences with family including his grandchildren. Out of the office, you can find Dr. Fedor taking in the scenery on his motorcycle, cooking delicious food in the kitchen, volunteering in the community, snapping photos and creating albums, or simply relaxing. To share his passion for balance, being mindful and appreciating "nothing time," he recommends the book, The Art of Stillness: Adventures in Going Nowhere by Pico Iyer. Thank you for all that you do, Dr. Fedor, we all appreciate you! Dr. Fedor's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I nominate Dr. Doug Neufeld to be featured. To be recognized for starting a new practice, his active participation in Divisions, his valuable contribution to the community and being the driving force behind the outreach with our First Nation communities. Also, thank you for nominating me for the lifetime achievement award." - Dr. Glenn Fedor 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: Gillian Lane (She/Her) Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre Ancestral Territory: "Syilx" (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Years of Service: 7 months Job Title: Administrative Assistant, Employee Experience and Staffing Services "Treat others how they want to be treated."- Gillian's favourite quote Gillian’s bright smile, positive attitude, and welcoming demeanour put others at ease. In her role as the Administrative Assistant for Employee Experience and Staffing Services, Gillian continually goes above and beyond to help others. Passionate about working with people, Gillian pursued an education in Human Resources and recently graduated with her Business Administration degree from the Memorial University of Newfoundland. Eager to make a positive difference in the workplace, Gillian is a member of the Employee Voices Advisory Group (EVAG) at Interior Health. The establishment of this group aims to support efforts in promoting an engaged workforce and healthy workplace, where all employees feel included and are able to bring their whole selves to work. Through this important work, Gillian strives to create long-lasting positive impacts at Interior Health. In one short year, Gillian has already influenced the lives of so many as she continues to pursue diversity and inclusion initiatives. “Being a member of the Employee Advisory Group Committee, I have a strong passion for the work being done with that group and am very proud and honoured to be a part of the meaningful work that the committee is responsible for.” –Gillian Lane Born and raised on the East coast of Canada in Newfoundland, Gillian has a great appreciation for the beautiful outdoors and a love for the water. She grew up in a close-knit community, Marystown, surrounded by family. Raised primarily in the coastal city of St. John’s where she met her now-husband who happened to be from her rival small town. They fell in love over their mutual passion for exploring the outdoors and travelling the world. An adventurer at heart, she and her husband moved cross-country from Newfoundland to Kelowna in 2018 chasing the Okanagan lifestyle. Gillian’s easy-going personality pairs adventure with her enthusiasm for being outdoors backcountry camping and hiking with her rescue pup, Skipper. Looking for a new way to enjoy the water, Gillian looks forward to learning to Kayak on the many lakes around the Okanagan. Thank you for all that you do, Gillian! Gillian's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Chelsea, Administrative Assistant at IH, was relatively new to Kelowna, started at IH just a couple of months before me, and has always been eager to assist me with any questions I have. She is so helpful and thoughtful and very hard working. I think she would be a great person to feature." 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: Michael-Ann Miller (She/Her) Worksite: Princeton General Hospital Ancestral Territory: "Syilx" (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Years of Service: 9 Job Title: Manager, Clinical Operations "Fake it till you make it, it's all about confidence."- Michael-Ann's favourite quote How many of us have thought of leaving behind the hustle-bustle of the city life, and reconnecting with Mother Nature in the tranquility of a small town? For Michael-Ann, a casual employee at a lower mainland hospital, this thought became a reality, but the turn of events that led here was not quite what she imagined. A new mother, Michael-Ann returned to work following her maternity leave; soon after, her husband lost his job. Raising a family amidst the climbing costs of Vancouver was a definite challenge that needed an answer. This is when Princeton enters the story, a town in the Similkameen region of southern British Columbia, where the local hospital was hiring. For anyone accustomed to the routine life of a metropolitan area, the concrete jungle becomes home. The very notion of moving to a smaller town can be daunting. Michael-Ann, too, was a little bewildered at the thought, but it turns out, she is now Manager of Clinical Operations at Princeton Regional Hospital and South Similkameen Health Centre in Keremeos! “I fell in love with rural medicine. I had found my place. Being a generalist was my passion, and the variety of experiences and patient populations you deal with on a daily basis in a rural hospital is unlike any other area.” Fast forward to her time after relocating to Princeton, Michael-Ann was able to buy a house, have another child, and her husband dedicate plenty of time to help to raise their children. She makes an accurate observation: “Only small-town living can afford you all these benefits on one income.” Her flourishing career in rural medicine continues to inspire her today. She loves helping others and looks forward to sharing the beauty and complexity of rural health with the world. In her own words, the meaning of rural nursing is “being a generalist in a specialized world.” Outside of work, Michael-Ann fulfills her creative side with some writing and enjoys spending time with her family. She has passions beyond rural health care, seeing that she was a former competitive swimmer and placed 11th in Canada! Thanks, Michael-Ann, for all that you do!   Michael-Ann's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Karen is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, and in that role, she provides our community's most vulnerable with support and compassionate care. She is a strong advocate and always looking for opportunities to help out her community and strives for excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use. I have always appreciated her engagement and empathetic way of being that fosters client-centered care and collaboration within our team."   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority Explore a Career at IH