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

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