We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Every week Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  As an Acute Care Social Worker at Vernon Jubilee Hospital over the past six years, Natalie is always looking for ways to further her education and career. As a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo’s Master of Social Work program, she continues to provide value to IH, her co-workers, and her patients. With a growth mindset, she continues to learn more each day, lately via podcasts. One of her proudest moments at IH was initiating a conversation with IH’s President and CEO Susan Brown regarding racism in our health-care system and having an opportunity to discuss the ways IH is working on acknowledging and improving Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility. This has certainly given her the confidence and drive to continue being a voice in that discussion. We are so proud of you, Natalie, and thankful to have you and your voice at IH. Born in Castlegar, her family moved shortly after to where she would grow up in Coquitlam and Vancouver. Looking for a change, she moved to Vernon 10 years ago and is very happy with her decision to plant roots and grow her career here. She is a member of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation situated on the northeastern part of Manitoulin Island in Ontario and a visitor to the Okanagan/Syilx territory where she lives in Vernon. Natalie feels extremely lucky to work with such an incredible team of social workers in the North Okanagan. The strength and professionalism that they share with their community members and teams inspire her to advocate against health inequities and to work towards demolishing power imbalances that are so often present in our health-care system. Her co-workers describe her as a hilarious, witty, charming, dependable, and authentic person with a great shoe collection. An outdoor adventurer at heart, she loves exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Okanagan road cycling or hiking with her dog, Jack. She is often looking forward to the weekend and spending quality time with Jack searching for the picturesque backdrop for her Dog, Jack’s Instagram account. Follow him on Instagram @cairnjack! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Natalie's nomination of Allison New keeps the We Are IH loop going: Palliative Care Coordinator of Shuswap Home Health. Allison is a great advocate for improving the lives and care of the community members she serves. She is a leader at Home Health and will go above and beyond to ensure the right care is offered to community members by a knowledgeable and engaged team.

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each week we will showcase an Interior Health employee who is working to make a difference in their community. Ken radiates positive energy and makes being at work a happy place simply with his presence. Over the past 12 years as a Housekeeper at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), he has been inspired by working with patients in need, more recently in his current department, the Psychiatry Ward. Whether it’s an ear to listen or helpful advice, Ken always shows up as his authentic self to help others. As a big believer in everyone working as a team, he is always looking out for one another and ensuring that he is offering help wherever it is needed. Ken feels lucky to be working on the Psychiatry Ward where his team feels more like family. It's second nature for everyone to help each other as they work collaboratively as a team to do the best possible job. Born and raised in Richmond, B.C., he is a true outdoorsman, and exploring new areas has always been a passion of his. When Ken isn’t working you can find him exploring the wilderness outdoors, in the woods setting up camp and catching fish for dinner. He loves a getaway with his wife and is looking forward to treating her very soon! Ken feels grateful to work alongside her and be a part of the incredible housekeeping team in Psychiatry at KGH. Thank you for all that you do, Ken, we appreciate you so much! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Ken's nomination of Amanda Burgess Moffett keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I would like to nominate my wife, Amanda Burgess Moffett, a housekeeper at KGH for over 17 years. She has been Shop Steward, JOHSC Committee, Former Supervisor of Housekeeping at KGH, and currently works as a Housekeeper in Psychiatry. Her constant goal is to help other workers with all of their problems.”

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each month, four Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  Sean Adams thrives in challenging and high-pressure situations, so naturally, being the Patient Care Coordinator (PCC) at the High Acuity Response Team (HART) is a position that he excels in. He started his career in Ontario in 2002 in intensive care units (ICU) and made the move to Kamloops to work in ICU at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in 2012. From there, he transitioned into HART in 2014, and most recently he started as the HART PCC this year. Sean has positively impacted the lives of many. His commitment and hard work were acknowledged by his peers with his nomination for the 2019 Steve Rogers Award. Congrats, Sean! Born and raised in Southern Ontario, Sean was inspired at an early age to choose a career where he creates change and makes a difference in the lives of others. He loves helping people with his expertise and has provided a lot of value to IH with his wealth of knowledge. His peers would describe him as a dedicated and hard-working person who is always living life to its fullest. Those who had the pleasure of seeing Sean’s sensitive side know how big his heart really is. When Sean isn’t working he loves to spend his downtime relaxing at home on his hobby farm with his three dogs with one more on the way! As a volunteer for the Emergency Medical Response Team at Sun Peaks he hits the slopes regularly. He loves to travel though and he is crossing his fingers that he will be able to jet off on his vacation to Hawaii in 2022 (it was supposed to be 2021). We hope you can enjoy your well-deserved time off! Thank you for all that you do for the High Acuity Response Team (HART)! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Sean's nomination of Jasmin Waterman keeps the We Are IH loop going: Jasmin is a housekeeper and dietary aid at Clearwater Hospital. I pick up in Clearwater quite often and I see Jasmin there on a regular basis. Jasmin is so uplifting and fun. She is super happy all of the time which resonates with everyone that she comes into contact with. If we could all be as spirited as Jasmin the world would truly be a better place, she is such a pleasure to work with. In addition, she is a very hard worker that takes pride in everything that she does in whatever position she is doing that day.

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each month, four Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  With a love of connecting with others, Nicole chose a career at Interior Health where her presence creates a positive impact on the lives of people in her community. Over the past 2.5 years as the Assistant of Organizational Development & Change/Learning Management Systems at Community Health & Services Centre, Nicole has continued to be inspired by building relationships with her peers and customers. As an avid learner of new skills, Nicole brings so much value to her team as she collaborates with her peers to bring positive change to IH. Her hard work was showcased as she handed over $1,000 to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club for Pink Shirt Day that she led on behalf of IH. It’s moments like this that make Nicole’s favourite quote, “never take anything or anyone for granted”, even more relevant. Born and raised in Kelowna, Okanagan / Syilx (Saay-ilks) Interior Salish, she loves exploring the beautiful four-season playground of the Okanagan. Luckily the golf season is the longest in the country because Nicole loves golfing and the thrill of making a good shot. With a passion for cooking and entertaining, she loves hosting her family and friends over a delicious meal. You may not know this about Nicole, but she loves singing, even if it is mostly for herself. Wanderlust at heart, she is patiently waiting for the time when she can travel again and experience new places. Thank you Nicole for all that you do for your community and Interior Health! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Nicole's nomination of Tealya Vickers keeps the We Are IH loop going: Tealya will always be there for support, advice, or passing on her extensive knowledge to her team. She is always positive and eager to help and learn. She is a wonderful example of a dedicated IH employee!

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each month, four Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  Motivated by her desire to help, Carla chose a career that she knew could create impactful change in the lives of others. As a Social Worker for over 10 years, Royal Inland Hospital has been lucky to have Carla as part of the team for the past six years, primarily in Kidney Care Clinic and Transplant programs. Carla’s role has expanded as an active member of many committees: National Conservative Care, Management Committee, BC Pre-Emptive Transplant Committee, and Polycystic Kidney Disease Committee. The proudest moment in her career was being invited as a member of the Ethics Committee. Congrats Carla, well deserved! In addition, she has been trained as a facilitator for the Serious Illness Conversation, and at her local hospital, she has developed and taken the lead for the Palliative Response Team during COVID-19 and is a member of the Morgue Process Committee and Ethics Committee. Born and raised in Kamloops / Secwépemc (She-whep-m), Carla has always been inspired by people in her life, photography, and art. To this day, her favourite hobby outside of work is capturing images with her camera and creating art. As an avid learner, Carla is always educating herself and providing insight and learning resourceful ways to make a change. Her love of caring for people extended past her career as a Social Worker as she took on the role of a volunteer firefighter to serve and protect her community. As motivated as Carla is, she also knows how to work hard and play hard. She enjoys looking forward to the weekend spending quality time with loved ones and creating art. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Carla's nomination of Annelise Beach & Jenni Culbert keeps the We Are IH loop going: Annelise Beach is always helping out where she can, eager to learn, and a strong member of the Social Work team. Jenni Culbert is the fearless leader of Social Work who encourages the development and personal growth of each member of the Social Work team.

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each month, four Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  When Carly is around you can feel her positive energy, bubbly personality, her caring heart, and her friendly demeanor. As a Senior Administrative Assistant for Home Support at TPM in Kamloops Secwep emc (She-whep -m) / Shuswap - Interior Salish she continues to bring joy and positivity to those around her. Over the past 2.5 years of her career at Interior Health she is continuously inspired by feeling like a valuable piece in such a big wheel of Home Community Care. One of Carly’s proudest moments at IH was when her co-worker, Barbara Olechow wanted to give back some positive light to Carly with a RAAR. She said, “Carly your exemplary work approach is unsurpassable. We all appreciate your time, infectious energy, cheery disposition, and all of your hard work to keep this department running smoothly!” This recognition and appreciation made Carly feel valued and that is exactly why we created the RAAR (Random Acts of Appreciation and Recognition) at Interior Health. When Carly isn’t working, she is spending time with her family and binge-watching her favourite TV show, Friends. Born and raised in Kitimat, British Columbia, Carly is expanding her own family with her second baby on the way this fall! Carly loves helping others and turning their day into a positive one and that shines through in her work. Let’s give some love back to Carly, comment on the social media post, and say hi! Congratulations Carly on all of your professional success and your second baby coming soon! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Carly's nomination of Tayla Mullen keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Tayla is a Casual LPN in our department. She is the hardest working casual I have ever met and is constantly involved and is always working hard to further her training and education to be the best LPN she can be. She is also devoted to working to make our department the best it can be. She is recently engaged and deserves all the good things in life!"

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each month, four Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  Currently a Program Coordinator for Staff Recognition at Cariboo Memorial Hospital, Anna has been with IH for eight years. Born and raised in Williams Lake, British Columbia, in the ancestral area of Tsilhqot'in (Chil-co-teen)/ Chilcotin, young Anna was a happy, outgoing and kind-hearted girl who loved to show appreciation to loved ones. As the Program Coordinator for Staff Recognition at Interior Health located at Cariboo Memorial Hospital, the growth of her new role over the past year is a reflection of her genuine personality and her love of giving and showing appreciation for others' contributions. As a goal-oriented person herself, Anna understands the importance of recognition and showing appreciation to staff at Interior Health. Currently leading the new staff recognition initiative, We Are IH, Anna’s generosity shines through as she works hard to help create a workplace where everyone feels appreciated. "Always do one per cent better every day and always be kind," is Anna's favourite quote. Inspired daily by the tremendous efforts and dedication of staff at IH, Anna continues to pave the way to growing staff recognition. In light of the current pandemic, she has been resourceful and innovative in staff recognition. One of her proudest moments at IH is organizing the Long Term Service Awards and this year Anna has pivoted to a virtual platform and continues to ensure that Interior Health employees are feeling appreciated for their hard work and dedication. With a love of traveling, this year has looked a bit different for Anna and her loved ones, so when she hasn’t been working she has been out camping in the beautiful outdoors of British Columbia. Those who work alongside Anna sincerely appreciate her valuable contribution to the organization and her helpful and kind demeanour. We appreciate you so much Anna and are thankful to have you a part of Interior Health! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each month, four Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  Currently the Peri-operative Manager at East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook, AJ has been with IH for 15 years. AJ continues to be inspired by the desire to empower others to succeed. Her colleagues, friends and family would describe AJ as very driven, and her career at IH is a reflection of her hard work serving others. Over the past 15 years, AJ has loved working with people and trying to improve the quality of service we provide. AJ is very active and loves exploring the beautiful outdoors of her home in Cranbrook, where she was raised after being born in Trail, B.C. She headed to the big city, Vancouver, for 13 years before moving back to Cranbrook in 2005. A lot has changed since then, but her favourite band is still Motley Crue! "Learn From Your Mistakes." A.J.'s favourite quote. You could say that health care runs through AJ's family line, with her mom's career as a Unit Clerk for IH and her sister working alongside them at IH as a Nurse Practitioner. This past January their roles suddenly changed as they were by their father's side during his cardiac arrest. AJ says he received incredible care in both Creston and Kelowna. The family is thankful he is healthy and that they were able to support him. When AJ isn't working, you can find her out hiking with her bulldog, Ella, her two kids, ages 20 and 19, and her husband, or training for Ironman Triathlons and Ultra Marathons. An adventurer at heart, AJ is anxiously awaiting to be able to travel again and continue her global explorations with her family. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. A.J.'s nomination of Crystal White keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Crystal is strong, independent, smart and decisive. She leads the Critical Care Network; she was my ‘person’ while I worked in the Emergency Network."

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each month, four Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  Vanessa Mitchell is an Aboriginal lead and program manager of the Journey to Aboriginal Cultural Safety program. She has worked at the Vernon Health Centre for five years. Vanessa's life has been inspired by her ancestors and warriors, past and present, and their vision and fortitude to stand strong to ensure Indigenous peoples could hold positions of influence, such as her integral role here at Interior Health. Her philosophy of "hard work and heart work" is the driving force behind all the energy she gives to both her community and career. Vanessa truly loves her family, community and Nation for their humour, resilience and heart that brings laughter and love into her daily life. "The work of Cultural Safety and Humility is hard work and heart work." Vanessa's favourite inspirational quote. In the book We Get Our Living Like Milk From The Land, Sqilxᵂ (pronounced skay-lugh) is defined as the original people who learned to live together on the land in peace. As a Sqilxᵂ, this connection is held close to Vanessa's heart, as it always reminds her of who she is and where she came from. Born and raised in the Okanagan/Syilx community and Nation, Vanessa has continued to give back to her community in her adult life as she has created a home for her family where she was raised. As an Okanagan/Syilx woman, mother, and daughter, Vanessa understands first hand how much hard work and heart work goes into her career and community. Being acutely and intricately knowledgeable of Indigenous people, families, communities, and Nations with personal living experiences of cultural unsafety and racism, she balances both the hard work and heart work. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Vanessa's nomination of Rose Melnyk keeps the loop going: "Rose is a strong Secwépemc woman grounded in who she is and where she come from, with clinical front-line experience as an RN within IH whose heart is with the people and specifically with the Elders."