Name:  Loreen Jacobson (she/her/hers) Job Title: Registered Nurse Years of Service:  45 Worksite: Home Health, Royal Inland Hospital  Community:  Merritt Ancestral Territory: Nlaka'pamux Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Always follow your intuition! Loreen Jacobsen was born and raised in New Westminster, B.C., and moved to Merritt in 1990. Graduating from the Registered Nursing program in the late 1970s at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Loreen continued her training throughout her entire career. She went on to do a critical care course, and later a primary nurse course in 2021. All of her education supported her throughout her professional journey at Royal Columbian Hospital, Burnaby General Hospital and now Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre.  

Name: Jacqueline Lee (JQ) Elsasser (she/her/hers) Job Title: Health Unit Aide / Admin Support / Qualitative FIT Tester Years of Service: 1+ Worksite: Kirschner Plaza Community:  Kelowna  Ancestral Territory: syilx/Okanagan Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "All's well that ends well" - no matter what circumstance has happened in your life, if it turned out well or gave you a positive experience in the end, it was worth it. "All's well that ends well." For JQ, this simple phrase is more than advice—it’s a way of life. No matter what challenges come her way, she believes every experience is worthwhile if it leads to something positive in the end. Born in Edmonton, JQ moved to Kelowna when she was just two years old and has called it home ever since. Her vibrant personality is evident both at work and in her personal life; she’s happy, energetic, funny, loud, positive, spunky, passionate, and loving—a true force of positivity in her community.

Name: Stephenie McLeod (she/her/hers)  Job Title: Administrative Assistant Years of Service: 6 Worksite: Vernon Health Unit Community:  Vernon Ancestral Territory: syilx Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "It's kind of fun to do the impossible" - Walt Disney Stephenie was born in Vancouver and moved to Ontario as an infant. Her extended family still lives in Thunder Bay, Ont.  She returned to B.C. when she was 20 years old. After a few years in retail and optometry, where she gained knowledge with ophthalmic terms, Stephenie completed training as a medical transcriptionist and gained work experience in transcribing community psychiatry reports through her administrative role at Vernon Mental Health. 

Name: Kailey Stuart (she/her/hers) Job Title: Computer Technical Support 2, Virtual Care Years of Service: 7 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital (but works remotely) Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Be curious, not judgmental.” Described by her colleagues as approachable, people oriented, and a good communicator, Kailey Stuart, computer technical support 2, Virtual Care, at Interior Health (IH), aims to make her colleagues’ lives a little easier through her work in technology. A natural problem-solver with a strong creative streak, Kailey was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as an adult. But she doesn’t let that hinder her work or personal projects and, despite its challenges, feels neurodivergence has enriched her life in many ways. “I like to think of ADHD as my superpower,” she says. “Don’t get me wrong, there are a LOT of downsides, but those can be managed. Having ADHD makes me think differently than others, which means I'm often able to find creative solutions to problems. Hyperfocus is also pretty cool when it’s used for good; I can sit down and focus on a task for hours and hours without breaking focus.”

Name: Thandazani Mhlanga (he/him/his) Job Title: Spiritual Health Practitioner Years of Service: 6 months with IH, 13 years in spiritual health  Worksite: Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) Community:  Williams Lake Ancestral Territory: Swaziland / Zimbabwe; currently resides on Secwépemc and Tŝilhqot’in Nations territory Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “One belief, more than any other, is responsible for the slaughter of individuals on the alters of the great historical ideas. It is the belief that those who do not share my faith – or my race or my ideology – do not share my humanity.” Alfonso Borello, The Book of Dignity Thandazani was born in Zimbabwe but his cultural heritage and origins are rooted in Swaziland. The family moved to Canada 17 years ago for a fresh start, with Thandazani first settling in the Interior eight years ago, and returning to the area about two-and-a-half years ago with his wife and children. 

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play a pivotal role as health-care providers to improve timely access to care in the short term and on an ongoing basis. They see people at their most vulnerable and provide continuous care, support, and compassion no matter how hard it may get, often working tirelessly for long hours to help those in need.  Let’s meet some of the incredible NPs who are providing patient-focused, compassionate care that improves the health and well-being of patients in the communities they serve.

Name: Casey Rae Donaldson (she/her/hers) Job Title: Administrative Assistant, RIH Clinical Operations  Years of Service: 2 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “You can’t go wrong by doing the right thing.” – Paul T. Clark Loyal, loving, and passionate, it’s no surprise that Casey loves getting to work and interacting with others in the health-care system to make a difference in the community. Speaking highly of the passion she witnesses from Interior Health (IH) employees around her, Casey feels fortunate to be on the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Engagement Committee, where she plans fun events for staff.   “I am very grateful to be in a position that allows me to interact with all departments as RIH,” she says. “I love planning fun events for staff and interacting with them during fundraisers— selling $2 bags of popcorn and hearing the positive comments and laughter. It’s nice that something as simple as a bag of popcorn can turn someone’s day around or give them a reason to smile!”  

Name: Emma Klassen (she/her/hers) Job Title: Recreation Activity Worker Years of service: 1 Worksite: Apple Valley & Hawthorn Park Adult Day Services Community: Kelowna Ancestral territory: syilx Nation Favourite Quote /Advice to Live By: “Do better, be better.” Emma is a daughter, sister, auntie, social worker, counsellor and recreational therapist, and a mother to five children. Before joining Interior Health (IH), Emma worked as a counsellor for children and youth for six years with the Westbank First Nation. She loved her counselling career, and helped people and families with addiction, suicide and their day-to-day struggles. She also served as a bail supervisor for young offenders for several years. When she was a counsellor, she and her team created a memorandum of understanding in partnership with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to create transparency in youth care.

Name: Suzie Kinnunen (she/her/hers) Job Title: Respiratory Therapist/Respiratory Patient Educator Years of Service: 3 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: syilx Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “It doesn't cost you anything to be kind.” Suzie Kinnunen was born in Winnipeg and raised in West Kelowna, where she has lived most of her life. Suzie has been a respiratory therapist and respiratory patient educator with Interior Health (IH) at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) for the past three years. Another fun fact about Suzie is that at the age of four, before moving to West Kelowna, she lived in India for two years.