Name: Joel Koette (he/him/his)Job Title: Emergency department registered nurse (RN)Years of Service: 5Worksite: Kelowna General HospitalCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.” – Brad Meltzer Born and raised in Prince George, Joel has always been high energy, active and confident. With his bubbly, effervescent personality, he loves making people laugh and smile. “I try to stay positive, be grateful and have fun at work,” he says. When in early 2018 he started to feel extremely fatigued, he put it down to having taken on too much. “I was working full time as a licensed practical nurse, and going to school full time as a mature student in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at UBCO,” he recalls. “My doctor at the time ran some bloodwork and called me that evening to come into his office. “The next day he told me I had cancer.”

Name: Glenn CharbonneauJob Title: PhysiotherapistYears of Service: 2Worksite: VariousCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Curious that we spend more time congratulating people who have succeeded than encouraging people who have not.” – Neil deGrasse Tyson Glenn Charbonneau has always had a passion for human movement, but it wasn’t until a chance encounter with a local practitioner in Kelowna a decade ago that Glenn felt compelled to get into physiotherapy.  He pursued his Bachelor of Human Kinetics at UBC Okanagan before earning a Master of Physical Therapy.  Joining Interior Health (IH) in 2022 after stints in the Lower Mainland and Calgary, Glenn has embraced the opportunity to contribute his expertise within the Primary Care Network, where he assists patients with complex medical needs as part of a collaborative team.

Name: Tammy Molina (she/her/hers)Job Title: Regional Practice Leader, Clinical EthicsYears of Service: 13Worksite: Kelowna Community Health & Services CentreCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Okanagan-SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “It's hard to choose one, but I think what often stirs up my heart and mind most frequently is ‘be the change you want to see.’” In her position with Interior Health (IH) as regional practice leader, clinical ethics, Tammy Molina collaborates with employees and medical staff (physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives, etc.) as they navigate what she calls “crunchy” situations that would benefit from an ethical decision-making process. “It’s so important for us to be able to intentionally examine our responsibilities, priorities, choices and impacts, and not only understand but also explain why we have made the decision we did,” Tammy says. “I enjoy being invited to walk through difficult scenarios with teams to pull back the layers and look at what values and priorities are in conflict and provide space to acknowledge the discomfort or uncertainty.”

Name: Tiova de Kok (she/her/hers)Job Title: Regional, Project Lead, Perinatal Substance UseYears of Service: 21Worksite: Regional role, based out of 100 Mile District General HospitalCommunity: 100 Mile HouseAncestral Territory: SecwépemcFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Always be a little kinder than necessary.” - J.M. Barie Tiova de Kok – wife, mother, grandmother, nurse and lifelong learner – knew from when she was a small child that nursing was a life goal. She’s had the privilege of serving since 2003 and feels blessed to be surrounded by passionate, dedicated colleagues who support and bring ideas to life.  Born in Dinsmore, Saskatchewan, and raised in both Saskatoon and Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tiova believes that you can find art and creativity in everything you put your hands to.

Name: Edward Schaffer (he/him/his)Job Title: PhysicianYears of Service: 7Worksite: Invermere & District Hospital and East Kootenay Regional HospitalCommunity: Invermere/CranbrookAncestral Territory: Born in the Treaty 7 Territory in Alberta; currently working in the Akisqnuk (part of the Ktunaxa First Nation) and Secwépemc Growing up in a small town of 1,500 in southern Alberta, Edward knew early on he wanted to work in rural medicine. Inspired by a view of the Rocky Mountains from his childhood home, he dreamt of one day settling in a place surrounded by mountains, lakes, and wilderness. Fast forward several years, and Edward has realized both his professional and geographical ambitions. He’s now based in Invermere and works as a physician with Added Competence in Emergency Medicine (CCFP-EM) and head of the emergency department at Invermere District Hospital. He’s also a locum emergency department (ED) physician at East Kootenay Regional Hospital, supporting the facility as needed.

Name: Coreen Duncan (she/her/hers)Job Title: Patient AmbassadorYears of Service: 34Worksite: Columbia HouseCommunity:  InvermereAncestral Territory: Ktunaxa and SecwépemcFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: It is important to be kind. Born and raised in Saskatoon, Coreen spent her high school years gaining experience volunteering at care homes and Meals on Wheels. Her volunteer experience and working as a housekeeper led her to Invermere with her current role as a patient ambassador in long-term care (LTC) at Columbia House.  “I remember thinking that I loved being with the elderly residents and clients. I felt that I could help make their days brighter. Thirty-four years later I still feel the same!”

Name: Michelle HolmJob Title: Medical Laboratory TechnologistYears of Service: 14Worksite: Kootenay Boundary Regional HospitalCommunity:  TrailAncestral Territory: Syilx and KtunaxaFavourite Quote: Be the change you wish to see in the world. — Gandhi Michelle Holm is a medical laboratory technologist based at the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in Trail, B.C. While she’s lived most of her life in Trail, she spent some years of her childhood growing up in Kamloops. Michelle is passionate about team-building, quality improvement, education and knowledge sharing.

Name: Gheboa Zeleniski (she/her/hers)Job Title: Support ServicesYears of Service:  5 yearsWorksite:  Cariboo Memorial HospitalCommunity:  Williams LakeAncestral Territory: Secwépemc First NationsFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Everything happens for a reason." Born in Squamish, Gheboa (pronounced “Ja-bo-a”) Zeleniski comes from a large family of five brothers and two step-siblings. Her parents named her after an actress but changed the pronunciation slightly so her name sounded more French. Gheboa’s Indigenous ancestors are from Saskatchewan, and include her great-grandmother, Dorothy Macquabeak Francis. Dorothy founded the first Indigenous friendship centre in Regina and was awarded the Order of Canada in 1978. When she was a young girl, Gheboa and her parents travelled to a powwow in Broadview, Saskatchewan where her great-grandmother spent her early life. There, she was given the name “Peppermint Woman” by a North Dakota Medicine Man named Clifford Young Bear, a name that signifies strength and healing.

Name: Christopher Russell (he/him/his)Job Title: Leadership & Organization Development ConsultantYears of Service: 2.5Worksite: Community Health & Services CentreCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx/OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rometty, “All things are difficult before they are easy.” – Thomas Fuller A calm, empathetic and imaginative change management professional, Chris Russell is passionate about working in public service, and supporting the growth and development of others. From inspiring folks to see new career possibilities through facilitating workshops and development sessions, to being involved in the launch of the Change Leadership and Change Management programs and Interior Health (IH) Change Framework, Chris is a valuable resource as IH navigates change, big and small.