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: 2Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital (RIH)Community: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwépemc NationFavourite 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 WorkerYears of service: 1Worksite: Apple Valley & Hawthorn Park Adult Day ServicesCommunity: KelownaAncestral territory: syilx NationFavourite 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 EducatorYears of Service: 3Worksite: Kelowna General HospitalCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: syilxFavourite 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.

Health care assistants (HCAs) make a tremendous difference in our lives. HCAs may have many different job titles, including: Community Health Worker Residential Care Aide Home Support Worker Long-Term Care Aide Home Health Aide Continuing Care Assistant Personal Care Aide The one thing all HCAs have in common is that they provide frontline personal care and assistance services to vulnerable patients, clients and residents. Meet three of our HCAs at Interior Health.

Name: Deb Runge (she/her/hers)Job Title: Executive Director of Access and Flow, Patient Transport and Emergency ResponseYears of Service: 33 yearsWorksite: Kelowna Community Health & Services Centre Community: PentictonAncestral Territory: Syilx / OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: ”Every day is a new beginning. Take a deep breath, smile and start again." – Maya Angelou Born in Newmarket, ON and raised in 100 Mile House, Deb Runge has had a rewarding and diverse career at Interior Health (IH).  A registered nurse for 33 years, Deb chose a career in health care because of the variety of opportunities that the field presents.

Name: Brooke Dennill (she/her/hers)Job Title: Diagnostic Medical SonographerYears of Service: 6Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc / Shuswap Interior SalishFavourite Quote / Advice to live by:  "Turn the beat around!” It reminds me that you can't control things that happen to you, but you can control how you deal with it and how you let it affect you. You can make a choice to change your attitude and keep on the sunny side of life. Born and raised in Kamloops, B.C., Brooke has always loved sports, being active and the outdoors, which she enjoys with her husband and Bernese Mountain Dog, Banjo. From hiking, golfing, wake surfing and gardening in the summer, to skiing in the winter, to riding her horse year-round, she truly enjoys all the terrain and beauty the Interior offers. Brooke looks out over the North Thompson River on her horse, Hawke.

Content warning: residential schools, death Name:  Wilfred Barnes / kninmntəm tə nq̓ʷictn (he/him/his)Role (within IH): syilx Elder, syilx knowledge & nsyilxcn language EducatorYears of Service: 20 years teaching 3rd year nursing studentsAncestral Territory: syilx Community: Westbank First Nation My English name is Wilfred Barnes my nickname is Grouse. My ancestral name is knirmtəm ta nqʷictn which means bump by sister in law. My dad had a sense of humor. Everybody knows me by Grouse. I am 72 years old; between me and my wife Pamela Barnes we have 6 kids, 17 grand babies and 1 great grandson. We are pretty invested in the future. My wife and I are adjunct professors for UBCO School of Nursing where we teach third-year nursing students cross-cultural awareness and cross-cultural safety teachings for about 10 years. We also teach at Okanagan College; they have a nursing program at the college. 

Name: Ashley Ogilvie (she/her/hers)Job Title: Nursing Unit AssistantYears of Service: 7Worksite: Queen Victoria HospitalCommunity: Revelstoke Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc/ShuswapFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Live life to the fullest! Ashley Ogilvie is a nursing unit assistant (NUA) at Queen Victoria Hospital in Revelstoke, B.C. For Ashley, the best aspect of being part of a health-care team is the collaboration with doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals, which fosters a sense of community and shared purpose.  “Nursing unit assistants often play a crucial role in supporting staff and ensuring that patients receive the care they need,” explains Ashley. “This can be incredibly rewarding for those who are driven by a desire to help make a difference in other people’s lives.”