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 Response Years of Service: 33 years Worksite: Kelowna Community Health & Services Centre  Community: Penticton Ancestral Territory: Syilx / Okanagan Favourite 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 Sonographer Years of Service: 6 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community: Kamloops  Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc / Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite 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 Educator Years of Service: 20 years teaching 3rd year nursing students Ancestral 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 Assistant Years of Service: 7 Worksite: Queen Victoria Hospital Community: Revelstoke  Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc/Shuswap Favourite 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.”

Name: Lauren Isber (she/her/hers) Job Title: Digital Health Support Clerk Years of Service: 3 Worksite: Kelowna Warehouse Community:  Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: I try to live in the present, plan for the future but not worry about things that do not exist. Be optimistic! Lauren Isber knows a thing or two about navigating the health-care system. Born in Savannah, Georgia, U.S., to Canadian health-care worker parents, as well as being a patient herself, Lauren currently provides support to Interior Health (IH) patients and clients who need help making medical appointments or using MyHealthPortal. Through her role as a digital health support clerk, she’s able to help individuals in a personal way, which brings her satisfaction and a sense of purpose and value. “We all know what it’s like when we need assistance with something and don’t have an option to speak to a person directly.”

* Content warning: This story contains themes of suicide. * For immediate help 24/7, call 9-8-8 or 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433). If you or your friend is in crisis and not sure what to do, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. To reach the Interior Health (IH) Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) centre nearest you, call 310-MHSU (6478).  Name: Sheneile Black (she/her/hers) Job Title: Relational Security Officer Years of Service: 1 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital  Community:  Central Okanagan Ancestral Territory: Syilx Nation  Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Prayer and work conquers all. Sometimes in life, the most challenging upbringings can create the kindest and most compassionate people; this was the case for Sheneile. Growing up in Jamaica with her older sister, Sheneile lost both her parents at a young age.  

Name: Erin Blackwell (she/hers/her) Job Title: Manager of Clinical Operations, Neuro, Trauma and Stroke Unit Years of Service: 7 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community:  Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwempc Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: Think globally, act locally. Erin Blackwell, manager of clinical operations, Neuro, Trauma and Stroke Unit at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops is someone who truly lives by her motto “think globally, act locally.”  Erin is very passionate about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. So much so, she successfully advocated for rainbow lanyards and rainbow nametags to become available to all staff to promote inclusivity at Interior Health (IH). “Symbols are important in society, and the rainbow symbolizes acceptance and openness. Health care should be the most inclusive system, as our patients come from all walks of life,” says Erin.  

Name: Nancy-Jo O’Neill (she/her/hers) Job Title: Clinical Operations Manager Years of Service: 11 Worksite: Sparwood Primary Health Care, Elkford Health Centre Community:  Elk Valley      Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - J.J. Marine Clinical operations manager Nancy-Jo O’Neill is fuelled by chasing the next adventure – whether it be skiing fresh tracks in the backcountry or navigating the challenging but rewarding world of primary care.