Name: Jenna Hunter (she/her/hers)Job Title: Interim Regional Knowledge Coordinator/Internationally Educated Nurses – Clinical EducationYears of Service: 18Worksite: Vernon Jubilee HospitalCommunity: Vernon Ancestral Territory: Syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" - Mary Oliver Born in the Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH), Jenna Hunter’s career and life have come full circle. After becoming a registered nurse (RN), Jenna would spend her time caring for patients in the same hospital that she was born, before becoming a clinical educator. Jenna is grateful to all the people along the way who believed in her and took the time to encourage her. When she’s not at work, you can find her spending time with her family, travelling and enjoying the fresh air with a book in hand. She also adds that she’s always up for anything as long as it’s an adventure.

Name: Marie Vajda (she/her/hers)Job Title: Administrative Services ManagerYears of Service: 6Worksite: Penticton Health Centre  Community: South Okanagan Ancestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Don't stress. Take it one email, one request and one day at a time.” And “sorry—my crystal ball is broken!” After working in retail supervision and management for 10 years, Marie found herself at a junction when the company she was working for closed.  After going back to school, she found a job as a medical office assistant in a busy North Vancouver office. When her husband’s work took them to Prince George, she found a job as a medical software tester and trainer. Six years later, in 2017, the Vadja family moved to Penticton, where Marie found a position in administration at the Penticton Health Centre. What started out as a casual role became a permanent position. She was promoted to supervisor, then manager, administrative services.

Name: Adigo Angela Achoba-Omajali (she/her/hers)Job Title: Clinical Practice EducatorYears of Service:  12Worksite:  South Hills Tertiary Psychiatric Rehabilitation CentreCommunity:  KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou Adigo Angela Achoba-Omajali is a clinical practice educator working out of South Hills Tertiary Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centre in Kamloops. Born to her mother Mary Ede Achoba (née Ukwenya) and her father Isaac Isa Achoba in Kaduna state in Nigeria, her origin is of Kogi state and she hails from the Ibaji kingdom. As a lover of travel, Adigo has lived in many countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, England and Bangladesh. She is a life-long advocate who is passionate about the work she does to ensure silent voices are heard through education. “Knowledge is power!” says Adigo. Leading with a positive mindset, she aspires to provide respectful, integral and inclusive care to every single person who needs it. 

Name: Dwayne Schroeder (he/his/him)Job title: Health care assistantYears of service: 11Worksite: Three Links ManorCommunity: KelownaAncestral territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Live and let live Dwayne Schroeder has spent over 11 years with Interior Health as a health care assistant (HCA), but if he had his way that number would be a lot higher. “I wish I would have started earlier,” he said. After Dwayne’s previous career in the food industry ended, he was on the hunt for a new opportunity. His wife suggested he enroll in the Health Career Access Program because he is great with people. It’s clear that Dwayne was wise to follow his wife’s advice. “I did very well in the course and after graduation I was able to gain employment with Interior Health,” Dwayne said. “I have loved it ever since.”

Name: Marilyn Winters (she/her/hers)Job title: Registered NurseYears of service: 32 yearsWorksite: Kamloops Home and Community Health—North Shore Community: KamloopsAncestral territory: Whispering Pines/Clinton, T’kemlups, Simpcw, Secwepemc, Neskonolith, Adams lake, and Little Shuswap nations. Advice to live by: Let's not dwell on the problem, let's figure out a solution. Marilyn Winters has dedicated 32 years of her life as a health-care professional to the service of others and her community. After completing her degree from Thompson Rivers University, and becoming a registered nurse in 2012, Marilyn devoted her time, and passion, to helping and caring for her patients across the Interior Health region.

Name: Debbie French (she/her/hers)Job Title: Nursing Unit ClerkYears of Service: 21Worksite: East Kootenay Chronic Kidney Disease ClinicCommunity: CranbrookAncestral Territory: Ktunaxa NationFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: Work hard, be nice, eat tacos. Debbie French is a nursing unit clerk at the East Kootenay Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Clinic in Cranbrook. She enjoys working with people and helping them fulfill their kidney health needs. She describes herself as hard working and loyal, both on the job and in her personal life. She admits she can also be “fiercely protective” as well with friends and family.

Name: Jennifer Turnbull (she/her/hers)Job Title: Child Care Licensing Officer Years of Service: 16 Worksite: Kamloops Public Health UnitCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: SecwépemcFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Look for something positive in each day, even if some days you have to look a little harder.” By day, Jennifer Turnbull is helping make sure daycares in the Thompson and Cariboo regions are running smoothly. “I still really like working with children. I have an ECE [early childhood educator] background and worked in daycares for 10 years before I came here,” noted Jennifer, who has been in her role with Interior Health for 16 years.

Name: Tanya Momtazian (she/her/hers)Job Title: Registered MidwifeYears of Service: 16Worksite: Kootenay Lake HospitalCommunity: NelsonAncestral Territory: Ktunaxa and Syilx. “I live in the Sinixt, Ktunaxa, and Syilx territory of the West Kootenays. Sinixt is not on the territory map because it was declared extinct by the federal government, which has recently been repealed.”Favourite Quote / Advice to live by:  “I enjoy consulting and considering the iChing, an ancient Chinese Book of Changes. It talks about perseverance, harmony, planning, and strategy.” Born and raised in Calgary to a white settler father from Alberta and a mixed ethnicity mother from Trinidad and Tobago, Tanya is the first midwife to join Interior Health’s Navig8 Emerging Medical Leaders Program, which prepares medical leaders to operate effectively in their current and future leadership roles through a mix of action-based learning and mentorship. With a deep passion for patient care, Tanya holds a number of midwifery-related roles while finding time to pursue outdoor activities with her family, and trying her hand at silversmithing and jewelry making.

Name: Brandy Hagel (she/her/hers)Job Title: Registered NurseYears of Service: 5 ½ Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Pediatrics Community:  KelownaAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “If you put your mind to it, anything is possible.” Brandy Hagel, the registered nurse (RN) from Kelowna General Hospital who took to social media to reunite a pediatric patient with their stuffed bunny, has always loved working with kids. She has also always been the type of person who goes out of her way to make a positive difference in someone’s day.  So much so that in 2017 she combined her passion for running and desire to help others by taking on the challenge of running an ultra-marathon across Haiti to raise money for low-income families. She ran a total of 226 kilometres in just six days!  Naturally, her empathetic, caring nature and desire to work with children ultimately led her to a career as a RN in pediatrics.  “It is so rewarding to know that you are making a positive impact in someone’s day, and kids are the most resilient people I know. I love being able to help them understand that their illness doesn’t define them while we work together to get them healthy again.”