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. 

While breastfeeding is natural, it’s not always easy and can take time, patience and support. There are many caring people who are available to help you on your journey. These include public health nurses, lactation consultants, your doctor, midwife, and family or friends. To help parents with their infant feeding goals, Interior Health has introduced new accessible services and resources that meet parents where they are at. These resources are aimed to make it easy for parents to access breastfeeding guidance and expertise in Interior Health, and support parents no matter where they live. “We recognize that inequalities affect parents across the Interior region,” says Rebecca Gibbons, manager, Healthy Start Healthy Schools at IH. “Those who live in rural and remote areas, Indigenous families, and parents of colour, face special challenges when it comes to accessing services and information about feeding their baby. It’s important to us that no family is left behind.”

We are excited to announce the launch of the Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) – Interior Health (IH) Métis Health and Wellness Plan, an initiative dedicated to enhancing health and wellness outcomes for Métis people through collaboration and cultural integration.  Check out the plan A year ago, at the 2023 Annual General Meeting in Kamloops, Métis Nation British Columbia and Interior Health signed a Letter of Understanding. Since then, significant strides have been made in advocating for Métis communities across BC and increasing Métis visibility. Our ongoing collaborative efforts continue to drive progress, and we are excited to share recent achievements as well as upcoming projects. Members of the Métis Nation BC - IH Leadership Table (MILT) at the 2023 MNBC AGM. From left to right:  Nicole Taylor-Sterritt, Tanya Davoren, Stephen Thomson, Addie Pryce, Dr. Doug Cochrane, Louis De Jaeger, Becca Britton, Kaelyn Elfert, Kris Murray

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.”