We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Meggan Gibson (she/her/hers) Job Title: MDR Inventory Lead Technician Years of Service: 23 Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Life is too short - so enjoy the ride!"  Meggan GIbson completed her Medical Device Reprocessing (MDR) course in 1998 and was immediately hired at Kelowna General Hospital. Twenty-three years later, she serves as the MDR inventory lead technician--a position that she loves. As the lead tech, Meggan helps her fellow MDR techs perform their job efficiently using the instrument tracking system. For those who may not be familiar with MDR, Meggan offers this explanation: "We reprocess instruments for the operating room (OR) and wards in the hospital. Our decontamination area is where we receive and clean the instruments and devices. Some items are washed in a washer / disinfector, and some are hand washed. We then assemble the instrument sets according to the instructions in our instrument tracking system, sterilize them and prepare the sets for upcoming surgeries." In her free time, Meggan loves to hike. "My girl gang and I do a couple of backpacking trips each summer." Meggan also enjoys reading and paddle boarding. However, most of her time outside of work is spent working with her husband on their Glenmore farm. The farm provides 31 families with farm fresh veggies every week. "I am looking forward to continuing my work in MDR," says Meggan. "I have a few projects on the go and strive to implement lean methodologies into our work." She also looks forward to growing her family farm business. Meggan's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “April Wood has worked for IH for a loooong time and she has a very specific position as an OR Inventory Analyst." - Meggan Gibson Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Stephanie Hintz (she/her) Job Title: Registered Diagnostic Sonographer Years of Service: 12 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Tk'emlups te Secwépemc Favourite Quote: "Every day we decide how to treat people, why not choose kindness and empathy?"   Stephanie had a wonderful "fluffy" upbringing. She was born and raised on a chicken farm in Armstrong, which was home to more than 100,000 happy chickens, at one point in time. Surrounded by furry friends for most of her life, Stephanie developed a special bond with animals, which sprouted her caring and kind personality. At only 13 years old, she secured a job at a local vet clinic. Fast forward many years later, she still revisits her vet days, as she occasionally gets an opportunity to preform ultrasounds on pets which she finds most interesting. Now, as a Registered Diagnostic Sonographer, Stephanie shares that when she is performing an ultrasound, she tries to imagine herself in the position of the patient and treats them with the same respect she would appreciate in their situation. "Many times, people are scared, upset or just unsure why they are having a particular ultrasound. I find that just by listening to them while I perform the scan they seem to feel less stressed. I don't think we always realize the impact we can have on someone's day even if we are only in the room with them for half an hour." Even after 12 years, Stephanie is still inspired and motivated every day due the variety and responsibility that her career offers. Her role as a Registered Diagnostic Sonographer allows her the opportunity to investigate a patient's symptoms based on what the ultrasound shows. "We really do make a difference in people's lives - whether it is by confirming their baby is healthy or finding early breast cancer. I am always learning and being challenged." Stephanie recalls that one of her proudest moments at Interior Health happened just fairly recent, when a patient with whom she was examining stopped to thank her with these words: "I don't take what you or anyone else here does for granted. You are very good at your job and I appreciate you." Stephanie realized and admits that the past couple of years have been challenging for everyone, and how nice it is when people take the time to show gratitude. "I'm proud of where I work, we have an amazing group of people that work in ultrasound, and I think we make the best out of most days and support each other on the hard days." Now-a-days, you won't find Stephanie on a chicken farm in her spare time; instead, she will be off running, hiking or camping somewhere. Husband Cory, her two young children and two golden retrievers keeps her company on her hiking and camping excursions. Peyton is 11 years old and brother Easton is eight - both are eager beavers to go out and explore just like Mom. She admits that living in B.C. definitely makes it a whole lot easier to get out doors and to find new adventures. When the great outdoors isn't calling, you will find Stephanie paying attention to her creative side - making jewelry. Stephanie is looking forward to continuing to grow in her profession and be able to enjoy the work-life balance that her job offers so she can still make memories and watch her children grow up. Stephanie's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "Julianna Duplessis is such a positive person and a hard worker. Even on the toughest and busiest days she never complains or has a negative thing to say about anyone. During the pandemic I have found her to be very inspiring. She shows up to work with a smile even when she is going through her own health challenges." - Stephanie Hintz Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

Breastfeeding provides many health benefits for mothers and babies. Communities and health-care organizations have an important role to play in creating an environment that makes it easier to breastfeed. Recently, the Penticton community has been taking steps to support breastfeeding in the South Okanagan.   Baby-Friendly Initiative a vital partnership Health-care teams at Penticton Regional Hospital along with those at the Penticton Health Centre and the Penticton Indian Band are working together to develop a baby-friendly culture. Their goal is to make significant improvements in the health of mothers and babies in the South Okanagan.   Together they are working towards achieving the Baby-Friendly Initiative designation. This will be the first such Canadian partnership between a hospital, community and a First Nation health department.   The Baby-Friendly Initiative, launched by the World Health Organization and UNICEF in 1991, is a global effort to implement practices that protect, promote, and support breastfeeding. It has been shown to improve short and long term health for infants, such as lower rates of infections, sudden infant death syndrome, and obesity later in life. It is also associated with reduced chronic disease in mothers, including obesity, diabetes and breast cancer; it enhances quality of care and empowers them to make informed infant feeding choices. It also recognizes there are medical and personal reasons why a baby may not be breastfed and supports all families by ensuring they receive the best care possible.     The breastfeeding family  ̶  unique trio of plaster casts on display Coming this fall, a unique trio of plaster cast busts will be on display in the Penticton hospital lobby. Each of the three casts is based on artists’ interpretations of stories shared with them about personal breastfeeding journeys. They were created for the Breastfeeding Art Expo that toured Interior Health in 2017-2018. “The art exhibit is part of our vision for excellence in maternal and infant health care,” says Sara Evans a director of clinical operations at Interior Health.     Lactation room opens at Penticton Regional Hospital On Oct. 4 the hospital will officially open its first dedicated lactation room. Located in the corridor between the emergency department and diagnostic imaging, the newly refurbished room will provide a quiet, comfortable area to staff, physicians, patients and visitors for feeding or pumping. “People are welcome to feed or pump milk anywhere they choose in the hospital, but this room provides relaxation and peace and quiet, which we expect both parents and babies will really appreciate,” says manager Cindy Barton.         Feature image of plaster casts Left: The Source by Rebecca Bessette; Top Right: Mama’s Milk by Nathan Stewart; Bottom Right: Sweet Nectar by Nicole Hobbs. Lead Artist: Angela Safire Jones.  

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Shannon Kambick (she/her) Job Title: Community Health Worker Years of Service: Nearly one year Worksite: Kiro Wellness Centre Community: Trail Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah)/Kootenay Favourite Quote: "In a world where you can choose to be anything, choose to be kind." -Unknown  Shannon and her husband As a Community Health Worker in Trail, Shannon Kambick is encouraged by her clients every day. “I’m inspired knowing that I can give my clients the care, dignity, independence, privacy, preference and safety they deserve. I know that I make a difference in their lives.” Shannon describes herself as a caring individual who thinks all things living (human or not) deserve respect, caring and compassion. These attributes are essential in her role. One of Shannon’s proudest moments in her job was when she noticed a client in distress, possibly prone to self-harm. She followed the proper procedures and called the RCMP, which ended up with the client receiving the help they needed at the hospital.  Shannon and her mom while snowshoeing One of Shannon’s passions is travelling and learning about other cultures;  she’s looking forward to travelling to new countries once she’s able. “I was lucky to go on a Rotary youth exchange program when I was younger. I lived in Honduras for a year to learn the language and culture.” Shannon keeps active in her down time, walking her parents’ dog or volunteering at the SPCA. Her favourite team sport to play is water polo and she used to run triathlons. Shannon also enjoys reading and completing paint by numbers art.  Shannon's paint-by-numbers artwork Shannon's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “Amanda Mackenzie is a new employee as well. She's passionate about being a Community Health Worker and is amazing with her clients." - Shannon Kambick Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Dominique Frost (she/her) Job Title: Human Resources Recruitment Assistant Years of Service: 10 months Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: "Syilx" Okanagan (O-k an-a-gan) Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Life is a journey of discovery."  Dominique Frost is proud to be an Interior Health employee and part of a team who cares deeply about the work they do. In her role as Recruitment Assistant for our Human Resources department, she supports all new employees joining our organization.  "Helping others along their career path, listening to their career successes, and learning about their career goals is the driving force of my job, day in and day out." Dominique describes herself as dynamic, adventurous, kind, curious, and thoughtful - qualities that enable her to work well with people - perfect for her role in HR. She says working collaboratively with her hard-working colleagues inspires her to learn and grow. "Everyone on my team cares deeply about the work that they do. I am proud to be part of my team and an organization that is paving the way for younger generations." As Dominique develops my own career, she is committed to challenging herself to think outside the box, learn from others, and grow herself as an individual. "I also look forward to continuing to engage with employees and understand better the daily intricacies of their jobs." Interests and passions Dominique enjoys outside of work include road biking, mountain biking, softball, hiking, camping, and enjoying the Okanagan sunshine.  Hiking in the Rocky Mountains  Banff, AB  Cinque Terre, Italy Dominique's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I nominate fellow recruiter Louise Pilon. Louise is friendly, energetic, and passionate about her work. We also share the same love in road biking. We have been working closely together since I started with the Recruitment team in November and she has always been so warm and welcoming." - Dominique Frost Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Doug Neufeld (he/him) Job Title: Physician Years of Service: More than 40 years Worksite: Cariboo Memorial Hospital Community: Williams Lake Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc (Se-huep-m) / Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "If they can do it, why can't I?" Dr. Doug Neufeld doesn’t believe in leading a boring life. On the contrary, he is a man that goes by his daily motto: “Go seek adventure!” As a young child, Doug moved around quite a bit with his family, starting off in Kitimat B.C., where he was born. At the age of two, they moved to Kingston, Ont.; at age five, to Vancouver; back to Ontario (Toronto) at age 10; to Montreal at age 12; and at age 15 they landed back in B.C. in West Vancouver. After finishing med school and completing his internship, Doug, together with his wife, Cindy and their newborn son Jesse, move to Williams Lake. Moving around so much definitely opens your eyes to colourful challenges and an array of changing surroundings. You can almost see the world through a different lens; no wonder he describes himself as a multi-faced individual who has a tremendous love for medicine, including indigenous medicine. When asked what inspires him about his work and the career he has chosen, he energetically replies: "I enjoy the people. I make it my goal to treat everyone as an individual and respect them for being their own person." "Before I started my career as a medical professional, First Nations did not receive enough acknowledgement (there were still residential schools when I started), but it is wonderful to part of the change and the acknowledgement and respect they are receiving now – to be part of the change, and to be able to make a connection. I am growing old with the elders, I met some of them when in their 50s, now they are in their 80s. I am very privileged to be looking after four generations of families. In 2007, I delivered a baby of a baby whom I had delivered 17 years prior – wrap your head around that," he smiles. "These patients are not only my patients – they are my friends." Apart from his full-time devotion to helping people, Doug enjoys building things from scratch in his off time – construction is one of his favourite pastimes. You also won't find this doctor on a golf course, but rather boating somewhere on a beautiful mass of water in remote nature. Doug has many proud moments with Interior Health, but one of his most memorable moments takes us back to 1996 when Doug was the Chief of Staff (COS) at Williams Lake's Cariboo Memorial General Hospital. During this year, he helped design the new Emergency Room for the hospital. Doug also represented other physicians in rural areas by being very involved in the origins of rural retention and building MOCAP (Medical On Call Availability Program). With fewer doctors available in remote areas, this program was much needed to ensure that doctors were paid when on call. It also helped remote doctors to not be working all the time or be on call all the time. Doug's wife moved to Vancouver Island three years ago and he is looking forward to moving down there permanently as well. This will open a new book of adventure, as he plans to explore the island every chance he gets – while working part time, of course. Doug's early years in Williams Lake. Posing here with his wife Cindy. Doug's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I nominate Dr. Aris Azid, Vascular Surgeon based in Kamloops, B.C. Aris is and has been an essential medical contributor for many years, as the only vascular surgeon. He was my senior resident at med school, and does the major surgeries on my patients." - Dr. Doug Neufeld Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: David Baclig (he/him) Job Title: Housekeeper Years of Service: One Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks)/Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13 Being able to do his part during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of David Baclig's proudest moments as an Interior Health employee. During a time when hygiene and cleanliness has been top-of-mind, David's job as a housekeeper has been even more important than ever. David was born and raised in San Fernando in the Philippines, now calling Kelowna home with his wife. One of David's favourite things in life is finding new ways to make his wife, Faith Ann, happy, such as playing the guitar and singing her random songs. The two are thrilled to be expecting a baby boy in October.  David's wife, Faith Ann Describing himself as a God-fearing man, passionate and a hard worker, David is also a good listener and reliable, both as an employee and as a friend in times of need. His wife and family inspire him in his career, and it's David's hope to continue working with Interior Health for many years to come. "One thing I always try to do is share my blessings with others, especially my friends and family." In his free time, David also enjoys playing basketball. He longs to explore new things and places, and looks forward to travelling the world soon with his family.  David at Fintry Falls, West Kelowna Feature photo: David at Lake Louise, Alberta Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Richard Richter (he/him) Job Title: Health, Safety and Prevention Advisor Years of Service: 3 years Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Spread the love you have to share." -Unknown Richard Richter was born in Vernon and raised in Whitecourt, Alta. After living and working all over British Columbia, he's happy to be back in the Okanagan. "My parents always said, 'If you're not happy in your job, there's always opportunity to change.' " As a teen, Richard studied to become a chef -- ultimately receiving his Red Seal certification. He worked in Victoria restaurants before returning to the mainland. A stint with a private ambulance company led Richard to change course and begin a career as a health and safety professional. Most recently, Richard spent three years in 100 Mile House as a health and safety manager for the forestry industry before joining Interior Health three years ago. "Safety is everyone's responsibility--both on the job and off the job. Accidents can happen anywhere so awareness is a key factor." In his free time, Richard enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his wife, daughter and two dogs. Adventure parks -- including Disney -- are their happy places. Photo captions: Top: Richard pauses during his work day. Centre: This fun and outgoing leader once dressed as an elf to hand out candy canes to colleagues during the holidays. Below: "Family is No. 1. We work to provide, play and enjoy our lives." Richard's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I'd like to nominate my wife, Teri Richter. She has worked as a psychiatric nurse with IH since 2015, first in 100 Mile and now in Kelowna. She provides compassionate care to her clients and patients. Teri is a fabulous partner and mother -- we've been together 20 years, married just over 19 -- she is just an amazing person!" - Richard Richter Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Tara Lecavalier (she/her) Job Title: Pharmacy Technician Supervisor Years of Service: 13 years Worksite: East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) Community: Cranbrook Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah)/Kootenay Ktunaxa Favourite Quote: "Be patient. It is a skill that, when learned, is invaluable." -Unknown Tara Lecavalier is a 10th generation French Canadian. She was born and raised in Fernie, B.C., where her family has a long history. "I love being part of projects that help move IH and pharmacy services forward." Tara has worked for Interior Health for 13 years--for the past six years as a pharmacy technician supervisor. As a pharmacy technician in a hospital setting, she has seen tech roles grow and change. "I'm looking forward to gaining more technical knowledge and understanding of our team and IH's processes. There is so much to learn!" In 2018, Tara was asked to join the Next Generation Clinical Leadership Cohort. The year-long, in-person and online course was transformational and thought provoking. "I met an amazing group of ladies and gents and learned so much about the many different nursing roles in IH. I feel pride when I see technicians change roles, move to other locations and take on projects--all to improve their skill set or expand their scope." Tara looks forward to the new build and upgrades to sterile compounding in the EKRH pharmacy. These upgrades will help pharmacy staff produce the best product for patients and create a safer environment for IH staff. Photo captions: Above left: Tara pauses during her work day in the EKRH pharmacy. Above right: Tara and her dog spend their free time walking and hiking. "I am owned by a five-year-old Goldendoodle named Perci; we enjoy spending time together outdoors. The beauty of the East Kootenays is not be taken for granted!" Tara's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “Cathy Hanson has been a great resource for us! She is a regulated pharmacy tech based out of Greenwood, B.C. Over the past year, she has been doing remote order entry for EKRH, Elk Valley Hospital (EVH) and Creston Valley Hospital (CVH). Cathy has also worked for multiple other sites across IH. Her professionalism and work ethic are very strong. For example, when all internet access was dropped in Greenwood for several days due to wildfires, Cathy arranged to have a space at KGH and travelled on her own to complete her shift. I wasn’t aware of any of the challenges until she mentioned it later that day!" - Tara Lecavalier Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority