The KBRH pharmacy team (left to right): Carrie St.Onge, Gabrielle Deneault, Shelby Jorgensen, Amanda Cupello, Sheri Ford, Victor Ponte, Michael Conci, Alana Minty, Karly Lenardon, Margaret Horechka and Pam Caron. As a student in UBC’s pharmacy program more than 20 years ago, Michael Conci worked at Vancouver General Hospital as a student pharmacy technician. It was his first experience working in a health-care facility and it struck a chord, igniting a passion for working in a hospital setting. Having gown up in Rossland and with a love for the outdoors, Michael knew he wanted to return to the Kootenays after completing his schooling. As luck would have it, the hospital in Trail was hiring when he completed his degree, and he joined the pharmacy team at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) in 2001. “I had gotten my dream job in an area where I loved to grow up and wanted to eventually raise a family,” says Michael, looking back on a long career that has grown along with his family, and the pharmacy that has become like a second home. “Trail is now home for my wife Amy (a Registered Nurse at KBRH), our three daughters and our chocolate Lab.” With everything expanding in his life, it’s fitting that now the KBRH pharmacy will also expand to fit the needs of a department whose staff has doubled since Michael joined it. The pharmacy expansion and renovation is part of the ongoing redevelopment at KBRH with a $57.8-million dollar investment in two different capital projects. A new emergency department opened at KBRH last fall, and construction is now underway on a new ambulatory care unit and the pharmacy renovation. The current project also includes enhancements to KBRH’s oncology unit, cast clinic, physiotherapy department and medical records area. In the pharmacy, the footprint will increase significantly, allowing more space for the talented team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to work and ensure the “right medication gets to the right patient at the right time,” a mantra that the KBRH pharmacy team lives by. Increased space means quieter places for the pharmacy team to work. Other pharmacy enhancements include new private space for patient counselling, industry-standard intravenous compounding suites and safe storage rooms. The pharmacy team may be unseen by patients, but they will be working in a modern setting with upgraded technology to help support patient care. Pharmacists assist in developing a medication therapy plan for patients before pharmacy technicians work out a distribution plan so nurses can administer the proper medication. It’s a complex process with the safe distribution of medication the top priority.   The hospital pharmacy also distributes medication to outpatients in the community including to all oncology patients. Providing medications to patients allows them to recover at home and those arriving to pick up medications will be able to do so and talk with their pharmacist in a new private consultation area, once the project is complete. For Michael Conci, the enhanced pharmacy will help support the great work that already occurs every day, supporting people’s health. “I’m looking forward to having a space that helps our team fulfill its duties in a safe and effective manner,” he says. “Patients don’t often see the pharmacy team that is working hard to meet our vision of ‘caring for every patient through appropriate, timely and safe medication management.” The project will complete in 2023. Pharmacy facts: • March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month, and the Canadian Pharmacists Association is celebrating the work of 42,500 pharmacists across Canada. Take a few minutes to learn more about what your pharmacist can do for you at rethinkpharmacists.ca. • Along with KBRH, Interior Health has pharmacy renovation projects ongoing at hospital pharmacies at East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook, Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson, Shuswap Lake General Hospital in Salmon Arm, Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and Penticton Regional Hospital.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Penny Liao-Lussier Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre Years of Service: 13 Job Title: Manager of Healthy Start Healthy Schools (Maternal Child & Youth Health Program), Population Health Services "Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others"- John Maxwell Caring, kind, compassionate, and authentic are just a few words Penny's co-workers would use to describe her. As a leader, Penny has the rare ability to lead with both her head and her heart. You can see Penny's passion for helping others as she advocates for the clients her programs serve as well as the staff working under her. As the Manager of Healthy Start Healthy Schools of Population Health Services for the past five years at the Kelowna Community Health Centre, and over 13 years at IH, she has positively impacted the lives of so many and brought valuable knowledge to those around her. Penny's leadership style of collaboration creates a positive teamwork dynamic that makes people feel valued and respected. Leading by example, she encourages others to show up authentically, practice empathy, and advocate for those they serve. Her unwavering commitment to all children, especially the vulnerable, is evident in all of her work. Inspired by her team, she expresses her gratitude for the privilege to work with a group of passionate and motivated nurses and administrative staff who are dedicated to achieving a vision while fulfilling a purpose to advocate for, support, and empower the maternal child and youth population. One of Penny's proudest moments at Interior Health was working on the pilot program for the high- and low-acuity patient transport communication centre in British Columbia. As the former manager, Penny showed 'proof of concept' and a operational strategy to ensure patient care and efficient transport services across Interior Health while simultaneously recruiting, training and leading a newly formed multi-disciplinary health-care team to run the Patient Transport Office. She was recognized in 2010 for all of her hard work with the IH Award of Excellence in "Ensuring Sustainable, Affordable Health Care" for the Patient Transport Office. Thank you for all that you do, Penny! Born in Kowloon, Hong Kong, shortly thereafter her family immigrated to Burnaby, where she was raised. At a young age, Penny knew she wanted to pursue the nursing profession. She was inspired by the opportunity to help others holistically by caring for the whole person, including their physical, intellectual and social needs. In her role, she feels a sense of pride and reward as she is able to plan strategically to make a positive impactful difference in the lives of the maternal-child and youth population. Relocating from Burnaby in 2008 to the interior with her husband, they are currently raising two beautiful little girls, Tianna, age 5, and Izabella, age 2. When Penny isn't working, you can find her playing co-ed recreational volleyball, shopping, or exploring the beautiful outdoors hiking with her family. She is looking forward to a future where her family can travel to experience different cultures, history, architecture, and languages from other parts of the world. She is dreaming of the huge smiles and loud squeals of excitement from her little girls as they experience Disney World at Christmas for the first time. Always up for an experience, when Penny was six months pregnant they temporarily moved out of their home for three months while they filmed the reality TV show, Love It or List It, Vancouver on the HGTV Network. The surreal experience concluded with the big reveal, moving back into their home, and 11 days later, welcoming their daughter, Izabella, to the world. Watch their big reveal here. Fans loved them so much they were cast again to film a Shaw Cable Blue Curve Internet Campaign as a follow up to Love It or List It, Vancouver.   Penny and Robert on the set of Love It or List It Vancouver with Co-Host, Jillian Harris Penny's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: "I would like to nominate the Healthy Start Healthy Schools Team, Population Health Services, CMHO portfolio as this is a small team of nine (nurses and admin staff) who are the epitome of 'unsung heroes' in the organization. They do not receive the high profile, attention, and recognition like other programs in IH despite having been redeployed to other programs (due to their expertise and skills as Population Health specialists and administration) to support the COVID-19 pandemic response. "Throughout the pandemic, the Healthy Start Healthy Schools Team has continued to develop policy and guidelines to help inform public health nursing practice, created new communication mechanisms for external partners from the education sector to receive timely support and direction for their schools, and enhanced clinical support and services for newly parenting families and the most vulnerable, socioeconomically disadvantaged families in the region." - Penny Liao-Lussier   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority   Explore a Career at IH    

Delirium is increasingly common as you get older, and occurs more often than most people believe. In fact, among older people, delirium affects approximately 50 per cent of those admitted to hospital, and more than 80 per cent of those in intensive care. Between 15-70 per cent of individuals living in long-term care homes are also affected. Delirium is considered by many experts to be a medical emergency. It is signalled by a rapid change in brain function, which primarily affects the ability to focus attention. It can fluctuate over the course of a day, with periods of lucidity followed by increased confusion. Because individuals may exhibit signs of acute confusion, unusual behaviours and forgetfulness, the disorder is often mistaken as dementia. However, the conditions are fundamentally different. “If an individual’s behaviour has changed and they seem confused, some people initially suspect dementia. However, if symptoms seem to change suddenly during the day but they have periods where they are still behaving as they normally do, you should speak to a medical expert about the possibility of delirium," says Mary Kjorven, a clinical nurse specialist with Interior Health. "Medical professionals are trained to ask a series of screening questions that evaluate an individual’s risk of delirium.” Mary says the overall impacts of delirium can include: Increased mortality Increased dependency Increased functional impairment (short and long term) Increased rates of admission to long-term care homes Longer lengths of stay in hospital It's important to know that delirium is preventable and treatable by addressing the underlying cause. There are several common causes for delirium. These may include sleep deprivation, dehydration, mixing medications, and bowel and bladder issues including constipation. Here are some tips for avoiding delirium: Take care of yourself with proper eating, sleeping, hydration, and physical activity. Ensure your mind stays healthy and active, too, with regular socializing and other activities to stimulate the brain. Check to ensure your eye glasses and hearing aids are working properly, so you are seeing and hearing effectively.  For more information, visit icudelirium.org.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Shaylee Peterson Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops Years of Service: 4 Job Title: Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Cardiology Quote: "If you're not a little uncomfortable, you're not learning. Getting outside your comfort zone is how you grow." Passionate about teaching others and sharing her love of learning, is just one of the many reasons Shaylee excels in her role as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Cardiology at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. Recognized as Preceptor of the Year by Interior Health Pharmacy Residency Program in 2019, Shaylee has influenced the lives of many and brought instrumental value to our organization. You can see the genuine care Shaylee has for her colleagues, students, mentors, friends, and family through her actions, as she routinely goes out of her way to help others. In recognition of Pharmacy Appreciation Month, we want to extend our gratitude to all of the incredible pharmacists at Interior Health. Shining a spotlight on all things pharmacy, the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacy has moved from ‘awareness’ to ‘appreciation’ this March to better reflect and celebrate the extraordinary role the hospital pharmacy team plays in health care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to celebrate and recognize the integral role that our hospital pharmacy teams provide in their continuous delivery of care. They have shown to be flexible, delivered on best practices, and put in countless hours in the face of adversity. Working collaboratively on an interdisciplinary team, their success is founded on mutual respect for each other's expertise. Always striving to improve the quality of care provided by Interior Health, Shaylee takes every opportunity to conduct research and bring new ideas to the table. Her enthusiastic personality helps motivate those around her and with her natural leadership abilities; she makes a positive impact daily. Raised in Kelowna, Shaylee grew up exploring the outdoors and living an active lifestyle. She continues to explore the mountains year-round, whether on foot, on skis, or on her mountain bike. Enthusiastic about yoga she has taken her love to the next level, practicing acro-yoga on the beaches in Kamloops. When she isn't exploring the outdoors she can be found playing the flute alongside the Thompson Valley Orchestra. With the Royal Inland Hospital's expansion project underway, including a new patient care tower and the latest technology integrated throughout the hospital, there are many exciting opportunities ahead.   Shaylee's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: Name: Elizabeth (Liz) Edwards, Clinical Pharmacist, Kootenay Lake Hospital "Liz was one of my preceptors and mentors during my residency. She inspired me with the strong relationships and trust she developed with her colleagues and patients. She is an incredible pharmacist who excels in the workplace but also has a great work-life balance. She continues to inspire residents and students every year and shows them that you don’t have to work in a big center to have a huge impact on patient care." - Shaylee Peterson For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Stay updated with careers at Interior Health @IHJobs  |   @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   @InteriorHealthAuthority

  We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Dr. Elizabeth Parfitt Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops Years of Service: 7 Job Title: Infectious Diseases Physician and Site Medical Director Quote: "Relationships are the foundation of everything we do - nurture them." When you meet Dr. Parfitt you can't help but smile. Her genuine passion for medicine and helping others radiates through her conversations. Finding her specialty of infectious diseases fascinating and intellectually stimulating, the past year amidst the pandemic she has brought a wealth of knowledge to Interior Health. Stepping up to help navigate new guidelines and protocols throughout the hospital, she also shared her knowledge with her community to keep everyone informed and safe.  Inspired by her team, the patients they serve, and the community they live in, she goes above and beyond her duty as a physician to give back to those around her. Proud to be a part of a team that values patient-centered culture, there are many moments that bring a smile to her face. When nursing staff highlights the humanity in a difficult situation and provides individualized care for unique circumstances, for example, playing recognizable music for a person with dementia and seeing them light up as they quietly listen. It's moments like these that are so memorable. Growing up in British Columbia in both Cranbrook and Vernon, she has always been passionate about exploring the outdoors and being in nature. Sharing the love of adventure with her husband, Dr. Paul Campsall, an ICU doctor at Royal Inland Hospital, and her two kids, they relocated to Kamloops from Calgary in 2015 to raise their family in the tight-knit community of Kamloops.  When Dr. Parfitt isn't working as an infectious disease physician, in her new position as medical director, or volunteering in her community, she finds joy in spending quality time with her family and friends. Taking advantage of the ski resort, Sun Peaks, in Kamloops, she shares her love of skiing with her kids. Although, it is nice to hit the slopes solo too! Dr. Parfitt skiing with her husband, Dr. Campsall, ICU Physician, Royal Inland Hospital Trained classically on the violin, she also loves creating music and jamming with a band. Looking forward to vaccines allowing us to connect with our loved ones again, hosting one of her famous dance parties is high on the list. Passionate about creating a positive impact in her community, she is proud to see the growth of Royal Inland Hospital with the ongoing expansion and medical care in Kamloops.  Thank you, Dr. Parfitt, for all that you do for Interior Health and your community. You are a trailblazer for others and have provided instrumental value to our team, especially as we navigate this pandemic. We appreciate all that you do!  Dr. Parfitt's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: Name: Dr. Gupta & Dr. Marek, Royal Inland Hospital  Message: Working alongside these inspirational women I not only have colleagues that I value but friends I get to work with. They both are truly incredible doctors and bring instrumental value to Royal Inland Hospital. Throughout the ongoing pandemic, they have brought a wealth of knowledge and helped navigate these challenging times as a team. Thank you for all that you do! Dr. Parfitt, Dr. Gupta & Dr. Marek, Infectious Disease Physicians, Royal Inland Hospital For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

Jan Brandt stopped counting at 300. That was the number of births she had participated in at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during the first few years of her nursing career. The actual number is much higher. With some 1,200 babies a year born in Kamloops, Jan’s number is in the thousands over more than 15-years in Obstetrics Services, where babies are born at RIH. These aren’t just Kamloops babies, either. RIH provides labour and birth support to families from all parts of the Thomson Cariboo Shuswap region, from Merritt to Clearwater to Chase and beyond. “It’s just been fabulous to be a part of so many births,” says Jan. “We are so excited for the changes that are coming to the Obstetrics Services when the new tower opens.” In the summer of 2022, Jan and her colleagues in labour and delivery, post-partum and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), will find themselves in a new home where they can continue to help so many families at one of the most important times of their lives. The arrival of the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at RIH in mid-2022 will bring plenty of change to the RIH campus. At nine storeys tall, it will become the focal point of the hospital, with a new main entrance, large family gathering space, patient registration, and clinical care areas throughout. On the tower’s third floor you’ll find the new home of RIH Obstetrics Services. Here, new parents will welcome babies into the world, in a bright and spacious area with lots of natural light and plenty of room for families to gather. “It’s definitely going to enhance the family-centred care that we provide when we move into the new tower,” says Jan. “Family-centred care is about keeping families together as much as possible. The new patient rooms will be bigger to help accommodate families. It’s going to be brighter and comfier and will improve moms and new babies’ journey in our hospital.” The new department will bring all of the Obstetrics Services closer together in one cohesive department, designed with parents’ needs in mind as well as for the best flow for both patients and health-care providers. The rooms will be large and spacious and include a shower or a tub. Bathrooms will feature sliding “barn” doors, something Jan had requested during the staff input into design of the tower. “I think the design was a great process,” she says. “It involved the front-line staff, the leadership, the patient care coordinator, physicians, midwives….we all got to provide input into the design of the rooms and how things will flow and best benefit the patients.” Obstetrical physician Dr. Hilary Baikie is a regular face in RIH Obstetrics Services, having worked in Kamloops for almost 10 years. She says employees and physicians working in the unit are like an extended family themselves. Having a new department coming online is exciting, something to match the skill of the extended Obstetrics team. “It is an exciting time for obstetrical providers to have the opportunity to practice in a state-of-the-art facility,” says Dr. Baikie. “We view ourselves as an obstetrical family: Physicians, midwives, family doctors, nurses and all allied health professionals. We work closely together as a team, so to have a unit to reflect the impeccable care that we deliver here at RIH will be very rewarding.” Along with the new Obstetric Services department, the RIH Patient Care Tower will feature single-patient rooms equipped with their own washrooms, new operating rooms, a mental health and substance use unit, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a new main entrance, atrium, patient registration area, a roof-top helipad and more. Construction began in the fall of 2018 and the tower will open to patients in the summer of 2022.  

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Rikki Barden  Worksite: Supervised Consumption Site, Kamloops Years of Service: 3.5 Job Title: Social Worker "You don't know what you don't know, is a quote I find myself saying a lot. I have no problem acknowledging that even though I can be looked at as the all-knowing professional who should have all the answers and cures for people's problems, I do not. And that's ok. It creates an opportunity to learn something new either by myself or with my clients. I think that being honest about the extent of my knowledge can create opportunities for clients to take on the teaching role and be the experts in something, which is invaluable when building and maintaining relationships. ” -Rikki Barden, Social Worker, Kamloops Rikki's optimistic outlook, easy-going personality, and welcoming nature puts smiles on the faces of those around him. His infectious energy seeps through the worksite creating a positive environment and a safe place for people to come together. As a Social Worker for Interior Health at a Safe Consumption Site in Kamloops, Rikki feels grateful to have what he describes as the best job he could ask for. Supported by his incredible coworkers and community, he builds relationships every day that are meaningful and inspirational. Social Workers are an integral part of our health-care system providing essential services. To help us celebrate the essential service of Social Workers, Rikki has graciously shared his journey as a Social Worker at Interior Health. Breaking down barriers and stigma for stereotypical views of drug users, he works to support and educate others. Rikki is the first to lend a helping hand and support someone in need. Feeling a sense of pride and satisfaction guiding people through systems that can be overwhelming, he feels privileged to earn their trust and hear their stories. Seeing the ripple effect of each positive change in someone's life is very rewarding, especially to know that future generations will be positively impacted. One of his proudest moments at Interior Health is one that brings a smile to his face reading the precious words written by a client's mother. "He was very encouraged and deeply grateful to find his illness so accurately represented. The last write-up on the report brought us both to tears. Thank you for being the caring human being that you are, people like you are so rare. So rare that if you were a butterfly we would have you nicely framed." Born and raised in Leigh-On-Sea, Essex, England, his family relocated continents to Kamloops, where he has lived most of his life and where he is currently raising his own family. Outside of work, you can find Rikki with his pride and joy, his partner Krissy, and his little girl, Ripley. They love to spend most of their time together playing outside kayaking in the summer, or inside playing video games and enjoying a movie, preferably one with Hugh Grant in it. He is looking forward to a time where you can be closer than six feet with family and friends, playing softball, frisbee golf, and just simply enjoying the beautiful outdoors together. In his line of social work, he is hopeful for a future where a safe supply is readily available and accessible. Thank you, Rikki, for all that you do! We appreciate you.  Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Gaudenza Ramunno, Nurse, Kamloops Message: Guadenza is amazing. She went back to school in her 40s, after raising four kids. She became a nurse and spent many years with public health as a street nurse. She has pioneered many start-up programs and has been the main fixture on the Kamloops Safe Consumption Site for almost five years. She was awarded Kamloops's mentor of the year and is many people's first call when looking to access flexible, primary nursing care. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Stay updated with careers at Interior Health  @IHJobs  |   @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   @InteriorHealthAuthority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Kara Hannigan Job Title: Human Resources Business Partner Years of Service: 12.5 Worksite: Kiro Wellness Centre Favourite Quote: “For what it’s worth: it’s never too late, or in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the courage to start all over again.” - F. Scott Fitzgerald With an honest heart, a creative mind, and quick wit, Kara brings instrumental value to her role at Interior Health, as a Human Resources Business Partner. Over her 12+ years of service, she has created positive change, brought creative ideas to life, and impacted the health and wellness of many. Passionate about bringing people together and promoting a healthy and safe work environment for the collective, she has been part of the driving force behind Pink Shirt Day at Interior Health, especially at her worksite at Kiro Wellness Centre in Trail. "Pink Shirt Day embodies our commitment to a workplace that is free of discrimination and harassment as outlined in our AU1000 policy. It is everyone’s responsibility both personally and professionally to stand up against harmful behaviour & to recognize the many forms of bullying, address concerns and strategize solutions with kindness." -Kara Hannigan, Human Resource Business Partner, Trail Eager to be part of the change, Kara understands the importance of being actively involved in the work. Her sense of pride comes from being part of the Employee and Labour Relations team that works to educate managers and staff on Interior Health's internal process to proactively equip them with the tools and resources to positively influence the workplace.  Kara's cupcakes from Pink Shirt Day in 2013 This year for Pink Shirt Day, the theme is to "lift each other up" and support programs that encourage healthy self-esteem and teach empathy, compassion, and kindness. Bringing people together is even more important than ever before in light of the pandemic. Although this year Kara's colleagues, friends, and family won't be able to enjoy her delicious cupcakes, they will continue to show their support.Kara's enthusiasm and efforts year and after year to rally the site and the broader team will continue to generate greater participation and impactful change. Born and raised on the ancestral Ktunaxa territory (Trail, BC), Kara was excited to raise her family with her husband, Karl, in the same tight-knit and loving community she was raised in. She was eager to pursue her education and graduated from the Univesity of Lethbridge with a degree in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations. Her education, experience, and enthusiasm has propelled her career forward at Interior Health. While raising her three incredible children, Keltie, Kalen, and Kase, she has achieved amazing feats in both her personal and professional life. Undoubtedly, she has put her heart into her work and it shows. In 2015, BC Health Care Awards recognized her efforts in supporting the placement of differently-abled employees, as part of a Duty-to-Accommodate pilot project.   When Kara isn't working in the office or at home, she is spending time exploring the beautiful outdoors. As an avid cross-fitter and wanna-be runner. During the summer months, you can find her camping with family, exploring scenery with her dog, Leo, and her three children. Living the four-season lifestyle that the Kootenay winters offers, she spends time skiing, both cross-country and downhill, taking in the picturesque views from the mountain top. Passionate about exploring and watching her kids grow and learn, she is most happy exploring alongside them seeing life through their eyes. Thank you for all that you do, Kara! We appreciate you very much. Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Tamara Roscoe Message: Tamara is an amazing nurse who will go the extra mile to ensure your experience is a positive one! She is thorough and thoughtful, compassionate and kind. Our very own superhero, here in Trail! Too often we underestimate the power of a smile, kind words, or a listening ear but it comes so naturally to Tamara; she's pure magic! For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. 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: Dr. Josef Owega Worksite: 100 Mile House Hospital Years of Service: 14 Job Title: Physician, Chief of Staff Quote: "Don't jump to conclusions. We are in this together. Be kind." A true believer in helping others and spreading kindness, Dr. Owega continues to bring these practices into his work at Interior Health as Chief of Staff at 100 Mile House Hospital. As a rural doctor, he thrives in the unpredictability of the emergency department with the opportunity to make a big difference in someone's life when they are at their most vulnerable. With a wealth of knowledge and experience spanning decades, he has continued to lead his team as the Chief of Staff through the ongoing pandemic to support their surrounding communities. Choosing to focus on the silver linings of difficult situations, Dr. Owega is proud of how his community has supported each other in the face of the pandemic. These changes have allowed people to grow and find innovative approaches, including working from home, creating new businesses, and expanding the reach of telehealth. His presence inspires those around him as he encourages everyone to do their best, think about others and protect those that we know and love. CMAT team in Haiti after the earthquake in 2010 Dr. Owega's experience navigating uncertain times was extremely valuable as he stepped up to the position of Chief of Staff to lead his community through the wildfires in 2017. Bringing his community together to support one another was crucial in these life-changing moments. As a physician and member of his community, he continues to play a crucial role in helping improve the lives of those around him. Born in Austria, his family moved to Canada when Dr. Owega was just two years old. Spending his childhood on the West Coast of Canada in the lower mainland, he was eager to choose a career path where he could help others, whether big or small. Inspired by his parents who are both physicians, he moved out east to Ontario for medical school at Queens University. After graduation, he relocated to Alberta for his residency and gained hands-on experience that would inspire him to further pursue rural medicine. His career path led him home to British Columbia where he has spent the past two decades practicing rural medicine for nine years in Elk Valley, five years in McBride, and most recently the past seven years in the Cariboo. Spanning his successful career he has brought his passion for helping others to positively impact the lives of so many. Dr. Owega is known and loved for his down-to-earth personality, kind demeanour, and helping hand in his small community. His open mind and ability to see multiple perspectives adds great value to his integral role in practicing medicine and teaching others. After a long shift in the ER, Dr. Owega switches from his scrubs to his beekeeping suit to help his beloved wife who tends full time to their bee farm. Spending most of his time outside on his own farm, hiking scenic trails, or hitting the slopes, he continues to find ways to connect with nature, his family, and his community. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Owega and his incredible wife have grown their family to include four biological children, one foster son, and their awesome adopted niece who joined their family a few short months after they said I do. His family brings him an incredible amount of pride and joy as they embark on new journeys including the online world of university.   Practicing what he preaches, he does his part in helping his neighbours in more ways than medicine. His vast knowledge and thoughtful approaches to situations allows others to feel supported in their tight-knit community. Dr. Owega shares his message to spread love and kindness throughout his community and asks that we all do the same. We are incredibly lucky to have Dr. Owega at Interior Health continuing to help others through his work.  Thank you for all that you do! Bringing Hawaii to his home to celebrate his birthday with family Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Teressa Allwood Message: The manager at 100 Mile House and a nurse extraordinaire. She thinks, gets things done, and took on evacuating the hospital during the fires three years ago. She just amazes me. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority