We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Brianna Hawkins Worksite: Rocky Mountain Lodge, Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah) / Kootenay Ktunaxa Years of Service: 6 Job Title: Registered Dietitian Growing up in Kitimat, a small town in northern British Columbia, Brianna was motivated to pursue a career in health care from a young age. She found herself immersed in health care throughout her childhood, encouraged by her father's love for his career as a Lab Tech. Through her love of cooking, nutrition, and sciences, Brianna found her niche as a dietitian. Eager for new experiences and furthering her education, Brianna spread her wings to another province and enrolled in the Registered Dietitian program at the University of Alberta. Inspired by her preceptors to relocate outside of Calgary after completing her internship in 2014, Brianna knew she wanted to move back to beautiful British Columbia. With only three suitcases in tow, she moved to Cranbrook. The plan was to only stay a year, but during that time, the Kootenays captured her heart and she is here to stay, luckily for us! In her current role as a Dietitian at Rocky Mountain Lodge, Brianna loves working in both renal and acute care, making each day different and exciting. As part of the amazing renal team, she enjoys working with patients over months, or even years to experience real change and possibly delay dialysis. It’s moments like these that help her realize she is making a difference in the lives of others. “I love the challenge of working in acute care, using a different set of skills and the fact every day is so different. I have an amazing dietitian co-worker who I learn from every day” - Brianna Hawkins A dietitian's major role is to help patients adapt to the dialysis diet so they can enjoy some of their favourite foods while still being aware of dietary recommendations. The dialysis diet can be restrictive and very challenging for patients to navigate. Having the support of a knowledgeable dietitian is crucial to help manage a chronic condition. “I love being able to talk to patients about food and seeing the joy in their eyes when they can have their favourite Christmas dish or enjoy something special for their birthday.” - Brianna Hawkins A traveler at heart, Brianna is patiently waiting until she can explore new places again. First stop, Germany, followed by Peru and then Australia. In the meantime, she will continue to dream of planning her wedding in Hawaii! Luckily during these times, Brianna can continue to be out hiking, running, and exploring the beautiful outdoors. As an avid chef, she spends a lot of time cooking delicious meals and trying new recipes. Thank you for all that you do, Brianna! Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Georgi Winger  Message: As a Chronic Kidney Disease Nurse, she does an amazing job keeping track of all our patients, managing an ever-increasing load, and is always there is talk! I couldn’t do my job without her! For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

When people feel comfortable in a space, they are more likely to visit. With this in mind, the Aboriginal Mental Wellness team has been looking at ways to make spaces that provide mental health and substance use services more welcoming and culturally safe. Conversations with Aboriginal partners, clients, families, and care providers have shown us there are a number of ways we can create welcoming spaces and improve the quality of care for Aboriginal people.   Physically welcoming spaces Warm lighting (less use of fluorescent) Comfortable seating Private spaces (especially when located with other services) Using natural elements to soften spaces The need for spaces to be seen as healing rather than medical or clinical Having a recognized space for cultural/ traditional practices   Emotionally welcoming spaces Welcome signs, general signage, and waiting room resources in the language(s) of the Aboriginal people in the area Acknowledgement of the traditional territory of the local First Nations Acknowledgement of Métis and Inuit peoples accessing the space Aboriginal clients and families able to see themselves and their Nations represented in the environment through art and other culturally relevant items A map of the area showing First Nations and Métis Nation BC Chartered Communities A friendly reception and help finding your way   Welcoming spaces that recognize our relationship with Aboriginal people Spaces should reflect the holistic Aboriginal worldview Art and knowledge on the walls that represents the distinct Aboriginal communities in area Show the interconnected nature of Aboriginal cultures Post the official commitments made to Aboriginal partners Prior to deciding where to locate services, be conscious of associations Aboriginal people may have with other organizations in the building   Spiritually welcoming spaces Provide opportunities for clients and families to practice cultural ceremonies Hosting culturally safe ceremonies, circles, and land-based teachings with Aboriginal partners Access to traditional healers and elders Access to sacred spaces   All Interior Health staff receive cultural safety training which includes education about the history of colonization in Canada and the negative impact this history has on the health and wellness of Aboriginal peoples. For community health facilitator Cathy Collinge, this training led to a curiosity about how she could make her workplace (Lansdowne Centre in Kamloops) culturally safe and welcoming. Cathy and her colleagues started by creating an advisory committee with the support of their Aboriginal mental wellness team. They invited members of the Secwépemc Nation, surrounding Nations, people accessing services at Lansdowne Centre, Elders and Knowledge Keepers to join. Since its inception, the committee has made a number of recommendations for creating welcoming and safe spaces and services. Many of their recommendations have been implemented through a grant received from the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation. A mural was completed at Community MHSU Lansdowne Centre in November. Spelq̓wéqs Pronounced “spell-kwaks”, Spelq̓wéqs is the Secwepemctsin name for turtle “For me, turtles represent longevity, patience, nurturing, and wisdom,” says artist Chris Bose. “In this mural, I have the mother turtle swimming with two baby turtles through an ocean of life and hope and promise." The work to create welcoming spaces continues to evolve. The advisory committee recently recommended surveying Kamloops staff and physicians working in mental health and substance use to determine areas of interest for learning. Learning about Aboriginal cultures and reflecting those learnings in the places where care is offered can create positive change. “Culture is healing and an integral part of our health and well-being,” says Métis Elder Gwen Campbell McArthur, Kamloops advisory committee member. “The mental health professional has a degree, but that does not make them the expert, in fact, the person seeking treatment is the expert on themselves. When someone seeks services, they do not come alone. They come as part of a family, a community and indeed a nation.”   Are you interested in learning more? Check out the Interior Voices podcast.  

Hospitals across B.C. are displaying white trees this year. On them, you'll see ornaments and photos of people of all ages. These ornaments might remind you of your own family mementos. The difference is the people in these photos are no longer with us. Their lives were lost to overdose.   Moms Stop the Harm is a networking group of people who want to raise awareness and stop overdose deaths. Member Jill Marten's son Daniel is pictured above. "I think the ornament that shows him as a child is very powerful, with him holding his I want to be a Fireman book," says Jill. "I want to remind people that no one grows up wanting to use substances". One of the topics the group advocates for is an end to the stigma associated with drug use. Treating people who use substances with respect has been shown to improve health outcomes and save lives. To learn more about the role of stigma in overdose and how you can make a difference, read Rachel's story. The trees will be on display in many B.C. hospitals during the holidays. "It has been a beautiful labour of love," says Jill.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Lauren Hristoski Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre  Years of Service: 5 Job Title: Manager of Career Marketing, Human Resources Lauren radiates the workplace with positive energy as her welcoming demeanour makes people feel supported. As a hard worker who is determined to make impactful change, she has paved her own career path at Interior Health. Working in Human Resources for many years, Lauren has been given the opportunity to grow career marketing initiatives through a newly developed department, Career Marketing. Lauren brings crucial knowledge of Interior Health and career marketing to her new role that provides instrumental value to the organization. Over the past year, the team has grown significantly to provide marketing support to employee and medical staff recruitment, employee experience, and recently the pandemic response. As an adaptable and innovative individual, Lauren has led work throughout the pandemic to ensure her team has had a smooth transition to a virtual work environment. Lauren’s love of people and passion for uplifting people has supported the growth of employee initiatives including We Are IH. Her commitment to sharing authentic stories, promoting Interior Health as an employer, and showcasing diversity and inclusion has significantly assisted in sharing our brand story. With Lauren’s out-of-the-box creative thinking, she showcased our award of becoming a B.C. Top 100 Employer by creating a video of our people to celebrate our story. Lauren feels so fortunate to be part of supportive teams that work collaboratively together to achieve their goals. Born in Edmonton, Lauren grew up very close with her family including her parents, sister, and brother. Graduating from French immersion high school with a bilingual degree, she furthered her passion for health by graduating with a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary. After living most of her life in Calgary, Lauren relocated her family to the Okanagan to live an exciting and active four-season lifestyle. In the summer you can find Lauren and her family standup paddleboarding, hiking, biking, playing games, and exploring all there is to offer in beautiful British Columbia. Over the winter season, she spends her time with her family up at Big White hitting the slopes and sipping on hot cocoa. Lauren’s two little girls also possess her bright smile, kind demeanour, intelligence, and adventurous spirit. As food lovers, her kids are often sous chefs in the kitchen and share Lauren’s passion for experiencing delicious food and cuisines. Lauren is looking forward to travelling again and being able to experience more of the world through her daughters' eyes. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Lauren's nomination of Jenn Goodwin keeps the We Are IH loop going: As a leader in the organization, Jenn is always looking for opportunities to grow and support teams. She always has a smile on her face walking down the hall and takes time to say "Hello" and ask simple questions that brightens your day.  

It's no secret that the pandemic has taken a big toll on the morale of health-care workers. During the early weeks of COVID-19, staff and physicians at Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson were really feeling the pressure of the changes to their daily practice. The usually friendly and cooperative team was dealing with a sense of fear and uncertainty about what lay ahead. During an online education session designed to support physicians, Dr. Linda Johannson, an emergency physician at the hospital started to explore the topic of how anxiety and fearful attitudes at work can be contagious. The group also discussed how the reverse is also true, and positive attitudes can be contagious. After all, it only takes one person to get things started. That’s when the idea for “Love is also contagious” was born. "I approached Marian Lowe, a gifted graphic designer and friend, and asked her to take a cartoon coronavirus image and morph it into a heart, for a more friendly virus image than the scary ones all over the news and our internal communication," says Dr. Johannson. "It's a visual cue to everyone who works here, that we can have a positive influence on those around us." To help spread the visual reminder, stickers and buttons were created, along with a downloadable window sign. “When I have time at night or in the early morning, I’ll fill up a little bag with pins and stickers and go around the hospital to “spread love.” People seem to really appreciate the message and the visual reminders to take a minute and reset if they are getting stressed on a shift.”

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Hilary Beck Worksite: Polson Annex, Vernon, B.C. Years of Service: 1 Job Title: Occupational Health Nurse As an Occupational Health Nurse at Interior Health, Hilary Beck brings to the unique position a wealth of knowledge from her two degrees, two certifications and her extensive work experience of over 20 years in the health field. Born in Vernon on the Syilx Nation/Okanagan territory, Hilary has recently returned home closer to her family in Vernon after living in Calgary, Alta., for the past 20 years. We are so fortunate that Hilary has chosen Interior Health to further her career. With a desire to start a career where she could make a difference in people's lives, Hilary moved to Vancouver and enrolled in her first degree, a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University. Since graduating in 1997, Hilary’s passion for continuous learning has led her to become a perpetual student. As someone who loves school and is always looking for a new challenge, she enrolled in her Masters of Nursing at Athabasca University, where she will graduate in 2022 with even more knowledge to open doors and opportunities at Interior Health. Hilary’s passion to further her education continued as she received her Advanced Certificate in Athletic Therapy from Mount Royal University in 2000. She landed a job as an athletic therapist with the Men's National Disabled Standing and Sitting Volleyball teams, where she was able to see the world as she worked and travelled with them for 10 years. A highlight was the Standing Team winning the World Championships and the World Cup for three consecutive years from 2004-2006. In 2011, Hilary was granted the opportunity to be part of the delegation that attended the Para Pan Am Games in Guadalajara, working with para athletes from other sports. These were truly amazing experiences that Hilary cherishes. When she wasn’t tending to the team or working her full time jobs, she was likely found at the hockey arena, working as an athletic therapist for junior hockey in Alberta. As a former athlete in many sports, primarily volleyball and soccer, Hilary was able to relate to her clients and provide a beneficial perspective. Her own injuries forced her to retire from those activities as she had a high tibial osteotomy. She now spends her time cycling, fishing or at her summer cabin on Okanagan Lake. Working one-on-one helping athletes inspired Hilary to further her education with an additional degree in nursing, where she could apply her education to helping others even more. After graduating from the University of Calgary with her Bachelor of Nursing in 2011, she decided to add another certification to her resume. Shortly thereafter, she obtained her Certificate in Occupational Health Nursing from Grant MacEwan University in 2015. The combination of her exceptional work experience and advanced education has played a vital role in her successful career where she has bettered the lives of so many. Hilary Beck's graduation from University of Calgary As a Vancouver Canucks fan, it’s been a bit challenging living in Calgary for the past 20 years surrounded by Calgary Flames fans. Hilary is grateful to be back in Vernon closer to her family, especially her two nieces and of course her fellow Canucks fans. When it’s safe to do so, Hilary is excited to attend sporting events, live concerts and travel somewhere with palm trees! Thank you for all that you do, Hilary, we appreciate you very much! Arizona, U.S.A. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Hilary's nomination of Carla Davies keeps the We Are IH loop going: When I first started Carla was super helpful and very welcoming, and she has supported my transition into this role in a way, that I can not express my thanks to her enough. Carla was recently promoted to WHS Safety Advisor from a Service Partner Role, which also shows the great work she does.

Did you know that not all disAbilities are visible? Mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, are a few examples of invisible disAbilities.  Having a disAbility doesn't prevent me from going to university or competing for any type of job that I am qualified to do. Improved accessibility in the workplace gives me the freedom to live my life without stigma so I can contribute to society and support my family. But I am also aware that many other people have not shared my experience. Growing up in the era I did, people with disAbilities experienced segregation in schools, some were institutionalized, while others were prevented from having a family. I have witnessed many positive changes toward how people with disAbilities are treated and included in society. It is essential that we continue this work and focus on removing barriers for all people living with disability, both visible and invisible.  Want to learn more? Dec. 3, 2020 is the International Day of People with Disabilities.

An AIDS-free generation in B.C. is an ambitious goal, but it is also in sight. Since launching the My Health Is Sexy campaign on World AIDS Day in 2016, Interior Health’s new testing strategies have resulted in earlier diagnoses and more effective connections to health care, prolonging and improving peoples' lives; and reducing HIV transmission. As part a provincial initiative to expand access to earlier HIV testing and provide support for individuals to start and sustain HIV medication, the My Health is Sexy campaign promotes testing, engagement and treatment. And it’s working. Today, people living with HIV and receiving treatment can expect to live long, healthy lives free of symptoms. In fact, research has shown that early diagnosis of the disease in combination with antiretroviral therapy means HIV-positive people can expect to live as long as those without HIV. Further, when people are consistently taking HIV medications, their viral load drops to an undetectable level, protecting their health by preventing progression to AIDS and AIDS-related premature deaths and stopping transmission of the virus to someone else. This not only improves health outcomes, but making testing and treatment readily available to everyone also builds health equity. It reduces the stigma around HIV/AIDS, and builds dignity and respect.  To ensure people get the treatment they need, testing is essential. But access to testing can be affected by a person’s location, the amount of stigma they experience from health-care providers, and even their own fear of getting a test. That's why people living in B.C.'s interior have the option of: On Demand Testing, where people can choose to go to partner labs and request a test without a health providers’ requisition Get Checked Online, an online screening tool (delivered in partnership with the BC Center for Disease Control) that provides people with a blood requisition order they can take to any lab Testing events throughout the year A toll-free number for connection with a health outreach nurse These services work alongside access to testing through primary-care providers, clinics and hospitals. In addition access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) have been expanded, which are critical to curbing the fight against HIV/AIDS. These have led to a consistent decline in new HIV cases across B.C. In December 2018, Interior Health launched Emergency Department HIV Testing, a second key program to increase earlier diagnosis and treatment. When patients are admitted to emergency departments and require diagnostic blood work, an HIV test may be included. "I have personally treated patients who were unaware they were HIV positive and who may have never thought to get tested, that were diagnosed through testing in the emergency department.” Dr. Michael Murphy, medical coordinator for the STOP HIV/AIDS program, Interior Health Testing is just the first step in a patient’s journey of living with HIV. Once an individual is diagnosed, they can receive treatment that supports them in living long, healthy lives. As of June 2020, the number of patients who, once diagnosed, remain linked to care, which means they see a nurse of doctor regularly, is at 90 per cent; more than 80 per cent of patients are receiving care and being treated with antiretrovirals; and nearly 50 per cent of people living with HIV currently have an undetectable viral load, which means they are unable to transmit the virus. While these numbers are encouraging, the work is far from over. Through the STOP HIV/AIDS initiative, the My Health is Sexy campaign, and the ED HIV Testing program, we are working towards an end to the HIV epidemic.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Ryan Lazauskas Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre  Years of Service: 3  Job Title: Employee Relations Consultant An adventurer at heart, growing up in the beautiful community of Kelowna in the Okanagan, Ryan has explored most trails on his road bike. His passion for exploring led him to travel abroad where he backpacked his way through over a dozen countries throughout Western Europe before starting his career. Ryan traveling abroad in London, England. Motivated to grow professionally, he embarked on his Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management from Okanagan College at the Kelowna campus, where he learned valuable skills that have propelled his career forward. His work experience with non-profits and the private sector gave him the knowledge, skill set, and experience to land a job at Interior Health as a Service Partner for the Benefits Department.   Over the past three years at Interior Health, Ryan is proud of the way he has been able to learn, grow, and adapt continuously. As a motivated employee, Ryan has been rewarded for his hard work with multiple new positions. He was awarded a new position in Recruitment and then he gained experience with Labour Relations, allowing him the opportunity to take on the role as a Labour Relations Service Partner. His love for helping others shines through in his work, granting him the recent role as an Employee Relations Consultant. His passion for serving others has helped him further exceed at Interior Health. As a results-orientated individual, Ryan is focused on getting the job done in the best way possible while providing excellent service. Ryan’s hard work continued to pay off in his personal life, as he recently purchased his first home in the Central Okanagan with his girlfriend. They expanded their family with their French Bulldog, Frankie, who has quickly become the centre of their world as they adventure the outdoors together. Ryan's French Bulldog, Frankie Ryan's girlfriend and French Bulldog This year may have travel restrictions, but when it is safe Ryan will continue his goal of traveling across the incredible province of British Columbia to further explore the outdoors of what B.C. has to offer! His love for his friends and family brings him so much joy, so he is looking forward to spending more quality time with his loved ones once it’s safe to do so. A great perk of living in the beautiful Okanagan is having Big White close by! Ryan plans to spend lots of time on the slopes this winter season exploring the mountains. Thank you for all that you do, Ryan! We appreciate you very much.   Ryan Lazauskas in Switzerland Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Ryan's nomination of Katherine Semenoff keeps the We Are IH loop going: Katherine has been an amazing colleague and big support for our team. She has been with Interior Health a long time. She is dedicated, driven and always looking to help you no matter what.