Name: Ryan Benson (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Improvement Consultant
Years of Service: 14
Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre
Community: Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: Syilx
Advice to live by: “Life is short – use the good china.” - Unknown
As an Improvement Consultant with Interior Health, Ryan Benson likes to bring positivity and a sense of a can-do attitude to everything she encounters in her day.
Ryan feels lucky her role allows her to work with every discipline in Interior Health, and be able to affect change and see the results in real time.
“It is really rewarding and fulfilling to know that I am making a difference.”
Receiving her certification as Lean Implementation Specialist is one of the highlights of Ryan’s career so far at IH. Lean is a mindset of continuous improvement. It’s a systemic approach to identifying and eliminating waste or non-value-added activities to provide the best possible services for people and their families.
Ryan after earning her certification as Lean Implementation Specialist
One of Ryan’s coworkers said it best:
"I call [Ryan] a magician because she truly has every trick up her sleeve to get a job done. If she doesn't know something, you can bet she knows who does. She has an infectious sense of humour and when you're in her presence, you can guarantee you'll have a great laugh and still get your work done. I've watched her grow over the years and there is no limit to what she can do."
Ryan recently expanded her hobbies by taking up guitar lessons. In her free time, she also enjoys camping with her family, cooking and travelling to new locations. In fact, once pandemic restrictions ease further, Ryan is hoping to travel to Barkerville during the summer to learn more about B.C.’s diverse history.
Ryan visiting the Icefields Parkway in Alberta with her son, Zac
Ryan nominates Kelly Catherwood, Improvement Consultant to keep We Are IH going:
“Kelly goes above and beyond on a daily basis. She was key in implementing drinkingwaterforeveryone.ca, where people can go and look up any water advisories for the Interior Health region. She also coordinated mobile vaccination clinics in the South Okanagan region.” – Ryan Benson
Renowned Métis artist Johnny Mukwa’s donation of two art pieces to Kootenay Lake Hospital comes from a deeply personal place.
/stories/new-indigenous-artwork-welcome-addition-klhs-oncology-department
We’re honoured to announce that IH has been recognized as one of BC’s Top Employers, a distinction that celebrates organizations across the province.
/stories/interior-health-recognized-one-bcs-top-employers-2026
Tanis loves bringing people together in meaningful ways. She helps others use their skills, time and compassion to make a positive difference.
/stories/we-are-ih-volunteer-coordinator-builds-relationships-community
At IH, there’s an opportunity for medical staff to advance their careers through the NAVIG8 Emerging Medical Leaders Program.
/stories/how-interior-health-building-community-medical-leaders
Health Sciences Academy is a unique program that gives students an up-close look at health-care careers and an opportunity to learn from professionals.
/stories/kamloops-student-health-care-program-celebrates-milestone
In the early years of life, particularly from birth to five years old, a child’s social and emotional development is just as vital as their physical growth.
/stories/feelings-first-program-helps-parents-raise-healthy-children
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