We Are IH: Clinical manager self-reflects to help those in need

July 6, 2023

A 1969 photo of Barry and his family in Winfield, AB. From left to right: Brother Rick, brother Greg, Barry (in the red overalls), mom Calista, sister Maureen and dad Lowell.

Name: Barry Hengel (he/him/his)
Job Title: Manager, Clinical Operations
Years of Service: 6
Worksite: Westview Place
Community: Penticton
Ancestral Territory: Syilx
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” - Aristotle

Barry was born and raised in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Cranbrook, B.C., home to five Stanley Cup champions – as he proudly points out.

Today, Barry lives in Summerland and is also proud to be leading the clinical operations team at Westview Place long-term care. “I’m inspired by all the great people I get to work with, and the positivity they bring,” he says.

In this Story…

Learn more about his journey with IH

Barry nominates Penny Spink, care coordinator, to keep We Are IH going:

Explore Clinical Operations Careers@IH

Learn more about his journey with IH

A young child in a red toque and mittens, and blue ski jacket, stands on skis on a hill with a mountain range in the background — Barry at Kimberley’s Northstar Mountain Village Resort in 1970 when skis had bear trap bindings and were made of wood, and boots were laced up.

Barry has had many moments to celebrate since he joined Interior Health in 2017.

In early 2022, Westview Place was identified as having one of the best staff retention and recruitment rates for all of IH. “I credit the inclusive, energetic and positive team atmosphere that we’ve created here,” he says.

In 2020, his team was also recognized with an Interior Health Quality Award for increasing the efficiency of the access to and flow of the six short-stay rehabilitation beds.

Barry also highlights the success of his occupational health and safety (OSH) team. Following an intensive audit, his OSH team put together and executed a plan that helped decrease WorkSafeBC claims by more than 70 per cent between 2019 and 2021.

“In this business, you meet a lot of folks who have experienced significant trauma and/or chaotic stress. I am fortunate that I have such an amazing family who are very loving and supportive. I often reflect back on my own educated heart to help those in need resolve their stress and hopefully get to a better place – that's satisfaction defined.”

-- Barry Hengel

A whiteboard of messages around the words peace love happiness — A picture of Barry’s going away gift from staff at Mariposa Gardens in Osoyoos. Barry joined IH in 2017 as the manager of McKinney Place and Sunnybank Centre in Oliver. Peace, love and happiness are words Barry appreciates.

When Barry isn’t at work, he enjoys spending time at his family’s cottage on Kootenay Lake. Like many who grew up in the 1970s and saw the movie Jaws, the movie left an impression on the young Barry. “Jaws scarred me for life,” he says. “To this day, even though I love water and am a good swimmer, I still keep looking down in the deep water waiting for a big set of teeth to take me under,” he jokes.

An overhead view of a blue lake and white sand beach with pine trees in the foreground and a mountain in the background — A view of Armstrong Bay at the south end of Kootenay Lake from the family cottage.

He also enjoys winter vacations in Anna Maria Island, Florida, and golfing, camping and relaxing on the beach. “Work hard, have fun, help each other out, go home, relax and repeat” is a philosophy Barry likes to live by. When he retires, Barry looks forward to travelling and spending more time with his three – soon to be four – grandchildren.