Name: Dr. Elena Karissa Schroeder (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Hospitalist
Length of Service: 5 years
Worksite: East Kootenay Regional Hospital
Community: Cranbrook
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa
Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “Physicians go into medicine to help others. Physicians go into leadership with the same intentions—to help others.”
When Dr. Elena Schroeder first decided to pursue a career in medicine, her goal was to keep learning and growing, personally and professionally. Years later, that same mindset still shapes the way she approaches her work every day.
After moving to Cranbrook in 2021, Elena was eager to become involved in the local health-care community. She helped establish the hospitalist program at East Kootenay Regional Hospital and later became department head, helping guide the program as it grew.
Learn more about Elena’s journey with IH
Today, Elena wears several hats: hospitalist, physician lead at the Cranbrook Mint Memory Clinic, and chair of the Regional Medical Advisory Committee (RMAC) for the East Kootenay. Her career has grown into something much bigger than she first imagined.
Even with all those roles to manage, she says the most meaningful part of her job hasn’t changed as it always comes back to human connection.
“Even during the long days, I know that my work is meaningful,” she says. “Diagnosing and treating is one thing. But what I’ve found to be crucial is the way I communicate with patients and family members. The ability to share difficult news with kindness and compassion can have a lasting impact.”
Shaping the future of care through NAVIG8
When she was nominated for the NAVIG8 Emerging Medical Leaders Program, she saw it as a chance to learn more about how the health-care system works beyond the day-to-day of the hospital.
The program gave her a better sense of the bigger picture: how many different pieces make up the health-care system, and how physicians can do their part in helping to shape the future of care.
During a NAVIG8 session focused on medical staff wellness, participants had an honest conversation about how hard it can be to balance work, family life and personal interests.
As a wife, mother, physician and leader, Elena says the conversation really resonated. Hearing others share similar experiences was powerful and reminded her that she wasn’t alone in trying to juggle it all.
As part of the program, Elena also worked on a leadership project focused on improving access to cognitive assessments for rural patients and supporting earlier diagnosis of dementia. “Getting a diagnosis earlier can make a big difference. It helps patients get the care they need sooner and allows families to find support earlier as well,” she says.
Her work highlighted the significance of local memory clinics in rural communities, including the Cranbrook Mint Memory Clinic.
Elena says the skills she gained through NAVIG8—like feeling more confident giving feedback and navigating tough conversations—are already helping in her role as RMAC chair for the East Kootenay. In that role, she works closely with other medical leaders, many of whom she first met through the program.
She offers this advice for colleagues thinking about leadership development.
You will learn an incredible amount regarding the health-care system, your leadership style and your personal areas of strength and growth. NAVIG8 isn’t just a course about health-care leadership: it teaches you about yourself and how you can leverage your surrounding supports to help you grow as a refined and competent leader.
Outside of work, Elena finds joy in staying active and spending time outdoors. She’s looking forward to hiking and fishing again this summer with her new puppy and is taking a mountain biking course to build her skills on the trails. This December, she’ll be competing for Team Canada again at the World Medical Football Championship in Costa Rica.
Looking ahead, Elena is excited about continuing to grow as a leader and pursuing future leadership opportunities as they arise.
Explore hospitalist Careers@IH
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