We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.
Name: Danniel Dickson (he/him/his)
Job Title: Community Respiratory Therapist
Years of Service: 32
Worksite: Shuswap Health Services
Community: Salmon Arm and area
Ancestral Territory: Secwepemc (She-whep-m)/Shuswap Interior Salish
Favourite Quote: "Any job worth doing is worth doing well. But to be able to do that, you have to do it over and over again." - Thomas Keller
Danniel Dickson is a Community Respiratory Therapist serving clients in the Salmon Arm and Shuswap area. A life-long career in health care gives Danniel decades of practice and many satisfying memories.
The pulmonary rehabilitation programs Danniel manages, alongside his physiotherapist colleague, is a particular source of pride.
"We find that improving the quality of life for most of our clients - through education, exercise and flexibility - to be a great source of pride and a feeling of contributing to the outcomes of the community care team in a small way."
For Danniel, Respiratory Therapy is a profession that allows him autonomy in terms of practice.
"Although the pace and challenges of acute and critical care are professionally satisfying, my current role in the community setting allows more time for therapy and client/patient education. We continue to make strides towards integration of care from acute to community and there is much more of a team approach in the community setting today."
The world is also changing to be more virtual, and Danniel is excited about participating in virtual "tele-health" initiatives in the future.
"Our pulmonary rehabilitation team participated in tele-rehab research and the data obtained should provide opportunities for better outcomes for our geographically isolated clients and patients."
Danniel is proud of his his Aboriginal ancestry. His maternal grandmother was Cree and his maternal grandfather was Scottish. His Aboriginal heritage was never celebrated, in spite of many gatherings with his large family and he was puzzled as a child at the reluctance to embrace the Aboriginal identity in the family. This cycle is now being repaired Danniel, his siblings, and first cousins. They have joined the Metis Nation and display our Aboriginal heritage with pride and celebration. Danniel brings this evolution into his practice as a clinician and is looking forward to adapting and growing with Interior Health to improve outcomes for First Nations clients and patients.
Day-to-day, Danniel strives to focus on self care, as it allows him to have increased reserves to be applied in support of others. He is physically active and feels at home in nature. He enjoys activities like hiking, mountain biking, Nordic skiing and golf.
"When home I enjoy spending time making fishing tackle and practicing guitar. I enjoy driving in the back country and am always amazed at the beauty of our province."
Danniel is has also started learning about Astrology's effects on birth charts and ongoing traits and personalities, and experimenting with Tarot Card interpretation.
"It is a nice balance when weighed against the challenges and stressors of being a health care professional in todays 'world.' "
Danniel's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going:
“I nominate Shelby Henry, Physiotherapist in Salmon Arm. She is always upbeat and ready to assist the clinicians with any task she is able to manage to make their work flow faster and more efficiently. She always takes an organizing leadership role for any situation involving staff, for both career milestones and personal issues, and has a card with well-wishes and donations to make these situations resonate. She is an asset to the SLGH Rehab and Respiratory team."
- Danniel Dickson
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