We Are IH: Natalie Daniels

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Every week Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter. 

As an Acute Care Social Worker at Vernon Jubilee Hospital over the past six years, Natalie is always looking for ways to further her education and career.

As a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo’s Master of Social Work program, she continues to provide value to IH, her co-workers, and her patients. With a growth mindset, she continues to learn more each day, lately via podcasts.

One of her proudest moments at IH was initiating a conversation with IH’s President and CEO Susan Brown regarding racism in our health-care system and having an opportunity to discuss the ways IH is working on acknowledging and improving Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility. This has certainly given her the confidence and drive to continue being a voice in that discussion. We are so proud of you, Natalie, and thankful to have you and your voice at IH.

Born in Castlegar, her family moved shortly after to where she would grow up in Coquitlam and Vancouver. Looking for a change, she moved to Vernon 10 years ago and is very happy with her decision to plant roots and grow her career here.

She is a member of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation situated on the northeastern part of Manitoulin Island in Ontario and a visitor to the Okanagan/Syilx territory where she lives in Vernon.

Natalie feels extremely lucky to work with such an incredible team of social workers in the North Okanagan. The strength and professionalism that they share with their community members and teams inspire her to advocate against health inequities and to work towards demolishing power imbalances that are so often present in our health-care system.

Her co-workers describe her as a hilarious, witty, charming, dependable, and authentic person with a great shoe collection.

An outdoor adventurer at heart, she loves exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Okanagan road cycling or hiking with her dog, Jack. She is often looking forward to the weekend and spending quality time with Jack searching for the picturesque backdrop for her Dog, Jack’s Instagram account. Follow him on Instagram @cairnjack!

Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

Natalie's nomination of Allison New keeps the We Are IH loop going: Palliative Care Coordinator of Shuswap Home Health. Allison is a great advocate for improving the lives and care of the community members she serves. She is a leader at Home Health and will go above and beyond to ensure the right care is offered to community members by a knowledgeable and engaged team.