We are IH: Nursing & Allied Health Officer sees bright future

May 14, 2026

Cheryl Whittleton wearing one of her many knitted creations.

Name: Cheryl Whittleton
Job Title: Chief Nursing and Allied Health Officer, Professional Practice Leader
Length of Service: 40
Worksite: Kootenay Boundary Health Service Area office
Community: Castlegar
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa and sylix
Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “The relationships you build help reduce your future to-do list."

In a career with Interior Health (IH) that spans 40 years, what stands out for Cheryl Whittleton is the friendships she has made.

Born and raised in the Kootenays, Cheryl was inspired by a Grade 12 biology partner to pursue a nursing career. “She was going into nursing and sold me on becoming a nurse. She was so passionate. I was also interested in learning about the human body,” recalls Cheryl.

After graduation, she moved to Vancouver and worked for five years at Lions Gate Hospital and St. Paul’s Hospital where she started in the intensive care unit (ICU) as the AIDS crisis was emerging.

“When COVID hit, it brought back memories of the AIDS crisis. Back then, we didn’t know what we were dealing with. Patients were being admitted to the ICU in critical condition. We were wearing full personal protective equipment because we didn’t know what was causing their illness.”

After she had her first son, she decided to move home to the Kootenays. She spent 25 years as a bedside nurse working in the ICU in Nelson at Kootenay Lake Hospital and in ICU and Emergency at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital.

“Every day is different in health care,” she says. “I have met people from all walks of life and made a difference in their health-care journey. Nursing allows you opportunities to work in different settings in a variety of communities and leadership roles.”

Twenty years ago, she was asked to take on her first management role. “I have always kept my door open to opportunities. Each step in my career has led to offers to consider new and exciting work and roles.”

In this Story…

Learn more about Cheryl’s journey with IH

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Learn more about Cheryl’s journey with IH

In her role as chief nursing and allied health officer (CNAO), and professional practice leader, Cheryl is responsible for the practice of nursing and allied health professionals, a broad group that includes more than 70 different regulated and non-regulated health-care providers.

Cheryl’s office oversees specialty clinical education whose programs include the New Graduate Nurse Transition Program, as well as in-house training for specialty nurses. She’s proud to note five of seven IH nurse training programs are now accredited by the Canadian Nurses Association.

One of the roles Cheryl and her team play is to interpret and apply new legislation, including the Health Professionals and Occupations Act, and the implementation of the Minimum Nurse to Patient Ratios.

A person with short brown hair wearing a green formal dress holds a young child holding a hoop, wearing a light blue dress and white sandals. — Cheryl holding her one and only granddaughter, Mila, at a family wedding. Cheryl has eight grandchildren.

Her team is also working on updating policies and clinical decision support tools for professions that will now be regulated under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC, such as lab technologists and respiratory therapists.

Cheryl sits at provincial tables with her provincial CNAO colleagues, the Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Allied Health Policy Secretariats. Her work focuses on influencing health system changes that affect nursing and allied health workforces. “It’s important for nurses to be in equal partnership in health-care leadership and be at the table to help design the health system.”

I am proud of the team in the Professional Practice Office as they consistently step up to help our partners in the health authority and lead provincial work to support new staff, train specialty nurses, and assist with complex, wicked problems.

-- Cheryl Whittleton

This year, Cheryl was presented with the 2026 Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of B.C. award in the Inspire to Lead category. The award recognizes her leadership in guiding teams, improving care, supporting inclusive and culturally safe practices, and driving change to improve outcomes for patients, communities and the nursing workforce.

“I was completely stunned, and quite emotional reading the nomination letters,” shares Cheryl. “My team did not tell me they nominated me. I’m being recognized for their work really,” shares Cheryl.

As she looks ahead, Cheryl says the nursing profession will continue to attract smart, caring and empathic individuals. “The future looks very bright. The nursing and allied health professions are well positioned to address the social determinants of health and reduce health-care disparities in underserved communities.”

She’s excited to see how artificial intelligence (AI) will change the face of the nursing profession. “AI is being integrated into systems to address routine tasks, allowing nurses to spend more time caring for patients, clients and residents,” notes Cheryl.

We are human beings sharing the same air, land and water on this blue orb in the universe. My hope is that we see each other as equals and work together to improve each other’s lives.

-- Cheryl Whittleton

Outside of work, Cheryl enjoys knitting, gardening and travelling the world. In the fall, she and her best friend are going on a knitting tour in Copenhagen to attend workshops and shop in the many wool shops, then on to a 10-day train trip to Prague, Vienna and Budapest. “I’m sure my suitcase will be full of all sorts of wonderful yarn,” she says.

She’s a proud mom to two sons and stepmom to two sons and a daughter. She has eight grandchildren—seven boys and one girl—who live in B.C. and Alberta. She loves watching them participate in the many sports that they are enrolled in. “Life in our home is never boring when we get all get together,” she laughs.