Name: Angela Ozero (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Physiotherapist
Years of Service: 15
Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital
Community: Vernon
Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan
Favourite Quote: “Today is a gift. That's why we call it 'The Present'.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Physiotherapist Angela Ozero was born and raised in Pembroke, Ont. She lives and works in Vernon, on Syilx Okanagan Nation territory.
On a typical day, Angela works as a physiotherapist in the outpatient department at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH). She treats people who have experienced strokes, brain injuries, dizziness and balance issues, neurological conditions and orthopaedic surgeries.
“My favourite thing about my role is seeing my patients reach their functional goals. It’s outstanding to be a part of that! It's also pretty spectacular to spend my days alongside my work family as well. Interior Health is loaded with amazing people!”
Angela has so many memorable moments that span her career. Many of them involve a patient crying tears of joy when they started to walk again.
However, Angela is also driven by a mission to improve incontinence care provided by Interior Health (IH). Her vision is to impact the entire organization, and she’s determined to bring about improvements with the help of her colleagues on the IH Continence Committee. She’s working on ways to help improve continence care and postpartum health services at IH.
Angela participated in creating the patient education pamphlets "Pelvic Health in Pregnancy and Postpartum" and "Issues with Bladder Control?". They are multidisciplinary, IH-wide provincial documents. Angela’s tenacity is demonstrated by her commitment to these projects, which were two years in the making.
Angela loves biomechanical puzzles and riddles. “A biomechanical puzzle is a riddle to me… a physio riddle,” she explains.
"I see every patient's condition as a problem to solve, and I live for that."
In her daily life, Angela considers herself to be curious and persistent. Her adventurous side makes an appearance when engaged in her favourite outdoor activities, such as mountain biking, cyclocross racing and cross-country skiing.
“I LOVE everything bikes! Mountain biking, BMX racing, cyclocross racing, triathalons and commuting. Even better if I can get out biking with my poodle, Poppy!”
Then there’s the part of Angela that enjoys the peaceful and satisfying work of gardening, and even making soap.
“I take pride in being able to eat out of my backyard eight months of the year… well, more if you count eating chicken eggs. I start planting outside as early as February and have been able to harvest kale in February, too!”
Angela is a Cub Scouts leader, cross-country ski coach and CANSI level 1 cross-country ski instructor. She makes her home in Coldstream with her husband Walt, son Zolie, daughter Aspen, dog Poppy, chickens, and gardens with fruit trees and grape vines.
“In addition her role as a physiotherapist at the Penticton Primary Care Network, Jennifer is a member of the IH Continence Committee and Provincial Continence Committee. This requires her to work on these projects to improve continence care and postpartum care off the side of her desk! She reports back each week on her progress and digs deep to brainstorm more ways to improve incontinence care and postpartum health here at Interior Health, as well as British Columbia.” – Angela Ozero
After arriving in Canada in 2018, Marianne Danzalan never lost sight of her goal of becoming a licensed physiotherapist.
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When April Wright isn’t caring for community members at the West Chilcotin Health Centre in Tatla Lake, she’s getting her hands dirty in her garden.
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Every Friday at Senpaq’cin School in Oliver, students from k-7 take part in Fire Fridays, a land-based program that connects syilx language, culture and food.
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Olivia Duncan is long-term care coordinator who started her health care journey as a teenager. She fell in love with the energy of the hospital & nursing staff.
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A partnership between School District 73, Thompson Rivers University and IH, HSA offers high school students an opportunity to explore careers in health care.
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