Name: Yvea Zaels (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Project Manager, Hospital at Home Program, Kelowna General Hospital (KGH)
Years of Service: 3.5 years
Worksite: KGH (and home office)
Community: Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: Syilx First Nations
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Conquer yourself."
Yvea Zaels is a multi-disciplined project manager who is passionate about helping others and creating an equitable workplace.
When we say multi-disciplined, we mean it! Yvea has a background in project management, electrical engineering, astronomy, marketing, international business, business analysis, adult learning, public speaking and professional editing.
She also has extensive experience with connecting people from multiple cultures and is fluent in four languages. In fact, Yvea sponsored the first Russian speaking club in the world and developed a curriculum in collaboration with an experienced accent reduction specialist (speech language pathologist).
Yvea’s dedication to creating an equitable workplace ultimately led her to join Interior Health’s Employee Voices, an internal employee advisory group that aims to advise, guide and make recommendations that support Interior Health. Committee members contribute diverse viewpoints in support of creating a respectful, welcoming, culturally safe and inclusive workplace for everyone.
Learn more about Yvea’s journey with IH
When asked why Yvea got into health care, she responds, “I think health care chose me.”
After working in international business for seven years, Yvea transitioned to the oil and gas industry where she gained invaluable knowledge and expertise. After losing her job in 2014 due to the oil downturn Yvea decided to explore other career options.
Her management and business analysis experience led her to a job in Alberta Health Services.
“Health care is very personal and interesting to me. When people asked me what I did, I would tell them, 'I am helping you get access to primary care by building new clinics.' Now my story is changing to, 'I am helping you receive hospital care at your home.' Everyone really appreciates hearing that.”
After three and a half years of working as a project manager at Alberta Health Services in Calgary, Yvea and her family decided to move to Kelowna. Upon doing so, she accepted the role of project manager for the new Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs) at IH. UPCCs provide same-day, urgent access to health care 365 days year.
Improving access to primary care in the B.C. Interior excited her. During her time in the role, she has seen UPCC services implemented at five locations, which has been very rewarding.
One of the ideas Yvea initiated and led was the implementation of “Welcome Walls” at the UPCCs in Penticton, Cranbrook and Rutland (Kelowna). The walls, which say “Welcome” in almost 35 different languages, were created to help patients feel welcome and supported at the UPCCs.
Now, she is entering a new role at IH where she will be the project manager for a new project called Hospital at Home, which will be implemented in KGH in 2024.
Yvea Zaels nominates Nancy-Jo O’Neil to keep We Are IH going.
Nancy-Jo O’Neill, Manager, UPCC
"Nancy-Jo is an accomplished, fun manager and gifted ski coach!" - Yvea Zaels
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