Name: Kailey Stuart (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Computer Technical Support 2, Virtual Care
Years of Service: 7
Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital (but works remotely)
Community: Kamloops
Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Nation
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Be curious, not judgmental.”
Described by her colleagues as approachable, people oriented, and a good communicator, Kailey Stuart, computer technical support 2, Virtual Care, at Interior Health (IH), aims to make her colleagues’ lives a little easier through her work in technology.
A natural problem-solver with a strong creative streak, Kailey was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as an adult. But she doesn’t let that hinder her work or personal projects and, despite its challenges, feels neurodivergence has enriched her life in many ways.
“I like to think of ADHD as my superpower,” she says. “Don’t get me wrong, there are a LOT of downsides, but those can be managed. Having ADHD makes me think differently than others, which means I'm often able to find creative solutions to problems. Hyperfocus is also pretty cool when it’s used for good; I can sit down and focus on a task for hours and hours without breaking focus.”
Learn more about Kailey’s journey with IH
Kailey joined IH seven years ago and her career path has always been one that’s driven by a passion to help people. She admits she doesn’t “have the stomach to be a nurse or clinician” so she’s drawn to roles where she can support those who help and care for others.
“I started in IH in admitting, and I was constantly blown away by the courage, grit, and intelligence of all the front-line staff around me. Since then, my number one goal in any job I’ve had since then has been to try to make their jobs a little bit easier.”
Kailey recently took on a new temporary role on the Virtual Care team to deepen her knowledge and gain a fresh perspective on IH and other Digital Health teams.
“The fun part about most roles in IT is that the days are always different! Instead of being task based, my jobs are problem based. I have a problem that needs to be solved, so I spend my day working towards a solution. Whether it’s trying to figure out the best way to educate people on a new M365 technology, or troubleshooting when something breaks, there’s always a new challenge.
“The most rewarding part for me is knowing that the work I do could make the lives of others easier.”
She’s most proud of her contribution to IH’s DiscoverM365 site—a critical internal resource for employees as the organization completes the transition to these new Microsoft tools.
“A lot of work goes into it, and while I do wish there were two of me to keep it more up-to-date, I do think it’s a good resource for those looking to learn more about Microsoft 365, SharePoint Online, Teams, OneDrive, etc.”
She hopes her colleagues and others she interacts with understand that ADHD has many facets and presents differently in different people; that’s it’s not “just a little boy in a classroom that can’t sit still.”
“Now I know that symptoms can be expressed internally and externally, and women are more likely to be misdiagnosed because their symptoms can be more internalized, and less disruptive, which tends to get overlooked or misunderstood as anxiety or other mental health issues. For example, I lean more towards the hyperactivity side of ADHD, but for me, that ends up translating into overthinking and fidgeting.
“So, if you ever meet me, and I’m fidgeting while we are talking, please know it’s not because I find you boring, or that I’m not listening. It’s a way for my body to get out that extra energy so that I can listen and retain information better.”
Outside of work, Kailey is always open to trying new hobbies that provide an outlet for her creativity. “My husband would joke that it would be easier to list the hobbies I don't do,” she says.
Her current favourite is relief printmaking. “If you haven't heard of it, you carve out an image into a piece of wood, rubber or linoleum then print the image by hand onto paper. I have a video on my art Instagram (@kaileystu.art) that demonstrates the process.”
She also enjoys spending time with her dogs, Mac and Charlie, particularly in cooler weather, when they can do long walks after work.
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