I’ve always looked forward to spring and summer. Spending time in my garden, extra time with my grandchildren, and travelling to scenic spots in our trailer are some of the typical highlights. But I’ll remember the summer of 2021 for very different reasons. A pandemic, the tremendous heat waves and an awful wildfire season to name a few. I few weeks ago I went into Kelowna General Hospital for eye surgery. Despite all the COVID protocols and changes in health care this year, I was overwhelmed by the positive experience I received. Surgery is nerve-wracking for everyone (even those of us who work in health care) and I had complete confidence in the care and safety of my health going in. One thing that put me immediately at ease was how everyone took the time to tell me who they were, their occupation and what they were going to be doing with me. I’d read about #HelloMyNameIs campaign before in our hospitals, but this was the first time I’d experienced it myself. I think it was a great example of their focus on people and what we need.  Karla waiting for surgery  The day after I returned home from the hospital the Mt. Law wildfire began. Although we weren’t on alert, we had a good view of the fire from our backyard and those living across the ravine from us were on alert. It was a tense night as we were ready to leave at a moment’s notice if necessary. But many people weren’t so lucky. My mom lives in Brookhaven long-term care home in West Kelowna. Because the home was so close to the fire and many of the people living there have complex health needs, a decision was made early on to evacuate everyone to another home in Richmond, B.C. My mom lives with advanced dementia and even though I wasn’t able to physically help out with the evacuation, I wasn’t worried about the move. A week prior to the evacuation she said she wanted to go somewhere, anywhere, it really didn’t matter. I heard from the staff that mom was quite happy her wish had been granted!  Karla, her mom, and sister Moving that many people several hours away in the middle of a wildfire sounds like the plot of a suspenseful movie. So you can imagine how surprised and impressed my sisters and I were with how organized the process was. The staff and doctors went to great lengths to make everyone comfortable before, during, and after the journey. Knowing my mother's care team travelled with mom made the event much less stressful for her, and really eased my mind that she was getting the best care possible. I’ve since learned that since June 30 (the night of the devastating fire in Lytton), more than 1000 people were evacuated from Interior Health hospitals and long-term care homes. Whether transferred by ambulance, by air or by bus, I continue to hear stories that mirror my own, about the care and dedication involved. I know I’ll always remember this summer. A global pandemic and wildfires have certainly made it memorable. But I think what will stay with me the most is those experiences of kindness and caring during challenging times. I’ll remember that even though I couldn’t see people’s smiles behind their masks, I saw it in their eyes and the way they introduced themselves to me. And I’ll remember my relief in seeing mom over FaceTime after her night-time evacuation by bus and hearing that she was well looked after and comfortable despite the unusual circumstances.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Doug Neufeld (he/him) Job Title: Physician Years of Service: More than 40 years Worksite: Cariboo Memorial Hospital Community: Williams Lake Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc (Se-huep-m) / Shuswap Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "If they can do it, why can't I?" Dr. Doug Neufeld doesn’t believe in leading a boring life. On the contrary, he is a man that goes by his daily motto: “Go seek adventure!” As a young child, Doug moved around quite a bit with his family, starting off in Kitimat B.C., where he was born. At the age of two, they moved to Kingston, Ont.; at age five, to Vancouver; back to Ontario (Toronto) at age 10; to Montreal at age 12; and at age 15 they landed back in B.C. in West Vancouver. After finishing med school and completing his internship, Doug, together with his wife, Cindy and their newborn son Jesse, move to Williams Lake. Moving around so much definitely opens your eyes to colourful challenges and an array of changing surroundings. You can almost see the world through a different lens; no wonder he describes himself as a multi-faced individual who has a tremendous love for medicine, including indigenous medicine. When asked what inspires him about his work and the career he has chosen, he energetically replies: "I enjoy the people. I make it my goal to treat everyone as an individual and respect them for being their own person." "Before I started my career as a medical professional, First Nations did not receive enough acknowledgement (there were still residential schools when I started), but it is wonderful to part of the change and the acknowledgement and respect they are receiving now – to be part of the change, and to be able to make a connection. I am growing old with the elders, I met some of them when in their 50s, now they are in their 80s. I am very privileged to be looking after four generations of families. In 2007, I delivered a baby of a baby whom I had delivered 17 years prior – wrap your head around that," he smiles. "These patients are not only my patients – they are my friends." Apart from his full-time devotion to helping people, Doug enjoys building things from scratch in his off time – construction is one of his favourite pastimes. You also won't find this doctor on a golf course, but rather boating somewhere on a beautiful mass of water in remote nature. Doug has many proud moments with Interior Health, but one of his most memorable moments takes us back to 1996 when Doug was the Chief of Staff (COS) at Williams Lake's Cariboo Memorial General Hospital. During this year, he helped design the new Emergency Room for the hospital. Doug also represented other physicians in rural areas by being very involved in the origins of rural retention and building MOCAP (Medical On Call Availability Program). With fewer doctors available in remote areas, this program was much needed to ensure that doctors were paid when on call. It also helped remote doctors to not be working all the time or be on call all the time. Doug's wife moved to Vancouver Island three years ago and he is looking forward to moving down there permanently as well. This will open a new book of adventure, as he plans to explore the island every chance he gets – while working part time, of course. Doug's early years in Williams Lake. Posing here with his wife Cindy. Doug's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I nominate Dr. Aris Azid, Vascular Surgeon based in Kamloops, B.C. Aris is and has been an essential medical contributor for many years, as the only vascular surgeon. He was my senior resident at med school, and does the major surgeries on my patients." - Dr. Doug Neufeld Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

During pregnancy, labour, and delivery, many First Nations, Inuit and Métis people experience significant barriers to accessing care. This can lead to a higher risk of poor maternal and newborn health. But there are ways to make a difference. One is to get informed. The National Aboriginal Council of Midwives and Patients for Patient Safety Canada are hosting a webinar on September 17, on World Patient Safety Day. The goals of this virtual discussion are to build awareness and understanding of the experiences of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people, and to discuss ways to provide safe maternal and newborn care. Perspectives and experiences of patients, providers and researchers on the current patient safety challenges will be shared, as well as the supports and strategies to improve outcomes and experiences. This session will also identify what health-care providers and leaders can do to improve First Nations, Inuit and Métis safety and health. Friday, September 17, 202112:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (ET)Sign up here

September is an exciting time of year as kids like me head back to school. I’m especially excited this year because we have a vaccine that will be the best way to get us back to doing all the things we love. Over the summer I got my second COVID-19 vaccine. This was really important to me because my Gramma has cancer and I want to be able to visit her safely. I also decided to get vaccinated because I want to be able to play team sports again. Although I was able to play a bit of hockey last year, I missed playing games and doing baseball and soccer. I hope as more people get vaccinated, we can start to go on school trips again and have more sports and events. I know there are lots of people out there who have questions about vaccines. I know a little bit about how vaccines work. They really just help your own body to make antibodies to fight the virus if you ever get exposed. I understand that people can feel nervous about what they may not totally understand. I hope people take the time to learn and read sources that are from scientists and doctors and not just believe what they read on the internet. I’ve listened to experts like Dr. Bonnie Henry talk about how safe it is, and it feels like the right decision for me. Did I mention I’m a big Dr. Bonnie Henry fan? I don’t think many kids my age watch the news but I do and I can see how hard she’s working to keep people safe. If I ever meet her, I want to thank her for working so hard to get everything back to normal. About the author: Raymond Raymond is almost 13 years old and is in the 8th grade in Kelowna. 

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: David Baclig (he/him) Job Title: Housekeeper Years of Service: One Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks)/Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13 Being able to do his part during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of David Baclig's proudest moments as an Interior Health employee. During a time when hygiene and cleanliness has been top-of-mind, David's job as a housekeeper has been even more important than ever. David was born and raised in San Fernando in the Philippines, now calling Kelowna home with his wife. One of David's favourite things in life is finding new ways to make his wife, Faith Ann, happy, such as playing the guitar and singing her random songs. The two are thrilled to be expecting a baby boy in October.  David's wife, Faith Ann Describing himself as a God-fearing man, passionate and a hard worker, David is also a good listener and reliable, both as an employee and as a friend in times of need. His wife and family inspire him in his career, and it's David's hope to continue working with Interior Health for many years to come. "One thing I always try to do is share my blessings with others, especially my friends and family." In his free time, David also enjoys playing basketball. He longs to explore new things and places, and looks forward to travelling the world soon with his family.  David at Fintry Falls, West Kelowna Feature photo: David at Lake Louise, Alberta Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

  Thank you for sharing your gratitude  We have heard from many people sharing their gratitude for the frontline workers who have been working hard to keep us safe during the pandemic. Continue to help us to recognize the people who have made a difference by publishing a photo and message here. Thank the frontline workers, volunteers, and community partners who have helped keep us safe during the pandemic and worked to get us all vaccinated. You can also tell us why getting the vaccine is important for you.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Richard Richter (he/him) Job Title: Health, Safety and Prevention Advisor Years of Service: 3 years Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: “Syilx” (Saay-ilks) / Okanagan Interior Salish Favourite Quote: "Spread the love you have to share." -Unknown Richard Richter was born in Vernon and raised in Whitecourt, Alta. After living and working all over British Columbia, he's happy to be back in the Okanagan. "My parents always said, 'If you're not happy in your job, there's always opportunity to change.' " As a teen, Richard studied to become a chef -- ultimately receiving his Red Seal certification. He worked in Victoria restaurants before returning to the mainland. A stint with a private ambulance company led Richard to change course and begin a career as a health and safety professional. Most recently, Richard spent three years in 100 Mile House as a health and safety manager for the forestry industry before joining Interior Health three years ago. "Safety is everyone's responsibility--both on the job and off the job. Accidents can happen anywhere so awareness is a key factor." In his free time, Richard enjoys hunting, fishing and spending time with his wife, daughter and two dogs. Adventure parks -- including Disney -- are their happy places. Photo captions: Top: Richard pauses during his work day. Centre: This fun and outgoing leader once dressed as an elf to hand out candy canes to colleagues during the holidays. Below: "Family is No. 1. We work to provide, play and enjoy our lives." Richard's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I'd like to nominate my wife, Teri Richter. She has worked as a psychiatric nurse with IH since 2015, first in 100 Mile and now in Kelowna. She provides compassionate care to her clients and patients. Teri is a fabulous partner and mother -- we've been together 20 years, married just over 19 -- she is just an amazing person!" - Richard Richter Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority

In our short time with Interior Health, Noah Chalifoux and I (Nina Akhtar) have been granted the unique opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and observe the complex world of health care. We, along with a few other interns, joined Interior Health in May 2021. We work with the Environmental Sustainability team. I’m currently working on making improvements to staff engagement initiatives, in order to foster a culture of sustainability across Interior Health. Noah’s work involves opportunity analyses, such as improvements to the way we handle our medical waste - so that we lower our greenhouse gas emissions, while also reducing waste disposal costs. During our internship we've had the chance to tour several different locations. Our first tour was lead by Kazi Hoque from Plant Services at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail. During this tour, Noah and I, along with Matthew Dolinar who works with Plant Services evaluating the state of our mechanical equipment, got a feel for daily operations in a hospital. This experience gave us a new perspective on health care. Seeing clinical environments first-hand really makes a difference in appreciating health care. Experiential learning opportunities like this allow us to better understand one another’s work, and it provided an excellent foundation to work alongside experienced staff, particularly on innovative projects. In July we had another opportunity along with Fleet Services Program Intern, Aaryn Sahlen, to tour Kelowna General Hospital. We saw the heliport, HVAC plants and boiler house, and met people working in departments we wanted to know more about, including: ​Medical Device Re-processing (MDR) department where we met Jorge Angel-Mira (Manager, Clinical Operations) & Louise Bertrand (Coordinator, MDR Operations), and learned about the vast number of medical supplies sterilized and re-usedFood Services Operations where Cheryl Cooke (Manager, Food Services) showed us what it takes to feed our patients and possible improvements we can makeWaste Services and Housekeeping Operations lead by Jackie Marsh (Manager, Housekeeping Services). We were interested in learning more about waste, particularly biomedical waste, and recycling challenges in health care.Our most recent tour was of Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson. Equipped with the knowledge from having observed MDR facilities, Food Services, Laundry/Linen Services, biomedical waste collection/storage sites, waste management areas, and everything else that keeps a facility running, we were able to get a better understanding of how things might change to benefit the environment. By seeing three different facilities, we were able to get a better understanding of the similarities and the differences between our sites, giving us a deeper perspective on the challenges of delivering high-quality health services across this vast region. We have been so impressed by the incredible team across our health authority, who deliver high quality care each day and through several health crises.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories. Name: Tara Lecavalier (she/her) Job Title: Pharmacy Technician Supervisor Years of Service: 13 years Worksite: East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) Community: Cranbrook Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah)/Kootenay Ktunaxa Favourite Quote: "Be patient. It is a skill that, when learned, is invaluable." -Unknown Tara Lecavalier is a 10th generation French Canadian. She was born and raised in Fernie, B.C., where her family has a long history. "I love being part of projects that help move IH and pharmacy services forward." Tara has worked for Interior Health for 13 years--for the past six years as a pharmacy technician supervisor. As a pharmacy technician in a hospital setting, she has seen tech roles grow and change. "I'm looking forward to gaining more technical knowledge and understanding of our team and IH's processes. There is so much to learn!" In 2018, Tara was asked to join the Next Generation Clinical Leadership Cohort. The year-long, in-person and online course was transformational and thought provoking. "I met an amazing group of ladies and gents and learned so much about the many different nursing roles in IH. I feel pride when I see technicians change roles, move to other locations and take on projects--all to improve their skill set or expand their scope." Tara looks forward to the new build and upgrades to sterile compounding in the EKRH pharmacy. These upgrades will help pharmacy staff produce the best product for patients and create a safer environment for IH staff. Photo captions: Above left: Tara pauses during her work day in the EKRH pharmacy. Above right: Tara and her dog spend their free time walking and hiking. "I am owned by a five-year-old Goldendoodle named Perci; we enjoy spending time together outdoors. The beauty of the East Kootenays is not be taken for granted!" Tara's nomination keeps the We Are IH loop going: “Cathy Hanson has been a great resource for us! She is a regulated pharmacy tech based out of Greenwood, B.C. Over the past year, she has been doing remote order entry for EKRH, Elk Valley Hospital (EVH) and Creston Valley Hospital (CVH). Cathy has also worked for multiple other sites across IH. Her professionalism and work ethic are very strong. For example, when all internet access was dropped in Greenwood for several days due to wildfires, Cathy arranged to have a space at KGH and travelled on her own to complete her shift. I wasn’t aware of any of the challenges until she mentioned it later that day!" - Tara Lecavalier Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: @IHJobs  |   Instagram: @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |   LinkedIn: @InteriorHealthAuthority