Health care has
to change.Our cabinet is dedicated to
the future of health care.

Closer to Home Than You Think Campaign Cabinet

A group of outstanding individuals and professionals committed to driving excellence in health care forward for patients and families in our region.

Dr. Devin Harris

Cabinet Co-Chair

Executive Medical Director, Quality and Patient Safety, Interior Health

Dr. Harris is the Executive Medical Director, Quality and Patient Safety for Interior Health. He is an Emergency Physician at KGH and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UBC. Dr. Harris is passionate about quality improvement, has served as a BC Patient Safety and Quality Council member since 2011 as a Clinical Lead and led an award-winning Provincial collaboration for stroke improvement.

Dr. Devin Harris

Cabinet Co-Chair

Executive Medical Director, Quality and Patient Safety, Interior Health

Dr. Harris is the Executive Medical Director, Quality and Patient Safety for Interior Health. He is an Emergency Physician at KGH and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at UBC. Dr. Harris is passionate about quality improvement, has served as a BC Patient Safety and Quality Council member since 2011 as a Clinical Lead and led an award-winning Provincial collaboration for stroke improvement.

Dr. Deanne Taylor

Cabinet Co-Chair

Corporate Director of Research, Interior Health

Dr. Taylor is the Corporate Director of Research, Interior Health, the Scientific Director of the Rural Coordination Centre of BC and Adjunct Professor at UBC Okanagan in the Faculty of Health and Social Development. She is an advocate and active role model for scholarly practice, raising the profile and engagement of research, cultivating Learning Health Systems thinking, and evidence-informed practice/decision-making. She leads, cultivates, and facilitates a range of research and knowledge translation activities with the aim of enhancing the use of evidence into practice and enabling broad engagement in research.

Dr. Deanne Taylor

Cabinet Co-Chair

Corporate Director of Research, Interior Health

Dr. Taylor is the Corporate Director of Research, Interior Health, the Scientific Director of the Rural Coordination Centre of BC and Adjunct Professor at UBC Okanagan in the Faculty of Health and Social Development. She is an advocate and active role model for scholarly practice, raising the profile and engagement of research, cultivating Learning Health Systems thinking, and evidence-informed practice/decision-making. She leads, cultivates, and facilitates a range of research and knowledge translation activities with the aim of enhancing the use of evidence into practice and enabling broad engagement in research.

Dr. Sana Shahram

Health System Innovation

Embedded Health Equity Scholar, Research Department Interior Health

Dr. Katrina Plamondon

Health System Innovation

Regional Practice Leader, Research & Knowledge Translation, Interior Health

Dr. Alex van Duyvendyk

Health System Innovation

Physician

Dr. Michael Humer

Health System Innovation

Thoracic Surgeon, KGH

Dr. Neil Long

Health System Innovation

Emergency Physician, KGH

Andrew Hughes

Health System Innovation

Executive Director, Clinical Programs, Interior Health

Dr. Cara Wall

Health System Innovation

Site Medical Director and Chief of Staff, KGH

Bev Sieker

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Director, Clinical Operations & Surgical Services, KGH

Headshot of Jaymi Chernoff

Jaymi Chernoff

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Executive Director, Clinical Operations, KGH

Kevin Peters

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Program Director, Medical Imaging, Interior Health

Dr. Brenda Farnquist

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Medical Director & Chief Radiologist, KGH

Shelby Bichel

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Director, Medical Imaging – Central Okanagan, Interior Health

Dr. Mike Partrick

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Radiologist, KGH

Dr. Nevin De Korompay

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Radiologist, KGH

Headshot of Dr. Ryan Foster

Dr. Ryan Foster

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

ICU Physician, KGH

Donna Jansons

Clinical & Surgical Excellence

Program Director, Renal Services, Interior Health

Dr. Daryl Wile

Brain Health

Neurologist, KGH & Clinical Investigator, Southern Medical Program

Dr. Aleks Tkach

Brain Health

Neurologist, KGH

Dr. Michael Tso

Brain Health

Clinical Assistant Professor, Division of Neurosurgery, UBC & KGH

Cory Bendall

Brain Health

Network Director, Stroke Care, Interior Health

Pamela Hruska

Brain Health

Clinical Nurse Specialist, Regional Stroke Network, Interior Health

Dr. Steven Krywulak

Bone & Joint Care

Orthopedic Surgeon, KGH

Dr. Lane Dielwart

Bone & Joint Care

Orthopedic Surgeon, KGH & President, BC Orthopaedic Association

Dr. Josh Wiesenthal

Cancer Care

Urologist, KGH

Dr. Chris Baliski

Cancer Care

Surgical Oncologist, KGH

Karen Leach-MacLeod

Cancer Care

Network Director, Cancer Care, Interior Health

Dr. Dante D’Urbano

Cancer Care

Pathologist, KGH

Danielle Cameron

Mental Health Care

Executive Director, Clinical Operations Community, Central Okanagan, Interior Health

Shelagh Turner

Mental Health Care

Past Executive Director, CMHA Kelowna

Mike Gawliuk

Mental Health Care

CEO, CMHA Kelowna

Ginny Becker

Mental Health Care

Executive Director, CAC Kelowna

Ellen Boelcke

Mental Health Care

Executive Director, Kelowna Community Resources

Dr. Frank Halperin

Cardiac Care

Cardiologist, KGH

Dr. Kathryn Brown

Cardiac Care

Medical Director of Cardiology, KGH

Robyn Goplen

Cardiac Care

Program Director, IH Cardiac Services

Dr. Amber Burridge

Women’s Health

Department Head, Obstetrics and Gynecology, KGH

Community Cabinet

  • Brett Aynsley, Investment Advisor, CIBC Wood Gundy
  • Kevin Bradshaw, Educator, Electronic Engineering, Okanagan College
  • Dallas Chelick, Entrepeneur 
  • Allyssa Costerton-Grant, UBC Faculty of Management Associate Director, Industry Partnerships & Alumni Engagement
  • Roberta Fidalgo, HR Consultant & Certified Coach, YET Human Resources & Coaching
  • Janine Karlsen, Owner/Managing Director Home Instead Senior Care
  • Ken Kilcullen, General Manager, Bell Media BC Interior
  • Eric Ledding Partner, Pushor Mitchell LLP
  • Christy Lovig Partner, Doak Shirreff Lawyers LLP
  • Karina Munroe, Senior Manager, Fixed Asset & Lease Accounting, Lululemon
  • Patrick Ng, Investment Advisor, NG Wealth Management of RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
  • Darrell Porubanec, Retired Investment Advisor
  • Margaret Porubanec, Retired Registered Nurse
  • Bruce Sprague, Western Canada Market Leader, National Mid-Market Enterprise Leader, BDO Canada LLP
  • Steven Tuck, Retired Newspaper Publisher/Owner
  • Ray Warren, Vice President, Commercial Financial Services, Okanagan and Kootenay Market
  • Dawn Wrightson, Retired Health Care Executive and Registered Nurse

“People always ask why, but maybe they should ask why not! You get to work with the nicest people, for the nicest people. It’s the best kind of job satisfaction you’ll ever find.”

“Linking the passion and desires of donors to the needs/opportunities of the health system and KGH is such a privilege. I am inspired most by the people; our team, donors, clinicians & caregivers, and administrators and ultimately, the transformative changes to our system of care that become possible when we work together. I am grateful to be able to feel such purpose in my work.”

Giving Changes Everything

DONATE NOW
VOLUNTEER