Leaders with nursing backgrounds helping to shape health care system of tomorrow
Island Health’s leadership team is comprised of people with a variety of skills and experiences – and many of these dedicated leaders began their careers at the frontline of healthcare as nurses.
Celebration of nurses: changing lives, shaping tomorrow
Island Health is grateful to the many nurses who work in a variety of settings across Vancouver Island. Their dedication, skills, and kindness have and continue to leave a lasting impact on patients, clients and communities.
Heroes in the halls: Superheroes of Victoria visit kids in hospital
Formed in January 2024, the partnership between Island Health and Superheroes of Victoria Volunteer Society (SOVVS) - a dedicated group of volunteers who bring to life popular characters from comic books and movies - aims to surprise young patients with visits from various superheroes at least once a month, making their time in the hospital a bit brighter.
Beyond the fridge – nurse publishes son’s art in book for global impact on autism
A lot of proud parents put their children’s artwork on the fridge but Psychiatric Nurse May Sosa turned her son’s drawings into a children’s storybook to help create awareness around autism.
April 16 is National Advance Care Planning Day – It’s about conversations and sharing your wishes
April 16 is National Advance Care Planning Day, to raise awareness that having a plan and discussing it are so important.
Island Health grant program fuels transformative wellness initiative at Ucluelet Secondary School
Ucluelet Secondary School (USS) is championing student mental health through its new initiative, Wellness Wednesdays. Supported by a $50,000 resilience and safety grant from Island Health, the school is introducing a range of engaging activities designed to enhance students' well-being.
Reflections from the frontline on the 8th anniversary of the toxic drug crisis
In the eight years since the toxic drug crisis was declared a public health emergency in B.C. on April 14, 2016), 2,428 sons, daughters, parents, grandparents, loved ones, neighbours and friends have been lost in the Island Health region (as of January 2024).
Visiting physicians support patients and staff at West Coast General Hospital
Dr. Jocelyn Black, an emergency department (ED) physician, and Dr. Nanamma Maughn, a family physician, are friends and colleagues who live and work in Haida Gwaii. Both have supported West Coast General Hospital (WCGH) in recent months by providing locum physician services in the ED.
Grant gives Indigenous youth a fighting chance through boxing
In April 2023, Richardson’s Red Girl Rising Movement Society was one of 29 recipients of a portion of a total $1.1 million through the first Island Health Resilience and Safety grants aimed at helping improve mental well-being, build youth resistance and mitigate harms associated with the toxic drug supply.