Born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland, I completed both my B.Sc. (Biology) and MD at Memorial University before packing a U-Haul, my Great Dane, and my significant other (in no particular order) and travelling against prevailing winds to Thunder Bay, ON for a residency in Rural Family Medicine. In search of the best Nordic skiing the country could offer, I arrived in Vernon in 2003. I maintained locum status in the area until 2008 when I helped to start a new Family Medicine clinic in Armstrong, BC. Currently, I proudly work as a family practitioner in Armstrong, a hospitalist at VJH, and I provide care at Options for Sexual Health. I also hold a clinical instructor appointment with UBC. The Facility Engagement initiative is an exciting new venture for me. Seeing our local medical staff come together for this valuable work is both energizing and refreshing.

The elusive life/work balance is always front and centre in my sights. I balance my professional life with Nordic skiing, cycling, backcountry skiing, and the occasional blast back into a climbing harness, all the while trying not to get injured and spending as much time as possible with my family.

I am a Vancouver Island boy who cross country and downhill skied at Mt. Washington every weekend.  I attended Queen's University for a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Life Science, and was on the varsity water polo team (Go Gaels) while loving the all-you-can-eat meal plan.  Subsequently, I attended the University of British Columbia for medical school where I also learned how to skate and play hockey for the first time, and then did my residency training at the University of Alberta in General Pathology, part of which I spent a 4 week summer elective at VJH in 2007 with Drs. Jason Doyle and Doug Hardy.  Upon completion of residency, it was straight to Vernon for the good life, following royal college certification, as a full-time general pathologist with a 10-week-old daughter and miniature schnauzer in tow and Edmonton in the rearview mirror.  Five years later and three more children (boy, girl, boy) my family was complete.

As demands on dad have mercifully diminished, more time and energy is available for hospital related activities. By joining the VJH Physician Society, I hope to encourage improvement and innovation in patient care, help foster multidisciplinary cooperation, as well as optimize the VJH workplace for patients and health professionals alike.  When away from the hospital, I am active outside, with and without the family, and enjoy cycling and skiing, in all its various forms, as well as backpacking and camping.

Born in Saskatchewan, Anna moved to Kelowna as a small child but eventually travelled to Calgary, Alberta, to raise her family. While working full-time, she completed her studies in Business Management. Anna is a highly skilled marketing and communication specialist with a diverse background in business development. A professional with a service-oriented, innovative and progressive approach enabling organizations to achieve positive results while maximizing profits and growth. Before moving back to the Okanagan, she project managed: the construction and start-up of a 40 million-dollar, 5-star senior’s residence; and the first rural hospice in Canada. She has sat on numerous Boards and worked on Mayoralty, MP, and MLA campaigns. She is most proud of her family, including her husband, son, daughter, son-in-law and the newest addition, her grand-baby. She loves travelling, skiing, hiking, kayaking, swimming, camping and spending time at her Okanagan Lake cabin. Please contact Anna with any questions or feedback at projectmanager@vernonphysiciansociety.ca.

Maja is proud to have worked for more than 20 years at Vernon Jubilee Hospital which is also the hospital that she was actually born in.  Her extensive administrative experience includes both private and public sector careers, but her passion remains in medical administration.  She has worked on more than 10 acute care units at Vernon Jubilee Hospital as a unit coordinator as well as held community positions in the Home Oxygen, Cardiac/Pulmonary Rehab, and Mental Health programs.  She subsequently managed Interior Health’s new corporate credentialing and privileging department.  Her team initiated the first successful electronic implementation of IH’s annual privileging process which became the gold standard for privileging and credentialing in BC.  In her leisure hours, Maja enjoys glam-camping, her husband’s gourmet cooking, and checking off bucket list items such as completing the Panama Canal transit via a cruise ship.  Contact Maja at administrative@vernonphysiciansociety.ca