Every year, FNHA engages a number of summer interns to support health promotion and disease prevention work, across all regions and departments. This summer, FNHA is working with 19 interns from across the province. Want to learn about this year's cohort? This week, we interviewed three of our summer interns to find out what they're up to and where they're going.
Jerrica Joe, Policy Planning and Community Services Summer Intern
Jerrica is Nlaka'pamux from the Shackan Indian Band and calls Kamloops home. She is currently undertaking undergraduate studies in Sciences with majors in biology and chemistry. She plans to attend medical school following her undergraduate degree.
(Jerrica Joe at the Health Screening booth at the 2016 BC Elders Gathering.)
What was your role with FNHA?
As a Summer Intern within the Policy Planning and Community Services (PPCS) department for the Interior Region, I've had the chance to assist with health planning sessions and community events, such as the Elders Gathering and IndigenEYEZ's youth camp. Though some days are less glamorous (e.g.: reorganizing the office or checking the fleet vehicle for marmots), I love seeing the interaction with and positive impacts on communities.
What did you like best about working with FNHA?
I've enjoyed the community-driven aspect of FNHA's planning. There is this palpable sense of continually improving what we can whilst maintaining the successes we've encountered.
How will this contribute to your future career?
Working with the FNHA has given me a wonderful chance to see the planning side of health care – getting to see how community input effects real change to health and wellness services.
What was your most unique/surprising experience at FNHA?
This year I got to attend the BC Elders Gathering in Williams Lake. It was awesome to put faces to a lot of names I had seen in emails and remember that we're part of such a large and diverse team. And the rodeo was amazing!
Michelle Gnyra, Health Benefits Summer Intern (Pharmacy)
Michelle was born and raised in Calgary, though most of her family lives in Eastern Canada. Joining them out east, she began her post-secondary study in biochemistry at Bishop's University in Sherbrooke, QC. However, her love of the West Coast and the mountains brought her to Vancouver to finish her studies in pharmacy. She will enter her third year of pharmacy school this fall.
What was your role with FNHA?
I provided pharmacy support to the Health Benefits department. As such, I was involved in the Health Information Claims Processing System transition project, provided drug information to FNHA nursing staff and participated in the development of prescription and Over the Counter Drug Misuse activities.
What did you like best about working with FNHA?
What I liked best about working with FNHA was being included in so many important conversations around pharmacy practice and drug policy on a multitude of topics, including harm reduction, culturally safe care, drug coverage changes and pharmacist scope of practice. I also loved the warm and welcoming community environment in the FNHA Health Benefits department.
How will this contribute to your future career?
No matter where the wind takes me, I will definitely bring the lessons I learned this summer (especially in regards to culturally safe practice and harm reduction) with me into practice.
What was your most unique/surprising experience at FNHA?
I was most surprised by the impact a pharmacist can have in harm reduction strategies when I tried (and failed) to buy my own naloxone kit from a pharmacy as an experiment. My awareness of this will help shape how I interact with all patients in the future (key word: judgment-free!).
Dina Brown, Interior Region Summer Intern
Way' (Hello in Okanagan).
Dina is Syilx from the Okanagan Indian Band in Vernon, B.C. She will be completing her Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia in the spring of 2017 and aspires to continue on to a Master's in Occupational Therapy.
(Dina Brown, left, at the 2016 BC Elders Gathering.)What was your role with FNHA?
Support team projects, conduct research and develop briefing notes, event coordination and participation.
What did you like best about working with FNHA?
I liked that everyone who works with FNHA is very health and wellness minded. I also like that this opportunity has really allowed me to grow and see my career path as well as the future of health as guided by First Nations.
How will this contribute to your future career?
Working with FNHA has allowed me to get an idea of the direction of health and wellness for First Nations in British Columbia, and this has inspired me and shown me ways in which my career path can contribute to towards the health of our people.
What was your most unique/surprising experience at FNHA?
One of the most unique experiences I had at FNHA was being able to attend the BC Elders Gathering. I was able to listen to Elders' stories and knowledge and that was a huge gift that I will always cherish.
