The District is pleased to announce that Dr. Saad Alam will be joining the Sicamous Community Health Centre full-time as a family physician.
"I am very excited to relocate and start practicing at Sicamous early September. I recently passed by certification exam in Family Medicine and would be completing my Family Practice training at UBC in Kelowna by the end of August. I look forward to always providing my patients with the best medical care that they deserve, and I also believe in empowering my patients so they can have a better understanding of their health conditions.My areas of interest include mental health and sports medicine. I am open to adapting my style of practice in a way that suits the people of Sicamous the most and look forward to meeting everyone in the near future."
Dr. Vicki Edmondson
The District is pleased to announce that Dr. Edmondson will join the Sicamous Community Health Centre, practicing on a part-time basis effective June 9, 2021.
Dr. Vicki Edmondson graduated in South Africa from the University of Cape Town. In 2003, she moved to Canada to enjoy the outdoor lifestyle and all the opportunities that Canada has to offer and has spent the last 18 years raising her boys and working in Salmon Arm.
Dr. Edmondson is looking forward to providing family practice care in the beautiful Sicamous community.
Jennifer Post-Balfour, Nurse Practitioner
The District of Sicamous is pleased to announce that Jen Balfour will be joining the Sicamous Community Health Centre as a nurse practitioner effective February 13, 2023.
"Hi, I'm Jen. I'm excited to meet the community of Sicamous! I'm originally from Toronto where I finished my education to be a nurse. I worked in several areas as a nurse including medical, cardiac, emergency and ICU medical surgical transplant at the University of Toronto.
I furthered my education and completed a masters in health policy and education. After my graduation, my husband and I introduced our first child and moved to Fort St. John where I worked in dialysis and eventually took a position as emergency and ICU lead. At the same time, I was teaching at the University of Northern BC. We decided to add to our family and had two more children. Due to the needs in the north, I wanted to return to school to become a nurse practitioner. In 2015, I finished the program and welcomed our last child to our family.
We moved again, this time to Revelstoke for my husband's work and to be slightly closer to family. We have lived in Revelstoke for the past seven years. I've worked as a nurse practitioner in several locations and in a variety of care models and environments, including Tshimshan Costal Community, Kamloops Primary Care Clinic, Sorrento Community Clinic, Vernon Urgent and Primary Care and at the Kitimat LNG Project.
I have enjoyed my experiences and have met so many amazing people. I'm looking forward to connecting to a community closer to my home and supporting your healthcare needs."
Karen Eastland, Health Care Centre Manager
Karen’s professional history has been unique, varied, and non-typical and as a result has gleaned some rich experience. She has served in diverse roles and settings ranging from practice and project management, curriculum/program development, human resources, event planning, and interior design - serving a variety of sectors including health care, research, post-secondary, manufacturing, and the oil field. Each time, adjusting and honing her skills, learning fascinating new things, and adapting to different corporate cultures.
She completed all her studies at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, earning diplomas in Ophthalmic Dispensing, Business Administration, and Human Resources. During her tenure in the field of optometry, she was hired by the Alberta Association of Optometrists to create a certification course for ophthalmic assistants, which became a national program and is currently facilitated through the Canadian Association of Optometrists.
In her leisure time she enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, swimming, skiing, painting, gardening, and spending time with family and friends. She is very excited to have the opportunity to serve in the community she calls home.
Sandra Chartrand, Medical Office Assistant
Sandra Chartrand has worked as a Medical Office Assistant in Sicamous for the past 18 years and looks forward to providing continued care to patients at the Sicamous Community Health Centre. "I have made Sicamous home for the last 30 years and love the community spirit that I have been lucky enough to be a part of." When not working, Sandra loves to be on the water or spending time with family and friends. "I look forward to assisting you with your medical needs and offering continued support to our physicians.
Carla Chmilar, Medical Office Assistant
Carla Chmilar is very pleased to have joined the Sicamous Community Health Centre. She has worked as a Medical Office assistant in the sunny Shuswap for over 13 years. Her and her family enjoy many of the diverse, four-season, outdoor activities offered throughout the Shuswap area. Carla looks forward to meeting you and helping to assist you with all your medical needs.
Kira Gulliford, Medical Office Assistant
Kira is pleased to join the team at the Sicamous Community Health Centre. She has been a Medical Office assistant for 16 years working in ophthalmology, family practice and maternity in the Okanagan with the last nine years in the Shuswap.
She loves spending time outdoors with her family and dog, walking, hiking, swimming and finding the year round secret gems that only the Shuswap has to offer.
Kira appreciates being part of the Sicamous health-care team and looks forward to seeing you at the clinic.
