Hello, my name is Dianna Smith from the Da’naxda’xw/Awaetlala First Nation. I’m married to Jake Smith from the WeiWaiKum First Nation and we currently live in Campbell River with our 2 children Mariah and Kyle.
My love of medicine started as a Respite Worker, for the K’wak’walat’si Child and Family Services, supporting families, and children with medical challenges. This opportunity inspired me to complete a Community Support Worker diploma, resulting in a great part-time job with School District 85 as a Teacher Assistant for 3 years. During that time I became thirsty for more medical knowledge and pursued employment at the doctor’s office in Alert Bay as a casual and eventually completed my Medical Office Assistant certificate and became a full-time MOA at the Namgis Health Center. In this busy office we juggled up to six physicians at a time, regular doctors as well as visiting specialist. Some of the tasks I was responsible for were Tele-Ophthalmology; pre-approval and scheduling appointments, Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinics; ensuring appropriate labs and x-rays were in each chart, organizing and scheduling Internal Medicine doctors as well as working with Health Center staff such as the Diabetic Educator, Patient Travel clerk, and Treatment Center In-take Coordinators, to ensure the correct information was directed to the appropriate staff in a timely manner and with the utmost confidentiality.
In 2011 our family moved to Campbell River at which time I started my journey with KDC Health. I was first hired as an Accounts Payable clerk then as a Site Administration Coordinator, then a CHR at the Quinsam and Campbell River office’s and now as the Medical Office Assistant (MOA). For the past five years I have also been upgrading Math, Biology and Chemistry, as well as taking some University transfer courses in English, Psychology and Sociology at North Island College in hopes of obtaining a Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing in the future. But for now I am excited about this opportunity as an MOA again! I believe this is a giant step in the right direction for holistic health and healing for our Member Nations.
My office hours are Monday, Thursday and Friday 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m.
Please, stop by for a visit!
Thank you!
Dianna Smith