Meet Nadia Kyerematen-White

Job Title
Environmental Health Officer II

Department/Location
Health Protection-Vancouver office

How long have you worked at VCH?
2 years, 4 months

Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
My job is very diverse, but in a snapshot I visit places in the community such as restaurants and other food premises, schools, care facilities, shelters, personal service establishments, rental housing locations, and recreational water facilities to conduct routine inspections, ensuring that these facilities are safe for the public to use. I also investigate disease outbreaks and public health complaints and provide education, and consultation to the general public and stakeholders. More info on my exciting and fulfilling yet sometimes misunderstood and unrecognized job can be found at: vch.ca/your_environment.

What’s your favourite thing about your work?
1. Interacting with and learning from the various operators in my district and building strong professional relationships with them.
2. Knowing that I am making a difference in the lives of those in my community by ensuring that the services they use are safe and compliant with the local regulations or current best practices.
3. Working with the amazing, hard-working and dedicated people in the Health Protection Department (12th and 8th floor of 601 West Broadway!).

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?
We strive to apply the True North goals in all aspect of our job whether it be though our community work or other areas.

One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
I volunteer with the Shelter Program at First Baptist Church on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9pm. We provide a hot supper and musical entertainment to the homeless and others in need. It is so rewarding for me to be able to sacrifice some of my time that I would have otherwise spent at home watching reality TV to help those in need.

Three things you always have in your fridge:
1. Ketchup (thanks to my husband’s obsession with it)
2. Cat food (a cat’s gotta eat too)
3. A thermometer! 🙂

What makes you happy?
Apart from my God, family and friends, just being and surrounding myself around positive people who love life and what it has to offer. I wholeheartedly try to avoid stressing and worry about the small things, especially if they are out of my control. It’s important to look on the brighter side of life, have faith and ignore irreverent First World problems.

Most healthy habit:
Waking up Monday to Friday, at 6am to get in an hour of Bootcamp or HIIT workout at the Robert Lee YMCA.

Favourite vacation spot:
So far, my favourite spots (as I could not just choose one) are: Nice (South of France), England or Germany.