"Many times over these last few months, especially, there have been scenarios where I feel like I'm talking to a cousin, or I'm talking to my brother or my sister, as opposed to just a colleague."

Edoye Porbeni got into health care to do meaningful work and make a difference.

The daughter of a registered nurse at Burnaby Hospital’s maternity unit, Porbeni grew up hearing her mother's stories about having a tough but rewarding career in health care. She wanted to follow her mom's steps but down a path more suited to her own interests and skills, she said.

So when the first wave of COVID-19 hit, Porbeni, leader for the new solutions stream in virtual health, was ready to answer Fraser Health's call to support care and communication in the time of physical distancing.

“We were really just asked to do anything that we could to support the clinicians who were in direct contact with the folks who needed us most,” Porbeni said.

Her team was tasked with launching virtual health initiatives to help clinical teams reach more patients in the region during the pandemic. It was crucial work and they “went into overdrive," Porbeni said.

“We were working quite extraordinary hours just trying to see what we could do to contribute," she said. "Like everybody else in our communities, we were in awe of what our clinical staff were doing, and how they were just stepping into their roles in a big way.”

But when the second cycle of COVID-19 came, her team felt a bit more prepared, she added.

“We know we've learned some things,” Porbeni said. “We're trying to refine and take the best of what we did earlier this year [in 2020], and spread that and scale it."

Being more prepared has helped Porbeni stay resilient through it all, she said. Her “high-functioning, cohesive and caring” team pulled together to get the work done.

Launching ambitious projects required the virtual team to check in daily on their work’s progress but they also took the time to check in on each other. That kept their spirits high, Porbeni said.

"Working at Fraser Health is an experience and a lesson in how you can practice work-life blending in a meaningful and mindful way," Porbeni said.

"Many times over these last few months, especially, there have been scenarios where I feel like I'm talking to a cousin, or I'm talking to my brother or my sister, as opposed to just a colleague."