Behind the lens: Carolina’s creative journey in health care
Whether it’s a hospital-wide initiative, an event, or marketing materials, you can find Carolina Feng Chen behind the camera or artwork that brings some of Oak Valley Health’s projects to life.
As a multimedia specialist in Communications and Public Affairs, Carolina has been with the team for nearly two years. She has a unique talent for visually narrating the inspiring stories of people and places, transforming even the smallest projects into creative and memorable experiences.
For Carolina, one of her dreams has always been to work in a hospital. Transitioning from the for-profit sector, she found a new direction both personally and creatively in health care. Each day begins with many tasks, from planning her to-do list to reviewing design requests, photography needs, and marketing materials from various departments, no day is ever the same.
“This is a place where I can challenge my design artistry to a distinct level because there is more to consider in brainstorming and creating,” she explains. “It’s not just about stunning visuals; it’s about the people who see, read, and interpret them. It’s about our staff and patients of all ages and backgrounds. It’s about the community.”
Carolina describes her colleagues as professional, compassionate, and hardworking. “I love that we are all interconnected, even though we may be separated by departments. My role allows me to meet incredible people, including patients. This expands my understanding of the organization and my place within it. The community is extremely diverse. People are very accepting of each other and value each other’s presence. I am honoured to be a part of this.”
While communications and marketing roles in the health care sector might not always be top of mind, they play a crucial role in various projects. From designing impactful campaigns and conducting patient interviews to producing hospital-wide newsletters and community outreach materials, these professionals help shape the narrative around health care experiences.
“Communication builds trust and relationships between everyone within the organization,” she says. “Effective, clear, and concise communication allows us to enhance patient and staff satisfaction, encourage open dialogue between all, improve workflow, reduce errors, and promote safety.”
And the same applies to design.
“A good design is simple and effective enough to communicate what the viewer needs to know and understand in a very short time. It makes patients feel at ease when navigating a stressful environment. It makes lives easier,” she says.
Some projects Carolina supports are the Human Resources “Learn here. Grow here. Thrive here.” recruitment campaign, Long Service Awards, and large-scale projects like the Year in Review. She also works on initiatives and projects like “No excuse for abuse” violence prevention, flu campaign, Pride Month, and more.
She finds joy in her work, conveniently located close to home, allowing her to spend quality time with family, friends, and her beloved cat.
Carolina’s job at the hospital keeps her active, but her vibrant life outside of work is equally fulfilling. She embraces the world creatively, both behind and in front of the lens, cherishing meaningful interactions. With a background in illustration, she immerses herself in drawing either with a pencil or on her tablet, inspired by her childhood in Venezuela, where she discovered her passion for manga comics.
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Carolina enjoys staying active by jumping rope and enjoys listening to EDM. She looks forward to annual hiking trips to Algonquin, where she challenges herself with competitive hikes alongside friends. A proud member of the skating community “cloud8skate,” she participates in weekly events and workshops that connect local businesses with international skate influencers.
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