Northern Health (NH) strives to make our values – empathy, respect, collaboration, and innovation – the core of what we do every day.
The Dr. Charles Jago Awards, named after our former board chair, acknowledge and celebrate NH staff, medical staff, and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the organization’s goals, while reflecting our values in the process.
This award is presented to an individual or team who exemplifies outstanding behaviours and actions that demonstrate Northern Health’s value of integrity and collaboration, by building open and trusting relationships, demonstrating honesty and consistency with NH’s values, and fostering shared understanding through open dialogue. They encourage team unity by welcoming diverse ideas and resolving conflict in ways that support learning and growth for all involved.
Our recipient for the collaboration category is Beth Ann Derksen, Executive Lead for Critical Care.
Beth Ann has held various roles throughout her working history with the organization, giving her a wide variety of experiences and personal growth. These roles include:
- General Duty Nurse (first job) at the Stuart Lake Hospital in Fort St. James in the old (then new) building.
- General Duty Nurse St. John Hospital, Vanderhoof
- Supervisor at Fort St. John General Hospital
- General Duty, Emergency, Critical Care, and Psychiatry Nurse and at (then) Prince George Regional Hospital (now University Hospital of Northern BC)
- Director of Mental Health and Substance Use for the Northwest region
Her remarkable journey through diverse roles and regions stands as a testament to her dedication, leadership, and lasting impact on Northern Health, culminating in a well-earned retirement on June 26, 2025.
Christine Gaudreau, Program Service Specialist, Acute Care, and Joan Cuevas Program/Service Specialist share the below testimonials.
Beth Ann actively encourages us to foster connections and provides opportunities for networking and collaboration across teams. Recently, I had the chance to join the Quality Improvement (QI) team to conduct quality checks for long-term care (LTC) homes in the rural Northern Interior. Despite my primary focus being on acute care, Beth Ann wholeheartedly supported my involvement. This experience not only broadened my understanding of the access and flow of care between service areas but also allowed me to get to know my colleagues as wonderful human beings.
Beth Ann has encouraged collaboration not only within our NH team but also with colleagues across the province. She supported me in bringing unique strengths into provincial working groups to determine the best care practices for critical care patients in BC. She really values our individual preferences and lets us handle tasks in ways that suit us best. This respect for our unique working styles not only boosts our productivity but also strengthens our commitment to the team's goals.
Beth Ann’s journey with Northern communities began in 1976 in Fort St. James, long before Northern Health even existed! Since then, she has dedicated her career to supporting and strengthening the North, and now she’s looking forward to a well-earned retirement filled with relaxation and freedom from schedules.
This summer, Beth Ann plans to enjoy a slower pace, and come fall, she’s excited to explore new volunteer opportunities. Outside of work, she finds joy in spending time with family and friends, gardening, cooking for her loved ones, reading, and sewing costumes for theatre productions.
We are so grateful for Beth Ann’s years of service and her spirit of collaboration. Congratulations, Beth Ann!
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