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 the NH staff, physicians, and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the organization’s goals, reflecting our values in the process.
The Jago Award for Empathy is presented to an individual or team who exemplifies outstanding behaviours and actions that demonstrate Northern Health’s value of empathy, by seeking to understand the unique experiences of others; showing concern and understanding for people’s needs and feelings through sensitivity, warmth and kindness; and by adapting their interaction style to support those needs, while offering compliments, encouragement, and support.
Our recipient for the empathy category is Caroline Dunford. Caroline is an Occupational Therapist (OT) who came from England to Canada in 1987. She has worked in the community of Fort St. John and BC’s Northeast since 1999. She is committed to helping clients by working with them to meet their needs; listening to their concerns, joys, and struggles; trying to understand their situations and provide support and encouragement; all while appreciating the history, culture, and social values that influence their lives. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting with family and friends, travelling, creating pottery, working in her garden, and walking her dog in the beautiful countryside of Northern BC.
Here are a few excerpts from the testimonial provided by Caroline’s nominator and fellow OT, Caitlin De Smith:
“When I think of the empathy Caroline displays towards our clients and coworkers, it’s not just every now and then, it’s in EVERY interaction. I frequently hear her on the phone, and she’ll end the call by saying “thanks for all you do.” When you meet her, she will always remember you, your name, and the smallest details you tell her. She does all the small things to make her coworkers and community partners feel supported. She recognizes the vulnerability of her clients and addresses them in a manner that puts them at ease.”
Please join us in congratulating Caroline Dunford, our 2024 award recipient for empathy!
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