Leah Tjepkema is a Registered Nurse who has spent the past 10 years caring for patients in her hometown of Fort St. John. Her experience spans long-term care, acute care, and labor and delivery. Today, she works with both Northern Health and the University of Northern British Columbia’s Northern Baccalaureate Nursing Program—while also raising three young children. Balancing career, family, and further education is both rewarding and challenging.
Leah began her nursing career at Peace Villa and the In Patient Unit (IPU), later completing her Perinatal Specialty through Northern Health sponsorship, training to work in the Birthing Centre. Her interest in healthcare has grown beyond clinical care, especially after witnessing the strain the COVID-19 pandemic placed on the system. That experience inspired her to pursue a Master of Nursing in Education, with the goal of contributing to positive change in healthcare policy, education, and leadership.
Receiving the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation Educational Grant has helped make that goal more achievable. “This grant allows me to continue my studies part-time while staying active in clinical practice and present with my family,” she said. “It eases the financial and emotional pressure that comes with juggling work, parenting, and graduate studies.”
Leah hopes to use her education to mentor future nurses, advocate for system improvements, and bring a broader perspective to both teaching and patient care. “In Fort St. John, this helps me support my colleagues and improve care for patients,” she said. “It’s about building a stronger, more collaborative healthcare environment.”
To the donors who made the grant possible, Leah offered her sincere thanks: “Your support makes a tangible difference in the lives of healthcare professionals and, by extension, the communities they serve. Grants like this enable individuals like myself, those balancing family life, professional duties, and academic goals, to pursue advanced education and leadership roles without compromising any one part of that balance. Your contribution is not only an investment in me but in the long-term health and resilience of our community.”