Jalene Jepson: A Journey Through Family Medicine, Recognized with the Sydney Inskip Service Award

When Jalene Jepson talks about her 15 years in the Department of Family Medicine, she starts with the people. The colleagues who became friends. The mentors who trusted her to grow. The team she says she could not do her job without.

This spring, Jalene was recognized with the College of Medicine’s Sydney Inskip Service Award, which honours staff members who have made outstanding contributions and enhanced the work environment. She was nominated by Jaclyn Randall, Dr. Kathy Lawrence, Dr. Sheila Smith, and Dr. Martin Heroux. The award caps a 15-year journey through the Department of Family Medicine, one that began at the reception desk and grew into a leadership role supporting Family Medicine residency training across Saskatchewan.

Where it all started

Jalene started at West Winds Primary Health Centre in 2011 as a receptionist. It did not take long for her to feel at home. Early colleagues, including Amy Winik, Tracy Lewis, and Jaclyn Randall, became some of her closest friends in the process.

Her first manager, Colleen Brockbank, noticed early on that Jalene wanted more. She started handing her additional responsibilities. Jalene credits Colleen as her biggest mentor, the person who first saw that she wanted more and gave her the chance to prove it.

After two years at reception and a maternity leave, a position opened in the Enhanced Skills program. Dr. Brian Geller, Enhanced Skills Program Director at the time, saw something in her and believed she would be the right fit for the role. It was a chance she did not take lightly. The program was still in its early stages and slowly grew and evolved as time went on.

She stayed in Enhanced Skills for roughly 12 years, working alongside Dr. Geller, then Dr. Sheila Smith, and then Dr. Martin Heroux. During that stretch, she also stepped in as interim manager roles multiple times as the department moved through staffing transitions.

When asked about a moment that made her feel like she truly belonged with the department, Jalene did not point to a title change or a promotion. “At West Winds, sharing an office with Amy Winik, Jaclyn Randall, and Carissa Grimard,” she said. “We all had our own portfolios, but we collaborated on lots of work and had a lot of fun doing it. That’s my moment where I thought, yeah, I belong here.”

The people who shaped the path

That sense of belonging did not come from one person alone. Jalene lights up when she talks about the colleagues who have shaped her career, and she is not short on names.

Jaclyn Randall, now Director of Operations and Administration within the department, has been a constant presence since the early days. “I appreciate how direct and down-to-earth Jaclyn is,” Jalene said. “Every single person she interacts with is treated exactly the same. Nobody’s better than another person. She finds something amazing in every single person.” Jaclyn's trust, in particular, has helped Jalene grow as a leader. When Jalene second-guesses a decision, Jaclyn is the first to remind her she's got it.

Dr. Sheila Smith, who served as Enhanced Skills Director and is the current Postgrad Program Director, grew alongside Jalene as the program expanded. “She trusted me with more responsibility as Enhanced Skills was growing,” Jalene said. “She was a great listener, a great supporter. We became really good friends as well as colleagues.”

Dr. Martin Heroux brought something different. Where others offered direction or opportunity, Heroux offered steadiness. Jalene describes him as a calming, optimistic presence who always seemed to know when she needed support. "He would phone me or text me and just check in," she said. "You have no idea how much that means.”

Dr. Kathy Lawrence has supported every transition Jalene has made through the department. Whether it was a new role, a new challenge, or a moment of uncertainty, Lawrence was someone Jalene could count on for direct, honest support. And Jalene is quick to note that the story is incomplete without the administrative team. "They're probably the most important part of this whole thing," she said. "I would not be manager if I didn't have them as my team.”

Those relationships now extend well beyond Saskatoon. Today, Jalene serves as the Manager of Academic Programs, overseeing the administration and delivery of the Family Medicine residency program across Saskatchewan. The role makes her the central point of contact for all things operational in the program, coordinating across urban, regional, and rural training sites spread hundreds of kilometres apart.

She takes pride in the work and does not hide it. “I want things to look polished, and I want things to be done correctly and timely, because my name is attached to it,” she said. “I care about the work, and I care about all the residents and the admins.”

Among the projects she is most proud of is helping centralize CaRMS processes and redeveloping assessment learning plan policies, procedures, and flowcharts. This work brough greater clarity and consistency to areas that had long been difficult to navigate.

 An award she did not see coming

The recognition of that work came this spring in a form Jalene did not expect. The Sydney Inskip Service Award was established by alumni Drs. Ivan Jen and Suzanne Yip to memorialize Sydney Inskip, a staff member who left a lasting impression on the couple during their time as students. The award recognizes staff members who have made outstanding contributions and enhanced the work environment.

Jalene had no idea it was coming. “I was blindsided,” she said. “Jaclyn called me as I was crying tears of joy because the nomination letter was so nice.” Previous winners from the department include Nicole Toutant and Barb Smith, both of whom Jalene holds in high regard. "I can't believe I was considered for the same award," she said.

She was also candid about what the recognition meant to her on a personal level. “Sometimes you just don’t think you’re making a difference, so it was really nice to see,” she said.

Outside the office

Away from the department, Jalene's life runs on a familiar schedule: her kids' hockey games and figure skating practices, time at the family farm, a good book, and, more recently, a return to running. She has also volunteered her time on various boards and committees over the years, because that is simply the kind of person she is. Her family has been a constant through every transition and late night, and she is quick to credit them for giving her the space to take on so much. No matter how busy things get, she makes sure she is there for her kids' events.

 What she wants you to know

Asked what she would tell someone starting their first day in the department, Jalene kept it simple: ask questions, stay flexible, and hang on.

“It can be a roller coaster,” she said. “But it’s really fun.”

Fifteen years in, Jalene Jepson is still the person who starts with the people. And the people, clearly, are glad she does.