Dr. Christilaw has spent her career advancing women’s health in British Columbia. Since starting medical school in 1978, and throughout her career, Dr. Christilaw continues to assure that all women have access to the tools they need for the best possible health.
From 2008-2017, Dr. Jan Christilaw served as President of BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre, and Vice President, Provincial Women’s & Newborn Health, Provincial Health Services Authority. Since stepping down, she continued her clinical work until 2022 and continues as a Clinical Professor in the Faculty of Medicine at UBC, also serving as Director of Women’s Health Programming with the Canadian Network for International Surgery.
Her 25+ years of accomplishments include: President, Society of Obstetrics-Gynecologists Canada; Expert Advisor, Canadian Institute for Health Information for Maternity; UBC Clinical Professor, Editorial Board of JOGC and Chair, BC Consensus Panel on Cesarean Birth. In recent years, she has been awarded the YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Health and Wellness category, the British Columbia Community Service Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal, Waterloo University Distinguished Alumni Award, the National Leadership Award of the Federation of Medical Women, the Canadian International Surgery Volunteer of the Year award, the Honorary Alumnus UBC Faculty of Medicine Award, Distinguished Alumni Award for McMaster University 2018.
On January 1, 2017, Dr. Christilaw was appointed to the Order of Canada for her work in obstetrics nationally and internationally. In July 2024, she was awarded The Global Citizenship Award by University of British Columbia.