Image: Dr. Jane Buxton received an honorary degree from the University of the Fraser Valley on June 12, 2025. / UFV / Provided

By Alyssa Conti

RECOGNIZING LEADERS

B.C. public health leader receives honorary UFV Doctor of Laws degree

Jun 15, 2025 | 2:50 PM

ABBOTSFORD — The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) has recently celebrated a B.C. health professional with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree for her leadership in research and disease control in the province.

As a physician epidemiologist at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), Dr. Jane Buxton led harm reduction programs, including take-home naloxone kits and an overdose alert partnership.

Her journey began in medical school in England, where she practiced as a family doctor before moving to Canada. In 2000, Buxton entered the Health Canada field epidemiology program while completing her residency in Vancouver and participated in immunization campaigns for illnesses such as influenza, pneumonia, and hepatitis A and B.

“As a trainee, I got to talk in-depth to people who used substances and hear their stories. It made me realize the importance of listening to the perspectives of those who are affected by an issue,” said Buxton.

As fentanyl began flooding the drug market in the 2010s, Buxton and her colleagues worked to introduce naloxone to counter the rapidly spiking number of overdose deaths.

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“People from the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users came to me to advocate for a program, and so we contacted agencies in the U.S. and in Edmonton, where naloxone programs had been established,” she said. “[W]e worked with the BC colleges of nurses, pharmacists, and physicians and surgeons to understand the regulations and everyone agreed on a plan.”

Naloxone kits went from being prescription-only to being available across the province.

“Today, anyone who may witness an overdose can get a kit,” Buxton noted. “They need to know how to recognize and respond to an overdose, including how to administer naloxone.”

Buxton retired from her position at BCCDC, but continues her work as a supervisor and keynote speaker for a new generation of frontline workers.

“Students are inspiring. To see their passion and excitement as they learn — it has been a real privilege to be a part of their learning journey.”

UFV presented Buxton with the honorary degree at its June 12 Convocation ceremony at the UFV Athletic Centre in Abbotsford.