Ontario physicians appointed to 2024 Order of Canada

Seven of our members have been appointed to the Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest civilian honours, for 2024.

The annual award recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation.

“On behalf of the Ontario Medical Association, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to these extraordinary physicians on being appointed to the Order of Canada,” said OMA President Dr. Dominik Nowak.

“Their achievements reflect not only their commitment to advancing medicine, but also their profound contributions to improving the lives of patients in Ontario, across Canada and around the world. We are grateful for their leadership, innovation and dedication to our health-care system.”

We congratulate our members, who are among the 88 most recent appointments to the Order of Canada:

• Dr. Stephen Aaron Arshinoff (Officer) – Toronto 
  For his transformative innovations in ophthalmology, including cataract surgery techniques, and his dedication to delivering care in remote northern Ontario communities.
• Dr. Dafna Debora Gladman (Officer) – Toronto 
  For her foundational contributions to the understanding and treatment of psoriatic arthritis and her mentorship of future researchers.
• Dr. George A. Trusler (Officer) – Toronto 
  For his life-saving innovations in pediatric cardiac surgery.
• Dr. Sandy Howard Buchman (Member) – Toronto
  For his national leadership in palliative care, MAID advocacy and efforts to advance equitable and compassionate care in Canada and abroad.
• Dr. David A. Chitayat (Member) – Toronto
  For his pioneering work in clinical genetics, advancing understanding of fetal abnormalities and improving health care for patients globally.
• Dr. André Bernard Lalonde (Member) – Ottawa 
  For his leadership in humanizing maternity care in Canada and abroad, including advancing best practices in childbirth.  
• Dr. Greg Ryan (Member) – Toronto
  For his revolutionary work in fetal medicine in Canada and abroad, developing in utero treatments that have saved countless lives, and his work mentoring the next generation of fetal therapy specialists.

The 2024 appointments to the Order will be invited to a ceremony to be announced at a later date, to be invested into the Order and receive their medals. 
The Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System, celebrating the achievements and wide-ranging contributions of over 8,000 people since its creation in 1967.

Anyone can nominate a person for the Order of Canada, with nominations accepted on an ongoing basis. Appointments are made by the Governor General on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada.