On December 18, 2024, the Governor General announced new appointments to the Order of Canada, which recognizes those who have made extraordinary contributions to our nation. The Royal College would like to express our sincere congratulations to the eight Fellows who were among those awarded this great honour.

Officers

Stephen Aaron Arshinoff, O.C., MD, FRCSC

Ophthalmologist Steve Arshinoff has helped improve eye care worldwide. He introduced and championed now-common practices, including immediately sequential bilateral cataract surgery, intracameral antibacterial prophylaxis, and ophthalmic viscosurgery. Co-founder of the Eye Foundation of Canada, he is also a long-standing medical director of the Eye Van, which serves people in remote northern Ontario communities.

Dafna Debora Gladman, O.C., MD, FRCPC

Dafna Gladman has made foundational contributions to the field of psoriatic arthritis. Her research has advanced our understanding of this chronic disease, and her advocacy has improved treatment availability and quality of care worldwide. She is a highly respected field leader and mentor to the next generation of researchers.

Stanley Nattel, O.C., MD, FRCPC 

Stanley Nattel is a global authority on the mechanisms and management of atrial fibrillation. He has advanced knowledge and influenced treatment of this most common arrhythmia and major cause of stroke. As editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Cardiology, he has expanded the impact and reach of Canadian cardiovascular research and promoted new researchers.

George A. Trusler, O.C., O.Ont., MD, FRCSC

George Trusler is a gifted pediatric surgeon and former head of cardiac surgery at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. He formulated an algorithm to control excess blood flow to the lungs of infants suffering heart failure, and he invented a technique used to preserve the aortic valve. His innovations continue to save thousands of lives.

Members

David A. Chitayat, C.M., MD, FRCPC  

World-renowned clinical geneticist David Chitayat has devoted his career to providing exemplary care to his patients. A leading researcher and professor, he has focused his work on identifying genes associated with fetal abnormalities and different conditions presenting in postnatal newborns. His expertise has improved the quality of health care in Canada and worldwide.

André Bernard Lalonde, C.M., MD, FRCPC

World-renowned gynecologist and obstetrician André B. Lalonde has played a leading role in humanizing maternity care in Canada and abroad. His exemplary leadership has fostered best practices and helped recognize the pivotal role of midwives, introduce birthing rooms in Canada and return childbirth to the Cree community in Quebec.

Greg Ryan, C.M., MD, FRCSC

Greg Ryan is a leader in the field of fetal medicine and therapy. An obstetrician and researcher, he has helped revolutionize in utero treatment and care of the unborn baby, in Canada and abroad, impacting the lives of numerous mothers and their unborn children. He has mentored many physicians who now perform such life-saving fetal therapy worldwide. 

Sam D. Shemie, C.M., MD, FRCPC

Pediatric intensive care physician and professor Sam Shemie has spearheaded advancements in organ donation and transplantation in Canada and abroad. A key figure in policy and research, he has optimized deceased organ donation systems, influenced hospital culture and shaped ethical standards. His seminal work and leadership have led to widely adopted guidelines that have influenced international protocols.

Congratulations to all inductees for these outstanding achievements!

Source: The Governor General of Canada