The Governor General of Canada has announced the appointment of Dr. Paul O’Byrne as an Officer of the Order of Canada. He was cited for his “exceptional work in expanding our understanding of and ability to treat asthma, and for his contributions to medicine in Canada as an educator and administrator.”
“I am deeply honoured and humbled,” said Dr. O’Byrne. “I am grateful to my family, colleagues, mentors, students and patients for their support, and to the Canadian and global scientific community – it is a privilege to do work that impacts people’s lives in a meaningful way.”
A practicing respirologist, Dr. O’Byrne is a global expert on the mechanisms, treatment, and the role of environmental allergens in asthma. With nearly 70,000 citations, his extensive work has been published in top peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Nature Medicine, and others.
“Dr. O'Byrne is an incredible physician, patient advocate, and leader. His research has impacted the lives of people living with asthma and other chronic lung diseases,” said Dr. Dawn Bowdish, executive director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health. “His kindness, mentorship, and vision made the Firestone the place that launched dozens of careers.”
Dr. O’Byrne currently serves as the Dean and Vice-President of the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University. He is also a member of St. Joe’s Joint Boards of Governors.
Prior to his current role, Dr. O’Byrne served as Chair of the Department of Medicine at McMaster for 14 years. During that time, he was the executive director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health at St. Joe’s – a world-renowned respirology research hub.
Included among his previous accolades are his selection to the Royal Society of Canada in 2010, as well as his induction into the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and being named a Distinguished University Professor – McMaster’s highest academic award – both in 2015.
“Dr. O'Byrne's ambition, wisdom, and passion to improve the health of the people he cared for has made him an internationally recognized expert and put the Firestone on the map,” Dr. Bowdish added. “We wouldn't be a world leader in the field of chronic lung disease without him, so it is a joy to see him receive Canada's highest honour.”
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, The Research Institute of St. Joe’s, and the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health congratulate Dr. O’Byrne on this incredible recognition.
Learn more about the Firestone Institute here.