We wish to congratulate Gordon Whitehead, a long-standing member of the Consumer Advisory Board. Gordon was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal at the 2013 Canadian Rheumatology Conference in Ottawa. As fellow members we know the significant contributions that Gordon has made to arthritis research — but that’s not all!

Dr. John Esdaile, Scientific Director of the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada calls Gordon an “arthritis consumer extraordinaire”. In addition to his 10-year contribution to the Consumer Advisory Board he has been a member of Patient Partners, Canadian Arthritis Patient Alliance and a founding member of the Arthritis Alliance of Canada.  He was also involved with the Summit on Standards for Arthritis Prevention and Care.

Gordon had a successful career in the Canadian Foreign Service and uses his diplomatic skills, vision and passion to the benefit of those living with arthritis.

Congratulations Gordon. We are all so proud of what you have done for Canada and for people with arthritis.