Officer of the Order of Canada

• Awarded on: November 21, 2013
• Invested on: September 12, 2014

For his contributions as an epidemiologist reducing global disparities in health care access.


Peter Tugwell has been a tireless contributor to global health. A professor at the University of Ottawa, he has directed international initiatives to ensure that the medical treatments prescribed in his specialty of rheumatology are based on the latest evidence. He guided the development of a database of clinical trials and outcomes for arthritis and rheumatic diseases, which has improved patient care around the world. Now, as a Canada Research Chair and director of the University of Ottawa’s Centre for Global Health, he works to improve access to medical advances among disadvantaged groups.