OTTAWA – Dr. Ed Brown (pictured), CEO of the Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN), was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal in Ottawa on November 26 by the Right Hon. David Johnston, Governor General of Canada.

The award was announced in April. Forty-five recipients from various sectors across the country received awards during the ceremony at Rideau Hall. Dr. Brown was honoured for developing and implementing NORTH Network and overseeing its expansion as OTN.

OTN is one of the largest telemedicine networks in the world, bringing specialized healthcare to thousands of rural Ontario patients each day in their home communities, saving them the time and expense of travelling to urban centres for treatment.

He has also been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award for his contributions to healthcare in Canada. In 2010, he was chosen as one of 25 Transformational Canadians by a national media panel sponsored by the Globe and Mail, CTV and La Presse.

Created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Meritorious Service Decorations – the Meritorious Service Cross and the Meritorious Service Medal – recognize Canadians for exceptional deeds that bring honour to Canada. Their acts are often innovative, set an example or model for others to follow or respond to a particular challenge faced by a community.

The cross was originally created in 1984, for members of the military. In 1991, a medal was added to the military division and both the cross and medal were introduced for civilians. The Meritorious Service Medal is a circular silver medal bearing the Royal Crown and the inscription Meritorious Service Méritoire.

About OTN

OTN brings virtual care innovation to the healthcare system so that the people of Ontario can get the care they need when and where they need it most: at home, in their community or in hospital. For more than a decade, OTN has increased access to healthcare and education across the province with one of the world’s most extensive telemedicine networks. Working with its many partners and leveraging its unique knowledge of healthcare and digital technology, OTN addresses challenges by introducing and spreading new ways of delivering care that benefit patients, care providers and the healthcare system. An independent, not-for-profit organization, OTN is funded by the Government of Ontario.