‘Mix of disbelief and immense gratitude’: N.L. doctor appointed to Order of Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador's Dr. Proton Rahman is among the newest Newfoundland and Labrador appointees to the Order of Canada.

Rahman, a rheumatologist and genetic epidemiologist who played a role in the province’s public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic, was recognized for his extraordinary contribution to the nation on December 31.

Rahman said he was in disbelief when he found out he would be one of the 80 new appointments made by Gov. Gen. Mary Simon.

“I received an email around maybe the third week of November, and it was titled Sharing Good News and came from the Governor General's office. I initially put it aside only because I was in clinic and I had nominated a colleague for the Order of Canada,” he told CBC Radio’s The St. John’s Morning Show.

“I was just really in a mix of disbelief and immense gratitude when they told me it was actually me that was nominated.”

Rahman looks after patients with types of arthritis in his work as a rheumatologist, which he considers his day job.

“I'm able to support people through the journey of having chronic aches and pains towards better health,” he said.

When not in the clinic, Rahman is in the lab where he is a medical researcher working to identify genetic factors that can lead to arthritis or respond in therapy.

“To be honest, there's very few Eureka moments in the lab. The progress is usually slow and so each study or experiment kind of contributes incrementally to a greater body of knowledge,” Rahman said.

Many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians would recognize Rahman for his work during the COVID-19 pandemic, as he was head of the province’s pandemic data analysis group.

“Growing up here, I’ll do anything to help the province and really ‘No’ is not in my vocabulary,” he said.

Rahman called his appointment to the Order of Canada the honour of his life.

“I'm truly humbled by such a prestigious recognition,” he said.

Alongside Rahman, N.L. businessmen Mark Dobbin and Brendan Paddick have also been appointed to the Order of Canada.

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