Meritorious Service Medal
Awarded on: 2004-11-25
Invested on: 2005-05-30
Lydia Neilson, M.S.M., Ottawa, Ontario
Meritorious Service Medal (civil division)
In March 1993, Lydia Neilson founded the National ME/FM Action Network, an advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the recognition and understanding of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) through education, advocacy, support and research. Actively involved in issues that affect individuals with ME/CFS and FMS, Ms. Neilson also spearheaded the publication of internationally acclaimed diagnostic and treatment protocols for these conditions, bringing much-needed information and standardization to these areas of research.