Dr. Thorne completed his rheumatology training in Toronto in 1981 and has been working in Newmarket since that time. He is recognized for his contribution to the field of rheumatology by both the American and Canadian Rheumatology Associations. He is a founding member of the Ontario Rheumatology Association (ORA).

Dr. Thorne has been recognized by his colleagues and peers, with the ORA Distinguished Rheumatologist Award (2010), the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) Distinguished Rheumatologist Award (2015), and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), and has been recognized as a Master of the American College of Rheumatology (2016), in Washington DC. and awarded Master CRA in 2019.

Dr Thorne serves as the Chair of the Board for the new Centre of Arthritis Excellence. His practice is almost exclusively inflammatory diseases, with a small amount of gout and osteoporosis as well.