Jeffrey Cannon
“I don’t think a week has gone by during residency when I haven’t thought to myself, 'Wow, WVU prepared me very well for this.' From ultrasound training to clinical exposure, we are incredibly well prepared for residency when we graduate.”
What made you want to get your M.D. degree from West Virginia University?
Having grown up in Southern West Virginia, I was eager to come back home for medical school. I was truly thrilled when I got my acceptance letter from WVU!
What made you want to become a doctor?
I’d say many things contributed to the desire to become a physician. I genuinely enjoy helping people, making a difference and satisfying my curiosity. Being a physician allows me to do all these things. When I was a freshman in college, I went on a medical mission’s trip to Kenya with my father (who is also a physician). Serving others and learning from people around the world really solidified my decision to ultimately pursue medicine.
What year did you graduate from WVU School of Medicine?
I graduated in May 2019.
What was your favorite part of the program?
My favorite part of the M.D. program at WVU was the camaraderie of my classmates and also with the faculty. WVU is one big family.
What memory stands out the most from your time in medical school?
Being able to go on the medical school’s outreach trip to Gilbert, West Virginia for neurology and ophthalmology clinics with Drs. Brick and Charlton was a great memory and a time when we as Mountaineers give back to the communities around our great state.
Where did you do your residency?
I am currently in my third year of a four-year residency program in anesthesiology. I am training at University Hospitals / Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
How did WVU shape you into the doctor that you are now?
I don’t think a week has gone by during residency when I haven’t thought to myself, “Wow, WVU prepared me very well for this.” From ultrasound training to clinical exposure, we are incredibly well prepared for residency when we graduate from WVU.
What do you do now?
I am still in residency here in Cleveland, Ohio! I am finishing my third year of training in anesthesiology, and I have one year to go.
Why did you want to go into that type of medicine?
I found myself wanting to do “a little bit of everything” when I was in medical school. I believe anesthesiology lets me do that! From labor and delivery to pediatrics, from pain clinic to nerve blocks, from trauma resuscitation to critical care—anesthesiology has it all!
What do you find most interesting about that area?
When I told others, I wanted to go into anesthesiology, I was sometimes met with skepticism and disbelief. “How could you waste your personality on anesthesiology? Don’t you want to talk to your patients? They’ll just be asleep the whole time!” I understand that perception. However, I find that my experience on the day-to-day is much different from that. I meet people just a few short minutes before they go to the operating room for a potentially life-altering procedure. Whether it’s “big” or “small,” this is not a normal day for that patient. I get the opportunity and privilege to connect with them and earn their trust and confidence within just a few short minutes. Of course, I enjoy a lot of the clinical work and variety in the operating room as well. However, to be able to comfort another human being and ensure they remain safe and well throughout their surgery—that is an honor that I will never take for granted.
Do you stay connected with any fellow alumni? If so, how do you connect?
I am a member of the WVU Alumni Association. I also stay personally in touch with many members on faculty, administration, and the alumni association staff. Regarding classmates, it is so wonderful to come back to Morgantown and see so many friends. Also, a group of us plans to get together for a ski trip once a year.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Being a part of the Mountaineer family is one of the biggest points of pride in my life. Many of my colleagues are often so surprised to see how tight knit the WVU family is. I will always bleed Old Gold and True Blue. Let’s Go, Mountaineers!