Jeff Cannon, M.D.
“I cannot emphasize enough how well-prepared I was for residency thanks to the comprehensive education I received at WVU.”
Beckley native Jeff Cannon, M.D., said the well-rounded education he received at the WVU School of Medicine provided him with the tools he needed to excel through residency, fellowship and now in his career as an anesthesiologist.
Dr. Cannon explained that the emphasis on developing well-rounded physicians at the WVU School of Medicine helps medical students be prepared to respond to any medical scenario, regardless of what specialty they decide to go into.
“I cannot emphasize enough how well-prepared I was for residency thanks to the comprehensive education I received at WVU,” he said. “My rural medicine rotations in family medicine and OB/GYN, as well as my elective rotations where I got to explore various other specialties were extremely vital to my development as a young physician and helped smoothen my transition into residency.”
A one-month elective rotation where Cannon had the opportunity to train hands-on with a group of anesthesiologists in a rural WV hospital confirmed his passion for the field, leading him to pursue both a residency and fellowship in anesthesiology. Since completing his training in 2024, Cannon has been practicing anesthesiology and critical care in Winchester, Massachusetts.
Cannon recently returned to Morgantown to serve as the keynote speaker for the 2025 WVU School of Medicine White Coat Ceremony, where second-year medical students were formally presented with their white coat, which symbolizes their next two years of clinical-based training.
Cannon took the opportunity to speak directly to students, where he encouraged them to embrace to concept of failing without ever embracing the title of a failure.
“In the medical field, we all want to become the best physicians we can be, so we can provide patients with the best care possible. With such large expectations comes a lot of pressure to always succeed, and I can speak from firsthand experience how disappointing it can be to fail,” he said. “Whether you are struggling with a course or you make a mistake during a rotation, I encourage you to view it as a learning opportunity and acknowledge how you can do better without ever losing faith in your abilities.”
Cannon reminded students that the road to success is often paved with many failures, and challenged them to own their failings without ever owning the identity of “failure.”
He also spoke about the importance of maintaining wellness as a medical student, and encouraged students to still set aside time for the hobbies they enjoy.
“As we all know, medical school is a very demanding time, and often that means we don’t have the time to dedicate to our hobbies like we used to. It’s important to remember that just like our passion for medicine is crucial to our development as physicians, so are our other interests and hobbies,” he said. “I implore each of you to still make time for the things you enjoy most. Even if it’s as simple reading a book in bed before you fall asleep, or taking a 15-minute study break to catch up with a friend, never forget about the other things that bring you joy and spark a sense of curiosity.”
Cannon said he was honored by the opportunity to return to campus and serve as the keynote speaker at the annual white coat ceremony and expressed his gratitude for the role that the WVU School of Medicine has played and continues to play in his life.