I enjoy getting to know patients and treating the whole person. I focus on preventative care and supporting patients to reach their health goals.   

The doctor-patient relationship is at the center of your health care, and I strive to provide care that is collaborative and inclusive. I have a holistic approach, working with patients to treat the cause of medical problems, and reducing prescription medicines when it is safe to do so.   I am also pro-active, coordinating care and advocating for patients as they navigate the health care system. I enjoy caring for newborns, children, and family members of all ages, as well as helping with stress management and healthy lifestyle changes. 

When not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and my extra-large dog, reading, running, cooking, and playing flute, piano and guitar.  

My goal is to provide compassionate and equitable medical care to patients seeking care for breast-related concerns, including but not limited to breast lumps, abnormal screening mammograms, benign breast masses, and previous or current breast cancer diagnoses. 

I am a graduate of the Tufts University School of Medicine Physician Assistant and Masters in Public Health dual degree program. I have been working at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham & Women’s Hospital Division of Breast Surgery since June 2021.

It is my priority to provide care to patients that is skilled and supportive. I strive to accommodate a patient’s unique and individual needs such that all patients feel cared for and well-informed. I have professional interests in patient-oriented outcomes research and have studied coping and psychosocial wellbeing among adolescents and young adults with cancer. I am originally from Western Massachusetts, and my hobbies include hiking, skiing, and spending with family, friends, and my dog.  

As the Medical Director of Addiction Medicine at South Shore Health, I work to tackle the defining medical challenge of our time: Substance use and alcohol use disorder.

In addition to seeing adult patients at South Shore Hospital, I work with colleagues across South Shore Health to develop and implement a comprehensive addiction medicine treatment program. This program will connect patients with the resources they need to manage substance use disorder, no matter if they come to us through the Emergency Department, primary care, or another setting. Additionally, I serve as Medical Director for Spectrum Health System's opioid treatment program, ATS/detox, CSS, and therapeutic community in Weymouth.

Prior to my work at South Shore Health, I helped launch the Bridge Clinic at Boston Medical Center, which connected patients with treatment options for substance use disorder. I also served as Medical Director for Spectrum Health Systems’ Opioid Treatment Program in Weymouth.

In my spare time, I enjoy baseball, reading fiction, snowboarding, and cooking.

I have been a vascular surgeon for more than 25 years since completing my training at the then Deaconess Hospital in Boston. A native New Englander, I returned to my home state to practice, and was Chief of Vascular Surgery at Brown/Rhode Island Hospital until I left to join the team at Brigham Vascular Surgery in October 2016. Having led an academic department for many years, I sought to bring that level of experience with state-of-the-art vascular care to the community hospital setting and was recruited specifically to lead the division at South Shore Hospital. Since my arrival, South Shore Health has supported this vision for vascular care, opening a new Endovascular OR Suite for complex aneurysm repair; developing a multidisciplinary limb preservation team together with Podiatry, Plastic Surgery, and the Wound Care Center; and organizing community outreach and education events to allow for screening and prevention of vascular disease.

In my occasional free time, I am an avid boater and the South Shore has proven to be the perfect environment for me to pursue my other passion!

Every patient has unique challenges and circumstance of their disease.  My goal is to provide expert care that is tailored to the patient and their family's needs.  Using advanced and proven minimally invasive techniques such as thoracoscopy, robotic and endolumenal treatments, my goal is to minimize pain and accelerate the recovery process so that patients can return to their normal lives.  For patients with cancer, a thorough workup and expedited care is important in getting treated correctly.  Lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymomas and mediastinal cancers can be difficult to navigate.  I will shepard patients and families through the tests, consultations, and treatments needed so that patients always know that they are being cared for.  For patients with esophageal conditions such as reflux, hiatal hernias, diverticular disease, achalasia, etc., there are minimally invasive surgical options that can provide excellent symptom relief and improve the quality of their lives.  In addition, I treat the multitude of thoracic diseases including thoracic outlet issues, hyperhydrosis, chest wall disorders such as pectus, metastatic cancer issues, end stage cancer surgical therapy among others. 

Dr. Christopher Cannell is a doctoral-trained Physician Associate with over 22 years of multidisciplinary clinical experience in Emergency Medicine (CAQ-EM), Orthopedics, Critical Care, and Internal Medicine. He is nationally recognized for his leadership and expertise in healthcare quality, patient safety, and risk mitigation.  He is a frequent invited speaker on Provider Clinical Risk Management and a blogger for medical liability companies on these critical topics.

Dr. Cannell is a successful entrepreneur leading a six-figure consulting firm where he also trains and encourages other healthcare provider entrepreneurs to explore their passions, niches, and grow their own business.

Dr. Cannell has held key leadership positions including current President of PAs in Legal Medicine, Board of Directors for the Academy of Doctoral PAs and previously with Massachusetts Association of PAs, and Board Advisor for the SCUHS Doctor of Medical Science program. He has led clinical teams as an APC Director, Department Lead, healthcare system, program manager and thought leader and Chair of APC career letter committee, driving innovation in quality improvement, documentation, onboarding, population management, operations, and value-based care initiatives across health systems.  Created POCUS acute care program for PAs and NPs at the largest community hospital in Massachusetts in alignment with the department ultrasound director. 

Dr. Cannell is an experienced medical professional legal consultant (MPLC) and expert witness, certified through Auburn University and The Center for Legal Studies. He has over 8 years of experience providing expert witness and consulting services focused on clinical risk assessment, discovery, and standard of care.  His collaborative consulting work spans clinicians, legal teams, malpractice insurance consultants, executives, AI technology, and life sciences organizations.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Dr. Cannell serves as Assistant Professor Doctor of Medical Science Program at The University of Lynchburg, current adjunct faculty for the Doctor of Medical Science Program at Marshall B. Ketchum University and also previously with South College (Healthcare Law & Policy), and currently for Northeastern University School of Medical Sciences PA Program, and the Tufts School of Medicine PA Program. He is a subject matter expert in generative AI development, educational consulting for early career and transitional career NPs and PA’s, and interprofessional collaboration to advance the Quadruple Aim.

Dr. Cannell completed leadership training in Just Culture, High Reliability, as well as patient safety through the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). He earned his DMSc from the University of Lynchburg, MPAS from MCPHS–Boston, and BA in Pre-Medical Studies and Psychology from Muhlenberg College. He has done additional leadership training from AAPA from The Center for Healthcare Leadership and Management.