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.

I really enjoy working with the pediatric population. Kids are so energetic, willing to learn and eager to challenge themselves. The beauty of pediatric primary care is that one day is never the same, every child is so unique. There is always new knowledge to gain. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, running, swimming, and vacationing on Cape Cod. 

I believe that the relationship between patient and doctor should always be collaborative; it is the providers role to imbue knowledge and guidance, but concomitantly, give the patient agency in a combined decision-making process.

I believe wholly in health equity and the belief that we all deserve a fair and equal chance at leading a healthy life - a chance that should be unfettered by socioeconomic status, culture or creed. I believe that the treatment of an individual should be holistic in approach and because of this, I tend to build deep and lasting relationships with my patients. Even the highest medical acumen is deemed useless without rapport and essential communication with the patient. Having the opportunity to live in many different areas of the world has exposed me to different demographics, cultural settings and clinical maladies. Because of this, I think I am able to provide a unique scope of medicine that can better serve my patients. I have worked in both urban and suburban settings - providing health care to some of our communities most underserved - and I have also provided medical support in the international setting. Prior to medicine, I worked in academic research as a virologist studying Ebola virus. My time doing science research helped further cultivate my love and understanding for disease processes from a fundamental and physiological standpoint, allowing me to better understand and identify treatment modalities in the clinical setting. I originally hail from New York but I have been many places since. I have a vast sneaker collection that only out preforms my record collection, I love riding my bike and I am almost a blue belt In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. I travel as much as possible, cook whenever I can, and I love staying active with surfing, snowboarding, and running. Occasionally, I even read book here and there, and I love my two cats Roger and Tio.

My goal is to establish open communication with patients so we can work together on taking ownership of their health and wellness.

I enjoy the meaningful relationships I have built and the inspiration I draw from patients every day in clinic. A healthy dialogue is an important part of the provider-patient relationship. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, writing, and staying active outdoors.

I've worked in the pediatric health care field since high school and by the time I went to college, I knew it would be my career. Children are all different, there is no lock and key to the care and respect they deserve. It's been an honor working with so many wonderful patients and their families, especially watching them grow and take on new aspects of life. Outside of work, I love the outdoors, gardening and traveling with my husband.

I look forward to helping patients and members of our community navigate unexpected and stressful health events with extra attention to the patient and their most immediate loved ones, family, and friends. 

I look forward to providing care and service to the community that my wife and I have called home since 2010. We have two beautiful children who lovingly occupy the majority of our free time when not providing healthcare at South Shore Health. 

I am a Cum Laude graduate of Tufts University, and I earned my medical degree at the Tufts University School of Medicine. I completed my surgical residency at New York Medical College, and my urological residency at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY. I came to South Shore Urology on completion of his residency. I am certified with the American Board of Urology and I am passionate about providing high quality patient care in a compassionate environment.