March 15, 2021

My Why: Jennifer Gannon, PA

Central, Clinical Partners

I always knew I wanted to do something in healthcare. I just wasn’t quite sure what. In high school, a health occupation class exposed me to different aspects of healthcare. I also had the opportunity to be a student assistant to our athletic trainer and I just really fell in love with the sports medicine role in athletic training. My undergrad in was athletic training and then I went on to do a Masters in athletic training, as well. I worked as an athletic trainer for seven years, with five of those years in an orthopedic clinic. Working side by side every day with doctors, surgeons, physician assistants and nurse practitioners, I found I was drawn more to direct patient contact. That’s when I decided to go back to school to become a physician assistant.

It’s definitely where I am meant to be.

When I went back to school, our son was 15 months old and I was juggling family life, motherhood, a full-time job and that first year of school. So, it was a lot of late nights and computer work, then going away for four to five weeks at a time up in North Dakota to do my hands-on learning. It was a challenge, but it was a very rewarding. I am very grateful that I decided to pursue this. It’s definitely where I am meant to be.

Family Practice
CentraCare Albany Clinic