Surgeon Spotlight

Dr. James Clanahan recalls the time a doctor made a house call when his grandmother, who he and his family lived with, was ill.

"The doctor would come by with his black bag, and I always remember how everybody stopped what they were doing and took note, and brought the doctor in to talk to her," Dr. Clanahan said. "And when he left, everyone felt relieved. At a young age, I could tell that he had made a difference in people's lives, and it impressed me."

"From that time," he said, "All I've ever wanted to be was a surgeon. Or a football player, but that didn't work out."

What Dr. Clanahan enjoys most about surgery is that he sees patients get well quickly. "It's very satisfying to see someone in the emergency room who is very sick, and you help them with an operation. Then you see them in the office a week later, and they're feeling much better," he said. "It's personally very gratifying to have been a part of that."

Dr. Clanahan is a breast surgeon with Lincoln Surgical, and he is medical director the Memorial Breast Health Center of Excellence. You can learn more about his background on his profile page.