A Tribute to Dr. Douglas A. Canning: Surgeon, Educator, Friend

Abstract

Dug was born in New London, Connecticut in 1957, attended Dartmouth College and Medical School and did his surgical and urology training at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. His pediatric urology fellowship was done at Johns Hopkins, and, as a part of the Armed Forces Scholarship he was awarded for postgraduate Urology training, he spent the next 4 years at the National Naval Medical Center in San Diego. In 1992, he was recruited by John Duckett to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and he succeeded John as the Chief of Urology at CHOP in 1997. As a charismatic, exhaustively active and productive Chief who demanded excellence in clinical practice, clinical and basic research, and development, he significantly enlarged the Division in all of these areas, resulting in a faculty of 12 surgeon Scientists, 21 advanced practice professionals, and 6 endowed Chairs. More than 20 fellows finished their pediatric urology training under his chiefship, as well as over 100 Penn residents. All major societies recruited him is a member, and he served as the president of the Society of Pediatric Urology and the Society of Academic Urology.Doug met the love of his life, Annabelle, at Dartmouth, and they married in 1982. Annabelle, his son John, and his twin daughters, Caroline and Maddy, as well as the rest of his family and his ever present Brittany spaniels were the loves of his life. Next in line were his patients and their families, and he taught us all how to be the staunchest patient and family advocate. All who came in to contact with Doug will remember at least one of his exemplary characteristics and the way he led and conducted his life and professional activities. Quoting from the announcement from his beloved institution, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, “What came through most in his letters was his un wavering appreciation for his life: his family, his dogs, his job and the natural world around him. He was a man who wrote down 3 good things every day to appreciate life, believing that principles, humanity, and gratitude where the key to happiness. These values shown through not only in his letters but also to anyone who met him.”He made a difference. Dug was born in New London, Connecticut in 1957, attended Dartmouth College and Medical School and did his surgical and urology training at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. His pediatric urology fellowship was done at Johns Hopkins, and, as a part of the Armed Forces Scholarship he was awarded for postgraduate Urology training, he spent the next 4 years at the National Naval Medical Center in San Diego. In 1992, he was recruited by John Duckett to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and he succeeded John as the Chief of Urology at CHOP in 1997. As a charismatic, exhaustively active and productive Chief who demanded excellence in clinical practice, clinical and basic research, and development, he significantly enlarged the Division in all of these areas, resulting in a faculty of 12 surgeon Scientists, 21 advanced practice professionals, and 6 endowed Chairs. More than 20 fellows finished their pediatric urology training under his chiefship, as well as over 100 Penn residents. All major societies recruited him is a member, and he served as the president of the Society of Pediatric Urology and the Society of Academic Urology. Doug met the love of his life, Annabelle, at Dartmouth, and they married in 1982. Annabelle, his son John, and his twin daughters, Caroline and Maddy, as well as the rest of his family and his ever present Brittany spaniels were the loves of his life. Next in line were his patients and their families, and he taught us all how to be the staunchest patient and family advocate. All who came in to contact with Doug will remember at least one of his exemplary characteristics and the way he led and conducted his life and professional activities. Quoting from the announcement from his beloved institution, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, “What came through most in his letters was his un wavering appreciation for his life: his family, his dogs, his job and the natural world around him. He was a man who wrote down 3 good things every day to appreciate life, believing that principles, humanity, and gratitude where the key to happiness. These values shown through not only in his letters but also to anyone who met him.” He made a difference.