Embraced medicine in mid-life: Considering a career shift? Pursue it boldly
Joanna Cannon: A Remarkable Journey from Pizza Delivery to Bestselling Author
Joanna Cannon, a 57-year-old author and psychiatrist, has made a name for herself by overcoming numerous obstacles and pursuing her dreams. Despite leaving school at 15 with only one O-level in French, Cannon's determination and perseverance led her to a successful career in medicine and literature.
Cannon's medical journey began at the age of 35, when she was delivering pizzas. A chance encounter with a paramedic inspired her to pursue a career in medicine. Faced with the challenges of a lengthy commute to Leicester for medical school, managing her personal life, and financing her education through pizza delivery jobs and student loans, Cannon persevered. Her age did not hinder her from bonding with her peers during medical school, and she even graduated as a doctor at the age of 42, initially assumed to be more senior than her younger peers due to her age.
After completing her medical studies, Cannon specialized in psychiatry, a field she found both fascinating and rewarding. The experience allowed her to combine her medical skills with empathy and understanding, contributing to her growth as a professional.
Cannon's writing career began during her breaks in the hospital car park. In 2014, she entered a competition at the York Literature Festival, which led to the publication of her novel, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep. This novel explores themes of neighborhood dynamics and the investigations of two young girls, reflecting her interest in storytelling and human behavior.
Currently, Cannon works with the Staffordshire NHS Trust, integrating psychiatry and storytelling in a creative development program for mental health patients. Her work combines her passion for medicine, writing, and community engagement.
Throughout her journey, Cannon has expressed her views that societal expectations about age are nonsensical and encourages others to pursue changes in life. She continues to advocate for pursuing happiness in life, regardless of age or societal expectations.
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- Joanna Cannon, in her pursuit of personal growth and self-development, merged her medical expertise with storytelling, creating a unique home-based writing career that blossomed into a bestselling novel, The Trouble with Goats and Sheep.
- With a focus on wellness and health, Joanna Cannon's work in mental health care includes a creative development program that promotes the intersection of psychiatry, education-and-self-development, and community engagement.
- Despite societal expectations, Joanna Cannon continues to champion the importance of beauty, personal growth, and pursuing happiness at any age, inspiring others to break free from these artificial constraints.
