It wasn’t a parental directive, nor was it exactly expected, but it kind of made sense that Jayson Cannon would enter the healthcare profession. He has a brother with a degree in biology, a sister with a degree in psychology, and, as most Tipton Countians know, his father, Jesse Cannon, was a doctor of internal medicine for 30 years before retiring in 2011.
“I grew up around healthcare,” said Cannon, 36, the owner of Cannon Chiropractic in Munford. “My dad definitely didn’t push it, but he was encouraging,” said Cannon, “he always said, ‘Do you want to do.’”
Jayson graduated from Covington High School in 1995. He went to the University of Memphis from there, and wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do for a living.
“I knew it was going to be something in the medical fi eld,” Cannon said. “I thought about dermatology for a while. I knew I didn’t want to be a GP (general practitioner) … To this day, I bring my patients home with me. I just didn’t think I wanted to deal with life and death situations.”
A couple of years later he began considering the chiropractic field. “I asked my dad about it at the time,” Cannon said. “He was in favor it. Chiropractic is a holistic approach … Dad always said society was overmedicated.”
So Cannon attended Parker Chiropractic College (now Parker University) in Dallas and earned his degree.
Ten years ago, opened his first office in Atoka before moving to his Munford office on Tabb Drive.
“The south end (of Tipton County) was really growing at that time, so it was a perfect fit,” Cannon said. “I wanted to be one of those guys who went away for a while and show that you can come back home.”
Cannon Chiropractic does a lot more than massage a stiff back. His staff treats neck pain, numbness, sciatica and sports injuries. He also puts a focus on leading a healthy lifestyle through proper exercise, diet and nutrition.
“We are interested in your long-term health and wellness,” said Cannon, “not just a quick fix to mask back pain or neck pain.”
Family has always been very important to Jayson.
In 2004, Jayson and his father had the opportunity to share office space in Atoka.
The two were close then and still are.
Although Jesse Cannon has been retired for a couple of years, Jayson still seeks his advice.
“He still talks about bedside manner,” Jayson said. “He always says to treat a patient like you would want your mother treated.”
Jayson’s bedside manner is a little unique in the medical field.
Patients in his office aren’t greeted by a button-down, soft-spoken doctor looking to get a patient in and out of the office.
“What’s up man?” Jayson said to a man who came in for an adjustment on a recent Thursday morning. “What you been up to?”
The man didn’t seem surprised by the casual greeting from his chiropractor. His rapport with patients is probably a big reason why he’s been voted the county’s best chiropractor in The Leader’s Best of Best poll four straight years.
“That’s just how I am,” Cannon said with a laugh. “I don’t even think about it.”
