From the jungles to the mountains, surgery fits Dr. Jeremy Meyer
When he sewed up a deep cut to the bone in the jungle of Nicaragua on a mission trip shortly after he graduated from college, Dr. Jeremy Meyer was convinced of the critical importance of surgery. Now, he finds his calling to do surgery closer to home at Mountain States Medical Group General Surgery as the group’s newest surgeon, and on occasional medical mission trips.
“I saw how surgery was a good fit for doing medical work in the developing countries and I desire to do more of that, so this was the big draw to go into surgery for me,” he said.
When Dr. Meyer returned from his life-changing mission trip, he attended medical school at Loma Linda University in California. With a desire to return home to Tennessee, he accepted a surgery residency at his top choice: East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine.
Surgery offers Dr. Meyer the opportunity of fixing a problem for a patient during a critical time in their lives, he said.
“You have to allow the patient time to talk because you can pick up on things you have in common and make them feel more at ease,” he said. “I also like to take time for them if they have any questions. When I am explaining, I don’t just assume they understand. Some want all the details and some just want an overview.”
Dr. Meyer offers minimally invasive and traditional surgeries for laparoscopic breast, hernia, thyroid and colorectal and gastrointestinal surgery. In addition, melanoma and skin care surgeries and endoscopy are specialties. For post-surgery, he treats patients, when needed, with wound care and skin grafting.
When not in the operating room, Dr. Meyer enjoys hiking familiar trails with his wife and children and mountain-climbing with his father. On Sundays, he plays the violin at his church as part of his ministry. He says more medical mission trips are in his future, but he also loves serving patients right here at home.
Dr. Meyer is board-eligible with the American Board of Surgery and is accepting patients at Mountain States Medical Group, 1497 W. Elk Ave., Suite 10, Elizabethton. To make an appointment, call 423-542-7440.
