Dr. Jeremy M. Meyer

A memorable experience in the jungles of Nicaragua as a new college graduate and student missionary opened Dr. Jeremy Meyer’s eyes to the importance of the surgery skills he uses today. “I saw how much medical help was needed,” he recalled. “Machetes are used a lot for clearing the jungle, and a guy came in with a machete cut down to the bone. I remember helping clean and suture that, and I saw how surgery was a good fit for doing medical work in developing countries. “I desire to do more of that, so this was the big draw to go into surgery.” When he returned from missionary work, Dr. Meyer left Tennessee to attend medical school at Loma Linda University in California. After graduation, he was pleased to be accepted for a surgery residency at East Tennessee State University’s Quillen College of Medicine, his top choice. Now, as a general surgeon at Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton, Dr. Meyer loves the satisfaction of operating on patients and fixing their problems. “I am meeting my patients at a vulnerable time, so it’s easier to develop a deep relationship with them in a short time,” he said – and listening is an important part of that. “You have to allow patients time to talk, because you can pick up on things you have in common and make them feel more at ease,” he explained. “I also like to stop and ask if they have any questions when I’m explaining; I don’t just assume they understand. Some want all the details, and some just want an overview.” When he’s not doing surgery, Dr. Meyer, his wife and his children enjoy simple activities like walking in the neighborhood, camping in the fall and hiking. “Northeast Tennessee is an awesome place for trails and waterfalls,” he said. It is here that he first learned to play violin while growing up in Jonesborough, and it’s not uncommon to find him using that musical talent at his church today. Living close to his parents makes it easy for Dr. Meyer and his dad to continue their shared hobbies of mountain climbing and flying together, since both have their pilot’s license. Adventures and school have taken him around the world, but he’s happy to be home again. He’ll go on more foreign medical mission trips, but Northeast Tennessee is home. “I always wanted to come back,” he said.

His top areas of expertise are Gallstones, Choledocholithiasis, Gallbladder Disease, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy.

His clinical research consists of co-authoring 1 peer reviewed article. MediFind looks at clinical research from the past 15 years.