Dr. Jason Canner
Dr. Jason Canner, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital, serves as the Chapter Physician Advisor for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois. Dr. Canner has been active in many philanthropic endeavors since moving back to Chicago in 2008, including becoming more involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Dr. Canner has educated the Foundation's staff on the best ways to help families with medical needs throughout the wish process. He also has made himself available to the team when difficult medical and eligibility questions arise, and connects the Foundation to other physicians in the community. More recently, Dr. Canner has worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America to update eligibility guidelines.
"The wish is very therapeutic for our patients and their families, as it allows them, for a brief period of time, to escape the illness and spend precious time together as a normal family," said Dr. Canner. "It is really a magical experience to witness."
Dr. Canner often speaks to his peers at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital and in the broader medical community about the importance of the wish experience. He has played an essential role in spreading the Foundation's mission, and strongly believes that a wish is therapeutic for both the patient and family as a whole. Dr. Canner's passion for making wishes a part of the treatment process has made him essential in the referral process and has encouraged other physicians to do the same. He is instrumental in raising awareness among families of potential wish children by providing information to those families who are unaware of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as reassuring parents who may be hesitant about the wish process.
Dr. Canner's goals for the Make-A-Wish Foundation are two-fold. First he hopes to "teach all families of children with life threatening illnesses that they DESERVE a wish to further take care of themselves, their siblings and their parents." "More importantly, to explain how these wishes are necessary to ease the anxiety and stress of a life threatening illness," he says. Dr. Canner hopes to reach a day when his patients have all the necessary resources available to them, including a meaningful wish experience.
In addition to acting as Chairman of the Hope Foundation Council, Dr. Canner serves on the board for Imerman Angels, an organization which partners with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to ensure that children are being referred for the appropriate services. Dr. Canner is also involved in numerous other philanthropic organizations, including CureSearch, an organization raising money solely for pediatric cancer research. He truly finds joy in advocating for his patients and reaching out to the community to further great pediatric care.
Patient care is of the utmost importance to Dr. Canner, and he goes above and beyond to make sure the needs of his patients are met. Even further, Dr. Canner strives to help patients beyond their medical needs and Advocate Hope Children's Hospital. Not only does he treat patients in his Oak Lawn office, but Dr. Canner drives to various other cities, such as Winfield, Naperville and Hinsdale, to treat children closer to home and ease some of the stressors on his families. Dr. Canner lives with his wife Janie, a pediatrician, and their two sons Max and Will in Forest Park.
Read more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Illinois 25th Annivesary.
Many doctors tell us that a wish is powerful medicine. The doctors provide the medicine and we provide the magic!
