Academic and Career Accomplishments
Dr. James L. Canterbury graduated from Ravenna High School in 1969. In 1972, he attended St. Thomas Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1974, as a Registered Nurse.
In 1983, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. During Desert Shield and Desert Storm he deployed to the Gulf. As a 3rd year podiatric medical student, he was in charge of a contingent sent forward with troops poised to retake Kuwait. He was commended for humanitarian service during this campaign caring for over 280 Iraqi civilians and countless enemy prisoners.
After Desert Storm, Dr. Canterbury returned to his medical studies completing his podiatric residency in 1993. Jim then became a faculty member of Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine. During his tenure he wrote several chapters in four textbooks, served as Chairman of the Faculty Senate and managed the residency program that would become a part of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. While a faculty member, Dr. Canterbury participated in a medical mission to Ecuador. This mission provided medical and surgical care to a remote area of the Amazon as well as training new Ecuadorian doctors’ to serve in those locations. He continued to serve in the Army Reserve eventually becoming the first commander of the 371st MCD. Dr. Canterbury retired from the Army Reserve with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2011, receiving the Meritorious Service Medal for his service.
In 2012, Jim was chosen to become an Afghanistan Pakistan Hand and Senior Health Advisor to the Ministry of Public Health. Afghan Hands move within the culture of Afghanistan assisting the Afghan people in forming a stable society. As the Senior Medical Advisor, he worked with the highest levels of governments, both Afghan and others including non-governmental organizations such as The World Bank and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He was instrumental in promoting legislation that would develop medical licensure, improve the National Blood Bank, assisted in writing tax code for supporting health care funding and assisted Afghans in receiving urgent medical treatment from injuries sustained in attacks by a hostile force.
Jim and his wife, Patricia, have four wonderful children, Chelsea, Meredith, James and Michael and are also the proud grandparents of their three grandchildren.