Jeffrey R. McConnell, MD

Philosophy of care

I’ve had surgery on both my knee and my cervical spine, so I know what it’s like to be a patient. I treat each patient with the same dedication and compassion as I’d expect to be treated. Everyone is different, and I believe in taking an individualized approach to care. My goal is to get to know every patient and create an optimal health plan that will get them functioning as fully as possible and back to the activities they love. I try to make each office visit enjoyable and love laughing with patients. It really is the best medicine. Keeping current with new technologies and surgical techniques, like robotic surgery, I can deliver even greater health improvements for my patients. I’m dedicated to offering patients world-class care right here in the Lehigh Valley.

Why I entered medicine

My father was a physician. His first office was actually in my childhood home, so medicine has always been part of my life. He practiced in a time when family doctors still made house calls and delivered babies at home. He embodied all of the qualities a person would expect from their physician. Every time I see Norman Rockwell’s iconic image of the physician listening with a stethoscope to a little girl's doll, I think of my dad. He was "patient oriented" in the true sense of the meaning. He cared deeply for everyone he saw, knew their families and understood their day-to-day struggles. He later became an ER physician, and I remember going to work with him as a high school student (which you probably can’t do nowadays). I watched him treat patients with every kind of medical trauma – from gunshot wounds to smoke inhalation, appendicitis, and orthopedic injuries – and was amazed that he knew so much and dealt with emergencies so calmly. I had no doubt medicine was for me, but I hadn’t yet decided on a specialty. Then, I injured my knee playing rugby during medical school. I had surgery and suffered from a post-op wound infection that required a second surgery and a month-long stay in the hospital on IV antibiotics. That’s when I decided on orthopedics. I pursued spinal surgery as a subspecialty because I found it challenged both my intellect and my surgical skills and required a working knowledge of many different areas of medicine. I like the fact that surgery is very hands-on, very visual and tactile, and you can see the immediate benefits of your treatment.

Community involvement

Many people around the world don’t have access to medical treatment for spinal deformities and diseases or the financial means to pay for it. To help this underserved global community, I co-founded two non-profit medical aid organizations – Operation Straight Spine (OSS) and the Spine Education Research Foundation (SERF). Our goal is to bring comprehensive state-of-the-art surgical care at no cost to underprivileged children and adults in Kolkata, India. OSS began its medical mission work in 2006 (with funds raised through SERF). One of my greatest joys is traveling each year to India with an international team of specialists to perform complex spinal surgeries on people who wouldn’t otherwise receive care. There’s no higher reward than seeing a smile on the face of someone who earlier had no hope. It’s why we keep going back year after year.

Personal interests

My family is one of my greatest blessings. My wife Christine and I have three grown sons, Cameron, Curt and Collin, all of whom have graduated from college and are pursuing their careers. When I’m not spending time with them, I enjoy anything in the outdoors, especially skiing, hiking, biking, fishing and watching soccer and rugby. In my down time, I love woodworking and fixing things like old tractors. It’s my relaxation therapy.