#IamMGH – Meet Dr. Shannon Stogryn

#IamMGH tells the stories of our people. Meet Dr. Shannon Stogryn, General and Bariatric Surgeon at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH). As part of Women in Medicine Month, learn more about Dr. Stogryn and her transformative work in surgery.

"I specialize in bariatric surgery at MGH, helping treat the chronic disease of obesity. I work alongside a multidisciplinary team that supports patients in lifelong weight management and overall health. 

I grew up in a family of physicians. Both of my parents were old-school family doctors and as a kid, I spent a lot of time at the hospital with them. It was normal for my parents to stop by the hospital to deliver a baby or check on a patient on the way home from school or sports. Practicing medicine goes back a long time in my family – I'm actually a seventh-generation doctor! 

As a kid, my interest was in veterinary medicine. I wanted to work with animals and spent plenty of time pretending to treat our family pets. I had a big interest in horses and thought for a long time that my path in medicine would include animals. It wasn't until halfway through my undergrad when my focus shifted toward human medicine. 

When I entered medical school, I was drawn to surgery because it was hands-on work. Growing up, I did a lot of artistic projects – drawing, painting, building and fixing things at the cottage with my dad. At the end of my first year of medical school, I had a short placement in general surgery and I completely fell in love with it. I spent the rest of medical school trying to see if I liked anything else as much, but nothing topped my interest in surgery. 

I love bariatrics because I feel like I get to go on a transformative journey with my patients. They are making a powerful decision to take control of their health. As a bariatric surgeon I see them several times over the course of a year – so I really do witness that transformation and it's such a privilege to be part of it. 

The most rewarding part of my work is seeing patients reach their 'non-scale goals'. It’s not just about the weight loss itself, it’s about what they can do now. Seeing someone no longer needing blood pressure medication, with diabetes in remission, able to run and play with their children, or simply being able to walk up the stairs comfortably – that empowerment is what makes this work so special. 

I joined MGH in 2022 and one of the things I treasure most about working here is the tight-knit environment and the opportunity to mentor others. Surgical training and a surgical career are very demanding, and I deeply value the support I received from mentors throughout my career. 

I think back to experiences my mom faced – she was one of only 12 women in her medical school class in 1969 and, as a woman, was not allowed to apply to surgical training. I'm very grateful that medicine has come a long way since then. Today, women outnumber men in medical school! 

Now in my eighth year of practice, it’s been incredibly rewarding to see our surgical group at MGH evolve. We’ve hired talented younger surgeons and becoming a mentor to my junior staff colleagues and our surgical trainees has been one of the coolest parts of my journey here. I love being able to offer guidance – whether it's casually grabbing coffee, answering a late-night text or helping navigate a surgical career. MGH has a wonderful community atmosphere where building long-lasting connections is easy."