Employee Spotlight: Dr. Craig Gordon

Dr. Craig Gordon was raised in Sharon, Tennessee. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from The University of Tennessee in Knoxville and studied medicine at The University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis. He completed a one-year study of internal medicine at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville before moving to Jacksonville, Florida to complete a dermatology residency at The Mayo Clinic. During his residency, Dr. Gordon worked and trained with dermatologists at all Mayo campuses including Rochester, Minnesota, and Scottsdale, Arizona. He served as a resident board member of the Florida Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery from 2014 to 2015 and is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery.

What led you to your career

I chose dermatology because it was the specialty that appealed most to me. I like how it incorporates multiple medical disciplines including surgery, advanced medical cases, and pathology in an outpatient setting.

What are some of your goals in working in this field?

My first goal while working in this field is to provide excellent patient care. After all, I’m here for patients and they are the reason why I wanted to be a doctor in the first place. Another goal I have is to be the doctor who brings relief for patients with the difficult medical cases that other doctors haven’t been able to diagnose and treat.  

What do you like most about your job?

There are many aspects of my job that I enjoy, but if I had to decide on the number one thing, I would have to say interacting with patients and learning about their life stories. You can learn so much from listening to another person’s walk through life.

What are three career lessons you've learned thus far?

Three career lessons I have learned so far would be to always listen to your patients, appreciate and respect those you work with, and try to start everyday on the best foot possible.

Tell us three things most people don't know about you.

A few things most people don’t know about me would be that I grew up on a farm in rural northwest Tennessee, I love working on crossword puzzles in my free time, and The Commissary is my favorite restaurant in town.

What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

My favorite hobby outside of work is gardening tropical plants. I have a large collection of bromeliads I tend to daily.

Where is the best place you traveled to and why?

The best place I have traveled to is Arizona. I love how the landscape ranges from the majestic desert to the high mountains. I’ve camped at the Grand Canyon and explored many of the modern and progressive cities out there.

What is your favorite book?

Although it is considered Young Adult Literature, my favorite book is Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

What is your personal philosophy?

My personal philosophy can be summed up in one phrase: Learn from every day.