Caring runs in the family

Father and son gastroenterologists Jerry and Andrew Canakis continue a legacy of compassion at TidalHealth

As gastroenterologists at TidalHealth, Jerrold “Jerry” Canakis, MD, and his son, Andrew Canakis, DO, share more than a profession. They share a calling rooted in compassion, service and a deep commitment to caring for others.

Dr. Jerry Canakis has spent decades serving gastroenterology patients and building relationships that span generations. In October 2025, Andrew joined his practice, bringing advanced expertise in therapeutic endoscopy, including endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). His training expands access to advanced digestive procedures for patients on the Eastern Shore, allowing many to receive care closer to home.

For both physicians, the path to medicine began with family.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Jerry learned the values that would guide his career from his parents, who immigrated from Greece and deeply valued education, hard work, faith and family. While working alongside his parents and grandparents in their small family diner, he witnessed the power of kindness and generosity.

"Watching how my parents treated everyone with kindness, respect and compassion left a lasting impression on me," he said. "My parents would often share food from the restaurant with people in need. Seeing that generosity firsthand taught me the importance of helping others and giving back to the community."

The diner was frequented by local physicians who encouraged young Jerry to continue his education and consider medicine as a meaningful way to help people. Combined with his love of science and mathematics, those conversations helped inspire a career dedicated to healing and serving others.

Years later, Andrew found his own inspiration by watching his father at work.

As a child, Andrew often accompanied his father during hospital rounds while Jerry served on the faculty at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He remembers being fascinated by the energy of the hospital and watching residents and fellows learn from his father.  

"What stood out most was watching my father teach," Andrew said. "I remember seeing residents and fellows walking alongside him, asking questions and listening as he shared his knowledge and experience. Those experiences sparked my curiosity and gave me an early appreciation for medicine.”

Some of his fondest memories were not from the hospital, but from the simple moments after his father's workday ended.

"Once my father finished his work, he would call my mother, Carla, and we would all meet for ice cream and then stop at Blockbuster to pick out a movie," Andrew recalled. "Looking back, those weekends allowed me to see medicine firsthand while also showing me how important family was to my parents, even with the demands of a medical career."

After more than a decade of training at institutions across the country, Andrew returned to the Eastern Shore to join the practice his parents built together. While his father cared for patients, his mother helped guide the practice behind the scenes as office manager, playing an equally important role in its growth and success.

"What makes it meaningful is not simply joining the practice," Andrew said. "It's the opportunity to become part of something my parents built together and to help carry it forward while raising my own family near the people who mean the most to us."

For Jerry, welcoming his son back home opened a meaningful new chapter.

"We suddenly found ourselves discussing cases together during the day and gathering for dinner with our families in the evening," he said. "It was one of those moments when I realized our relationship had evolved from father and son to true partners in both medicine and life."

At the heart of their work is a shared belief about what makes medicine meaningful.

"I've always told Andrew that while medical knowledge and technical skills are essential, compassion and empathy are also part of the healing process," Jerry said. "Listen carefully, be honest, treat patients with respect and never stop learning."

Andrew says that is a lesson he carries into every patient encounter.

"The quality I admire most is his compassion," he said. "He has always viewed medicine as a relationship rather than a transaction. That commitment to caring for people, not just treating diseases, is something I deeply respect and strive to emulate in my own practice."

Outside of the office, family remains the center of their lives. The Canakis family regularly gathers for dinners, holidays, vacations and everyday moments in between. Jerry and his wife, Carla, enjoy spending time with Andrew, his wife, Skyla, and their daughters, Sophie and Isabella.

They are also proud of their son Justin, who is completing a gastroenterology fellowship and plans to join the practice in the future, and their youngest son, Alexander, who works in finance in Philadelphia. Justin is married to Jackie, a nurse, and they have a daughter, Olivia.

For Jerry, one of life's greatest rewards has been watching the close bond among his three sons.

"As a father, one of the things that makes me proudest is seeing how much they love and respect each other," he said. "I've always told my sons that kindness is the closest we come to God's level of perfection."

For both physicians, the bond they share as father and son is strengthened by gratitude.

"As a son, I thank my father for the example he has set throughout my life," Andrew said. "He taught me the importance of hard work, integrity, compassion and commitment to family."

Jerry's appreciation runs just as deep.

"As a father, I thank Andrew for being such a wonderful son, husband, father and role model," he said. "As a fellow physician, I thank him for his dedication to his patients and his commitment to excellence."

Together, Jerry and Andrew bring decades of experience, advanced expertise and a deeply personal sense of purpose to the care they provide. For their patients, that means compassionate digestive care delivered by physicians who understand the importance of trust, relationships and family.

Jerry and Andrew Canakis offer comprehensive digestive care at TidalHealth Gastroenterology in Ocean Pines. To schedule an appointment, call 410-912-6021 or visit our scheduling page.