Shannon Ross is a certified physician assistant and a certified dietitian nutritionist. She received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Westfield State University in Westfield, MA. Shannon completed the dietetic internship program through Sage Graduate School in Troy, NY. She began her studies at Russell Sage College in Troy, NY, earning her Bachelor of Science in nutrition science. Shannon is a member of the American Academy of Physician Associates. She is interested in diabetes, nutrition, weight management, and disease prevention.
Shannon was first attracted to the medical field during undergrad. Initially, she majored in elementary education but didn’t feel the passion she wanted. One of her friends was a nutrition major and showed Shannon what she was learning about in her classes, and she was immediately intrigued. She was enamored with the idea that so much of our health and quality of life can be changed just by the food we eat every day. Shannon pursued the field of dietetics and worked as a clinical dietitian for three years before applying to PA school. Although she loves nutrition, she felt drawn to helping people in a more significant way. Shannon wanted to play a more prominent role in their medical care and had worked closely with PAs throughout her career as a dietitian. During this, she fell in love with that career path, the autonomy they held, the level of responsibility, and the vast amount of knowledge they possessed.
What Shannon loves most about being a PA is working with patients and developing relationships with them over time. She loves helping people realize their potential and reach their health goals. Shannon also likes educating patients to make informed decisions and letting them guide their care. She believes the foundation of quality care is built on communication. She says achieving anything successfully is difficult if communication isn’t established and solidified around trust and openness between the patient and the provider. Shannon honors the patient-provider relationship and truly wants to get to know her patients. She values patients’ trust in her for their care, and her goal is to help people live their highest quality of life.
Shannon is originally from the Capital Region area, specifically Guilderland. She enjoys staying active through long-distance running, hiking, and CrossFit. She and her fiancé have two dogs that keep them very active and with whom they enjoy exploring the Capital District. When it’s time to relax, Shannon enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, or trying new recipes.