Octavia M. Cannon, MD, FACOOG dist.

Director 2023 – 2025

Dr. Octavia Cannon, a Board-Certified physician, is a provider at Alliance Obstetrics and Gynecology in East Lansing, Michigan. She was previously the co-owner of Arboretum Obstetrics and Gynecology, LLC (2005-2021) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Arboretum OB/Gyn was the lone private practice in Charlotte which had only female physicians.

She is an Honors graduate and active Alumnus of Johnson C. Smith University (Charlotte, NC); where she was a Duke Endowment and UNCF scholar. She was honored as the University’s Alumnae of the Year at the Arch of Triumph Gala in April 2018. In 2021, she established a $25,000 scholarship endowment for STEM students at the University. Dr. Cannon earned her medical degree at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Miami, FL); where she honed her Spanish-speaking skills. A native of East Lansing, Michigan; she pursued her residency training at St. John/Detroit Riverview and Hutzel Hospitals closer to home.

Dr. Cannon continues her personal mission of public service and health education via numerous leadership roles on local and national levels. She was the 2018 National President of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) and is the first African-American president of the organization (established in 1934). She currently serves as the Chair of the Medical Education Foundation of ACOOG. Dr. Cannon is also a member of the American Osteopathic Association Media Relations Panel and enjoys contributing to health-related articles in many national media publications and television appearances. She was featured in a 2017 Sun Coast Emmy Award winning PBS documentary on the history of women in
osteopathic medicine entitled, “The Feminine Touch”.

Dr. Cannon is a 2023 member of the Board of Directors of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA). She also served on the Board of Directors for Florence Crittenton Services for 6 years; which is a national organization committed to assisting pregnant/at risk young women take charge of their lives and support their families. She was a charter member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Women’s Preventive Services Initiative Task Force. Recently, she was appointed to the ACOG Task Force on Pregnancy and Heart Disease. She also enjoys her memberships in the Chi Epsilon Omega graduate chapter of The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Lansing/East Lansing Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and The Junior League of Lansing; which enable her to actively serve her community on the local and national levels.