Drew Michael Donnell, MD

While taking part in biomedical engineering research during high school at the local university, Drew M. Donnell, MD, initially elected to study business and sports administration. He then transitioned to studying applied mathematics in the context of health care. Ultimately, he decided there wasn’t enough interpersonal contact with patients. “I did not choose medicine until I firsthand experienced transformations in quality of life from various high-intensity surgeries during graduate school, prior to matriculating into medicine,” he says.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Movement Science at University of Michigan – Ann Arbor. This was followed by a Master of Science degree in Biostatistics from University of Pittsburgh. It was here that he also graduated from the university’s School of Medicine as an MD. He completed a General Surgery Internship and Anesthesiology Residency at Ohio State University, and a Multidisciplinary Pain Fellowship at Northwestern University.

Dr. Donnell is the first medical doctor in his family, although his mother is a clinical psychologist. He chose the field of anesthesiology because of its complexity and frequent utilization of advanced technology. “I’ve administered anesthesia for everything from liver transplants to simple ankle reductions, but ultimately it all comes down to protecting the patient and their physiology.”

In addition, he practices interventional pain management, to improve the quality of life for individuals affected long term by serious discomfort. “Pain management is a natural extension of anesthesiology that offers more face time with patients and an array of rapidly evolving interventions,” he says.

Dr. Donnell delivers care to help patients be more comfortable and he works to enable them to be able to do more of the activities that give their lives meaning.

Through the years his patients have taught him that complex problems often have simple solutions, but the opposite also holds true, he says. “Medicine is one of the toughest jobs around, but is unmatched in its ability to affect others,” he says.

 

In his own words…

Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My mother, without hesitation – single, working mother raising four children. She will forever be my role model and exemplifies pinnacle unselfishness.

What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I began working in janitorial services at a local hockey rink in the summers. Occasionally they would let me run the concession stand and it was a blast.

What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite food – sushi, enchiladas, various Thai dishes Movie/ TV show – Man on Fire, Peaky Blinders

If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? My maternal grandfather. He was blue collar factory worker who worked hard and loved his family harder.

In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? Unpopular opinion in South Bend, but I am an unwavering fan of University of Michigan athletics.

What are your hobbies, interests? Hobbies include reading about historical origins of spirits and medicine.

What is something most people don’t know about you? While in graduate school before entering medicine, I helped develop and improve the national algorithms responsible for the allocation of liver transplants to both adults and children. I am also board certified in public health.