While At Gannon, Jason A. Smith DO, FAOASM, learned to differentiate himself by hard work. He lived the full student-athlete experience, competing in men’s water polo, swimming, and cross country while staying deeply involved in campus life through the Honors Program, Student Government Association, and Delta Chi.
Jason received a scholarship that helped shape his academic journey, and he fondly recalls the four years he spent training under Coach Don Sherman, a mentorship that profoundly influenced both his athletic and professional development. “Gannon always had a family feeling,” he says. “With nearly twenty relatives attending before me (dad) and extended family, Gannon was home. I’m still even best friends with my freshman roommate.”
After graduating with a degree in sports and exercise science, Jason followed his passion for athletics, anatomy, and human performance into sports medicine. Today, his dual work in private practice and professional wrestling places him on the front lines of athlete care; managing injuries, preventing long-term damage, and keeping world-class performers healthy in one of the most physically demanding entertainment industries. “As a sports medicine physician, understanding anatomy, structure, and function is everything,” he says. “I was set up very early with the foundation I needed for this profession.”
When Dr. Jason Smith ’04 reflects on his journey from the classrooms, fields and pool decks of Gannon University to the global stage of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), he sees more than a career path, he sees proof that a Gannon education can take you anywhere.
Jason is one of only six full-time sports medicine physicians in the entire United States working in professional wrestling, making his position one of the rarest roles in his specialty, if not the rarest. Even more remarkable: Michael J. Sampson ’87, his senior partner in AEW’s medical team, is also a proud Gannon graduate. For Jason, this shared legacy underscores a powerful truth about his alma mater: exceptional preparation, mentorship, and community can launch students into extraordinary and unexpected corners of the professional world.
A respected educator and leader in his field, Jason has earned widespread recognition for his dedication to excellence, mentorship, and service. Throughout his career, he has received numerous professional honors, including the prestigious Crystal Apple Award, the Ohio Resident Leadership Award, and the Meritorious Service Award, among many others. These distinctions reflect not only his clinical expertise, but also his lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the broader medical and athletic communities he serves.
Outside the arena and work, Jason cherishes time with his family, his wife, Brianna, and their children Bryn (12), Summer (10), and Blaise (7)—whether traveling together, fly fishing, or building LEGO creations at home.
Looking ahead, Jason envisions continuing exactly what he’s doing now: serving athletes at the highest level while raising his family with the values that shaped him at Gannon. And for those who attended AEW’s recent stop in Erie, you may have seen Jason’s expertise at work behind the scenes, another proud reminder of just how far a Golden Knight can go.
