After medical graduation in Jamaica in 1972, Cunningham completed his residency in Surgery at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1979, and also worked as a surgeon at Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital and City Hospital at Elmhurst, all in New York City.
When announcing his appointment as a Dean, ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard is quoted to have said:[REF] "Paul Cunningham is exactly the right choice to lead the Brody School of Medicine.