John A Kern, MD
Cardiac Surgery
Additional Locations
Bio & Overview
John Kern, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon dedicated to providing compassionate care to a diverse patient population.
His clinical interests include all aspects of adult cardiac surgery including coronary artery disease and coronary artery bypass surgery, aortic and mitral valve disease, heart failure, heart transplantation and left ventricular assist devices, thoracic aortic aneurysms and valve sparing techniques, as well as stent grafting for thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections.
He has a particular interest in new therapies for aortic dissections and trans-catheter aortic valve replacement.
For the past decade, Dr. Kern has consistently been named on America’s Best and Top Doctors lists. In 2024, he was named a Top Cardiothoracic Surgeon in Virginia by Virginia Business Magazine.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Dr. Kern completed his undergraduate studies at The Pennsylvania State University. He has strong roots in Charlottesville, having attended medical school at the University of Virginia. He also completed his surgical training at the University of Virginia and is board-certified in general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, and vascular surgery.
He joined the UVA Health faculty in 1998, has held several leadership positions during his tenure, and is the program director for the thoracic surgery residency. Dr. Kern is dedicated to educating and mentoring residents at UVA Health.
In 2014, he was awarded the prestigious Socrates Award from the Thoracic Surgeons Residents Association. This award is given in recognition of dedication to residency training. Dr. Kern has also received the Master Clinician Award, the Dean's Award for Clinical Excellence and is a member of the University of Virginia's Academy of Distinguished Educators.
He has been voted the Surgical Attending of the Year twice by the graduating chief residents in surgery.
Dr. Kern is a member of all of the major cardiac and vascular surgical societies, as well as the American Surgical Association and the Southern Surgical Association. He has held committee memberships in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and the South Atlantic Cardiovascular Society, and he is a past-president of the Virginia Vascular Surgical and the South Atlantic Cardiovascular Societies.
Dr. Kern is a past Deputy Editor of the Annals of Thoracic surgery and a past Associate Editor of Operative Techniques in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.
Academic Information
- Department
- Surgery
- Academic Role
- Professor
- Division
- General Surgery
- Research Interests
- Clinical outcomes, Clinical trials for valve disease and aortic aneurysms, Medical education
- Gender
- Male
- Languages
- English
- Age Groups Seen
- Adults (21-65)
Older Adults (65+)
- Primary Education
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Residency
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Fellowships
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Certification
- American Board of Surgery (Vascular Surgery), American Board of Thoracic Surgery (Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery), American Board of Surgery (Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery)
- Appointment
- Program Director - Thoracic Surgery Residency, Stanton P. Nolan Professor - Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
- Additional Specialties
- Vascular Surgery
Highlights
Dr. John Kern profile video
I'm John Kern, and I'm Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery here at the University of Virginia. I mostly got into medicine because I was interested in the physiologic mechanisms of the human body, and in particular cardiac surgery because of the workings of the heart, and I find most enjoyable being able to have an immediate impact on people's lives. My practice includes every component of adult cardiac surgery, so valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease. I also specialize in aortic disease, so aortic aneurysms, aortic dissections, and I also do heart transplantation and left ventricular assist devices. We actually have the only pediatric heart transplant program in the state of Virginia as well. We really are a multidisciplinary, collaborative group of physicians. When you come to see us, you're not just seeing a surgeon, or you're not just seeing a cardiologist. You're not just listening to one person's viewpoint as to what should be done, but you're really getting seen by a lot of different people, and we're looking at the whole person to decide what is best for them. My care philosophy is that every patient is an individual human being, and in this day and age of computers and the Internet and robots, that it really comes down to seeing the individual patient and speaking with them like you would a family member, talking with them like you would a neighbor, and trying to make them feel at ease.
Awards
- 2025 Newsweek's America's Best Cardiothoracic Surgeons
- 2024 Virginia Business Magazine: Top Doctors in Cardiothoracic Surgery
- 2020 Master Clinician Award
- 2018, 2019 Best Bedside Manner Awards, OurHealth Charlottesville and Shenandoah Valley Magazine; First Place, Surgery: Cardiac
- 2011-2023 Best Doctors in America® List
- 2014 Socrates Award for best cardiothoracic educator in the country
- 2013 H-CUP (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project) award for best article of the year
Reviews
349 Patient Satisfaction Ratings
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