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.